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Whether it's on Instagram or TikTok, self-proclaimed nutritionists and lunch ladies in California are leading the charge for food equality. Or something. Rather than repost the videos from the Los Angeles school district and Kera Nyemb-diop that have gone viral as of late, expounding the virtues of chucking "good" and "bad" food choices out the window in favor of focusing on "approaching food with neutrality in mind," let's get personal.
A former friend of mine, who had alcohol "issues," shared with me clear back in 2013/2014, that individuals struggling with finances often become obese because they can't afford healthy food; they're forced to purchase and consume high-caloric, carb-heavy, processed foods from the cheaper areas of convenience stores.
While that concept may be valid in some insensitive ways, it brings us into the conversation.
Look at the position our society is in today. Everyone is struggling financially. The people promoting the concept of "food neutrality" and "judging others' food choices is based on a false health narrative" may be getting paid sponsorships from the high fructose corn syrup lobby, but they're also shilling for the government that's slowly bankrupting us. Families are taking out loans to afford groceries and gas money to get income-earners to work. If all the family can afford is the high-caloric, carb-heavy, processed food from the most convenient store on the corner, then having a marketing team jump up and down on social media screaming about how "equal" and "neutral" and "non-shaming" it is to feed that crap to your kids will make the parents feel better.
Food Neutrality is propaganda for the crisis we're in.
We need to stop listening to the propaganda. By succumbing to the tasty lies, we're only wandering down a dangerous path of poor health and misery. Let me get personal again.
Christmas 2021, my doctor was seeing high blood pressure readings for me. My weight was the highest it's ever been in my life. My sleep pattern was not a pattern at all. I felt like crap. My labwork returned distressing results including pre-diabetes numbers, which wasn't surprising considering I have diabetes coming at me from multiple family members on both sides of my family tree. I'm an idiot for failing to keep up with healthy eating and exercising practices and my idiocy was showing. Between Christmas and late-January, I managed to lose about 10 pounds and force myself to perform mild exercise, but I wasn't feeling great results yet. By the end of February, I was still at that same level of blah. It was time to get serious or find myself taking medication.
I got serious.
Starting March 7, I cut sugar and processed foods from my life. I started drinking 70 to 80 ounces of water a day. I put some mild exercise into my routine. Ladies and Gentlemen, I knocked an additional 43 pounds off my frame since then and now have a BMI of 19.4. My blood pressure is stellar. I sleep better. I move better. I can consume a piece of chocolate (or two) without clogging an artery and without feeling compelled to snarf an entire bag.
Why on Earth are we trying so hard to convince parents that it's okay to shove junk food down their children's throats? Why are we wasting time on social media campaigns to brainwash the masses into thinking it's a great idea to let children chow down on donuts? Folks, yes, there are bad choices in life. Listening to paid sugar lobbyists is one of those bad choices.
(Donut image courtesy of Alice Barcello.)