Last night I had stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things to carry me through the week as my son and I take our lunches to school and work (respectively). I didn't get a whole lot of stuff, just a few things (healthy things), such as fruits, vegatables, meat, and so forth. My bill was $55. Of course this isn't anything new with me, actually that is cheaper than most hits to my wallet by the grocery store.
However, it made me start thinking about some of the issues surrounding obesity in this country (I am a fat boy too). I exercise and eat healthy, but the focus here is eating healthy and the COST of eating healthy. Something that has occured to me (often but thought it would be interesting to discuss), is that professionals in the field of nutrition constantly admonish us to make healthy eating choices and say that the problem with society is that they fail to make correct choices. In part I agree with that, but I believe that the poor choices are a symptom of an even deeper problem, ECONOMICS. See, food that is inexpensive, typically has large amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar, among the many heavy preservatives, and the thing that is missing is any relavence to nutrition. These items cost LESS, much LESS, than the foods that are low in sodium, low(er) in fat or has good fat, low or even abscent of refined sugars, and has no preservatives. In an effort to try to feed their family, people want to maximize their buying power by trying to get AS MUCH as they can with what they have. Rather than trying to purchase what they need from nutritional foods. Basically, for many Americans (maybe elsewhere too), healthy food is not cost effective with the money they have.
To compound the problem, the foods that are high in bad fats, sodium, and refined sugars, have tastes that are enhanced by those ingredients, to the point that real and good food tastes bland. This re-inforces or makes the purchase of these things even more attractive.
Now, I understand, many people simply do not know how to make good choices, but many do, but don't make those choices, for basically one or both of these reasons, COST and/or TASTE.
Anyway, I thought I would throw my thoughts and opinions out there, based on my observations. Lastly, I would like to reiterate, I personally will purchase what foods I need to make healthy meals, because it is a priority to me.
However, it made me start thinking about some of the issues surrounding obesity in this country (I am a fat boy too). I exercise and eat healthy, but the focus here is eating healthy and the COST of eating healthy. Something that has occured to me (often but thought it would be interesting to discuss), is that professionals in the field of nutrition constantly admonish us to make healthy eating choices and say that the problem with society is that they fail to make correct choices. In part I agree with that, but I believe that the poor choices are a symptom of an even deeper problem, ECONOMICS. See, food that is inexpensive, typically has large amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar, among the many heavy preservatives, and the thing that is missing is any relavence to nutrition. These items cost LESS, much LESS, than the foods that are low in sodium, low(er) in fat or has good fat, low or even abscent of refined sugars, and has no preservatives. In an effort to try to feed their family, people want to maximize their buying power by trying to get AS MUCH as they can with what they have. Rather than trying to purchase what they need from nutritional foods. Basically, for many Americans (maybe elsewhere too), healthy food is not cost effective with the money they have.
To compound the problem, the foods that are high in bad fats, sodium, and refined sugars, have tastes that are enhanced by those ingredients, to the point that real and good food tastes bland. This re-inforces or makes the purchase of these things even more attractive.
Now, I understand, many people simply do not know how to make good choices, but many do, but don't make those choices, for basically one or both of these reasons, COST and/or TASTE.
Anyway, I thought I would throw my thoughts and opinions out there, based on my observations. Lastly, I would like to reiterate, I personally will purchase what foods I need to make healthy meals, because it is a priority to me.
That definitely plays in there too!
