What if…
While eating lunch just now I started thinking about food. Well, more specifically the Twinkie. I have never liked them, they aren’t really food in my book and thus I steer clear. Yet when one talks about food in relation to fat people often the image of a fattie on a large and worn couch in front of an old style television (with the big knobs) stuffing several Twinkies in succession into their mouth comes to mind. Just in a total stereotyped way. You know? You could easily replace Twinkies with any other “OMZ! So bad for you!” food or snack.(I am in no way stating that fats eat tons of junk food or don’t…that is each individuals choice and thank the stars we are free to make those choices.)
Just the thought of this Twinkie made me cringe. It’s not FOOD! It’s a processed piece of product. So, I thought to myself, what else is so processed that it doesn’t look at all like food or even the sum of it’s parts? Well, lots of things come to mind, but what if these items were classified like so many “natural” things and put in the dietary supplement aisle of your local store? Would people stop to think about what’s in it because it’s no longer on the snack aisle? Would it’s garbage-food stigma be lifted or worsen?
Think about the other things on that dietary supplement aisle. At Target you’ll often find Slim Fast and other such non-foods. Vitamins, herbal supplements, protein powders, etc. Yuck! But would it make families stop buying them? Would having to go down this “specialty” aisle change anything at all for anyone?
Would a world where only true whole unprocessed foods can be found easily change those who seek snack foods of this Twinkie-esque nature?
Just a thought.
I challenge your conception of the Twinkie as a non-food! 😀 Playfully challenge. While a Twinkie is crammed full of preservatives (shelf life is important, yaknow) and oils and sugars from dubious sources, all of those things are edible. They get digested. They contain nutrients. They can keep you going if you’re stuck in a cabin in a blizzard and you’ve only got a crate full of ’em.
I suspect that even a crate full of Slim-Fast shakes or Weight Watcher’s crackers or Lean Cuisines (well wait I’ve read the ingredients on those, those actually contain real food) would get the job done, in desperate blizzard survival mode. Albiet, not quite as well.
The Fat Nutritionist had a lovely post on the subject. All foods, even “bad” foods, have their purpose. And “not” food often overlaps with what people call “bad” food. Gettin’ all judgey about food, beyond a standard “I do not care to eat this particular food, I don’t like it”, sucks. And it’s something that I’ve been trying to eliminate from my own inner dialogue. I think if you want to get people eating “real” food, it’s going to take an effort of one part makin’ it affordable and one part makin’ it clear WTF you’re supposed to DO with all those ingredients. I can make a delightful meal out of one pork chop, a few carrots, an onion, and some bits and bobs from the spice rack, but it’s verrrry much Some Assembly Required. And without a box to provide instructions, oh dear!
I get what you’re saying and love the fat nutritionist. I think I was just toying with the idea of more severe food labeling or simply redefining what food should mean. I have a special nostalgic fondness for those cupcakes from Hostess, so I’m not entirely anti. But I also think that the majority of people in the USA don’t know very much about food and the barious ingredients we ingest. It’s a shame. Especially when so many know more about “Brangelina” and couldn’t tell you a think about their own lunch! That’s all. I’m definitely not saying we should restrict/limit access to such foods. Just more informed in our purchases. Thanks for reading/commenting! =0)