Well I just finished reading a news article questioning this very fact. Do we need government to tell us just how unhealthy a meal at your local fast food chain really is? Will extra tax on a bag of chips really make me think twice about buying it?
Obesity has serious health implications. Eating unhealthily contributes to it. These obesity-linked diseases can be prevented with lifestyle changes. In fact, this article has the WHO agreeing with many of these same suggestions.
Healthy food choices are easy to make. Or are they? The crux of the argument behind the suggestion of new laws seems to be that (1) We are unaware of just how bad junk food is for us, and (2) We lack the willpower to make healthy food choices.
The comparison has been made to the legislation surrounding tabacco: graphic warning labels, age restrictions, not to be on display. Do we need to do this to junk food?
You might say no, enough government involvement already. And I tend to lean towards this a bit myself. But then I take a look around and there are a lot of overweight people. And a lot of those are children!
I often hear the argument that healthy food is more expensive. I think that's a poor argument and not based on fact. In my experience, a bag of chips is expensive! Ice cream is expensive! Processed cheese is expensive! It is cheaper to serve my kids an apple for snack then a bag of chips. Or a bowl of crackers and cheese, or yogurt, or applesauce, etc.
But that's just a snack, what about a meal. I guess that fast food would be considered to be a 'cheap' meal out. For our family, that's 2 adults and 4 kids, that would cost around $40. Last night was meat-night in our house: homemade stew with veggies, homemade buns, cucumber and carrots with dressing for dip. Milk to drink. Cost approx. $20. That's half price folks! And there were leftovers for lunch today. Not only are healthy food choices better for you, they cost less, too!
I don't have time to make a meal. That's another poor excuse. To prepare the stew: 20 minutes. Into the crockpot it goes, ready at the end of the day. Buns: 5 mins to measure ingredients into breadpan. 5 mins to prepare dough and pan to bake. Veggies: 2 mins to cut up. So all together: approx. 40 mins. The same amount of time it would take to pack the kids up, put them in the car, and drive to/from the local fast food chain.
Packaged foods are convenient. Taking stuff out of a package and doing whatever the directions say takes little time. So you've got me there. I guess that's where common sense needs to come in. That and a few questions: Do I want to serve this to my family? Do I want to eat this? Do I recognize the ingredients?
I think the best suggestion is to have standard portion sizes. Check out your bag of potato chips: What's the portion size? 20 chips? And how much fat does that portion have? Now, do you really stop at 20 chips? Betcha' can't eat just one...
Do I need legislation in place to tell me a food is bad for me? No. I don't. Do others? Perhaps. You might say it's common sense. Well look around you. How many people are overweight? How many kids are?
And really, just as the anti-smoking legislation didn't make everyone quit smoking, this legislation won't eradicate junk food from our diet, or obesity from our population. But by making more people aware of their food choices and making convenience foods a little more 'unseen' (with less advertising) would help to reduce the appeal of junk foods. Healthier lifestyles involve a lot of aspects but food is a key component to that.
When I grocery shop I look at packaging: read the labels! How much sugar is there in it? How much fat? How much sodium? Wow, there is a lot of salt in prepared foods! I also avoid individual packaged items as much as possible. By following that I've eliminated most of the snacks in the store. Another tidbit, certain neighbourhood grocery stores have different food choices: Is this a trend everywhere? Maybe. Is this relevant to the demographic they serve? Well there's the sociologist in me :)
For example:
Clayton Park: a lot of convenience foods. I find it hard to get all my basics here.
Spryfield: a lot of junk foods, convenience foods. I still love No Frills for my basics but this store is beyond chock-a-block full of crap. Nice veggie section, though.
Should grocery stores be held accountable for offering a balance of healthy food basics with convenience foods?
What thought processes do you go through when you shop for your family? Are you more concerned with convenience or healthy food choices? Or do you try to balance both?
0 comments:
Post a Comment