Give us fat, give us sugar, give us starch

[vovat]

There's a lot I like about Bill Maher. He's funny, his show is entertaining, and I often agree with his arguments. In one particular case, however, I think he comes across as WAY out of touch. Every once in a while, he'll pull out his argument that Americans are unhealthy because we eat bad food, and then take medicine that doesn't actually make us feel any better. I'm not saying there's nothing in this argument, although I think he drastically exaggerates the point, and American health is probably better on average than that in countries that DON'T have much if anything in the way of processed food and prescription drugs. My problem is more that, for a guy who seems to want to be seen as a champion of the poor, Maher doesn't seem to take into account that, for people who don't have much in the way of money or the time or inclination to cook, processed food is often the most viable choice. And that's not even getting into the issue of tastiness. As unhealthy as it might be, humans are often inclined to enjoy sweet and fatty foods. (I'm not so sure about salt; I'm inclined to think that might be more of an acquired taste that Americans have gotten used to over time.) Eating a pepperoni pizza and a garden salad will both assuage hunger, but at least for me, the former is fun and the latter not so much. Maybe your own opinion is the opposite, in which case I kind of envy you. But I'm sure there's still SOMETHING you like to eat that isn't exactly a recommended source of nutrition. I have to wonder if people who complain about others' eating habits don't enjoy eating, or at least make it a point to try not to.

Comments

[zimbra1006.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think most animals are designed to love sweet stuff, and a lot of them seem to go crazy over salt too. And they will usually seem to want the food that's bad for them over stuff that's good for them! I think it's a universal problem, we've just taken it to an extreme. I try to eat healthy, but it can be pretty hard, especially when it's cold and I want comfort food.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, most of my comfort foods aren't too healthy either. Well, except for fruit, and even that is high in sugar. I'd say being a vegetarian gives you some health points above me, but I've known vegetarians who ate diets less healthy than mine.

[zimbra1006.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I try to eat plenty of fresh vegetables, but for instance, last night for dinner I had a fatty casserole which lacked meat but contained creamy soup base and fried potatoes, and right now I am eating jelly beans and Cadbury eggs left over from Easter. :P

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

As I eat leftover pizza- I think you are right that people are naturally inclined to prefer sugary and fatty foods because they are ready sources of calories. An important factor in a situation where there is a high likelihood of starvation. Unfortunately it seems to be maladaptive in an environment of plenty. I try pretty hard to eat well, but I tend to fail at it pretty often because the junk is so much easier. I would personally probably prefer a really good salad or a stir fry with a yummy sauce, but those things are not always what I have in my house after working 8 hours and commuting an hour home, so nutrition often loses the battle. I don't think that is really what I *should* be doing, though. The 2 year old I take care of eats a much better diet than I do, because I consciously plan everything I give her and she seems pretty happy with it too.

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

Let me just comment from my small world, in which those of us - who (happen to be in a church) feel the need to reach out to families in the community who are food-insecure - have to decide what to give to these folks. We have to, like them, be able to afford to buy food to feed families on an ongoing basis. These foods have to be simple, easy to find, and cheap, even for us who have resources. When folks come to us for food, often they can't afford much else than what we give them, and believe me, they stretch this shit.

Wanta know what we give them?

Tuna in a can, mac and cheese in a box, canned green beans and canned corn, canned protein type beans and... ramen noodles. We also have dog and cat food (dry) available in gallon baggies.

They are happy to get it. I think about this almost every single time I eat.

Oh, and, do not get me started about these self-same people being able to afford this so-called bad medicine.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

It's a little weird, because Maher is in favor of universal health care, yet seems to think most medicines are bunk.

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about him personally, but maybe he's never had a chronic illness, or had anyone die of a grueling illness. Then again, maybe he has, and that's why he hates the medical community.

It's the number one reason I and my husband could lose our "good life," unpaid medical troubles. Not alone are we.

[science.livejournal.com]

I think that there's a conspiracy by people who are into the whole conspiring thing that purposefully make bad food inexpensive. If you want to eat healthily and "organic", that food costs the most. If you want to eat cheaply, that food is never good for you (with a few exceptions).

That's my poorly formed conspiracy theory which I totally believe.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of a bit in one of the Discworld books (I think it was The Last Continent) about how people can be made to prefer food that isn't as good. Pratchett said it was like if Machiavelli had written a cookbook. {g}

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

Eating a pepperoni pizza and a garden salad will both assuage hunger, but at least for me, the former is fun and the latter not so much.

I'll go halfway and argue that I like a chicken caesar salad over either one. Yes, it's healthy because it has romaine lettuce and grilled chicken, but think of all the empty calories in caesar dressing and the Parmesan cheese! And it's cheap enough to be sold at McDonald's now. So am I winning or losing the healthy food argument by eating chicken caesar salad at McDonald's and cheaper sit-down restaurants?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

It's a tough call, I guess. I actually like McDonald's salads pretty well, although I never get them.