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English 1320
19 September 2014
Quantity over Quality
In recent discussions of American health, a controversial issue has been the causes of obesity. On the one hand, some would argue that what you are consuming is the main cause of weight gain ultimately leading to obesity. From this perspective, eating should revolve around “healthy food”. On the other hand, others may argue that the relevant cause of obesity is basedon the amount of food that is consumed. Although both ideas impact the issue of obesity, the clear cause is still hazy. My view on the cause of obesity in America lies within the gluttonous, indulgent mindset of the American public regarding food alongside the enormously sized portions of fat-rich foods thatcould be corrected with an alteration of the thoughts associated with food from wanting to eat to needing to eat through the depiction of food in ads and the societal norm, as well as, constructing smaller sized plates associated with different food types based on fat content and nutritional benefits.
As with many things in this country eating habits and choices are determined by the individual’s mindset. More times than not an eating decision will be made to please the mind and allow the cravings in the head to be met through the stomach. An example of this can be seen through almost any teen in a local fast food chain looking to satisfy the hankering for a greasy burger. The main premise that is associated with eating revolves greatly on the thought process of eating, and essentially on how the mind views food. This country has an issue with accepting eating as a personal challenge rather than a means to nourish the body because decades of brainwashing through ads and media outlets. Judith Warner, a writer for the New York Times magazine, states that “eating too much, indiscriminately, anywhere, at any time, in response to any and all stimuli, is as central to our freewheeling, maverick way of being as car cupholders and drivethroughs” (Warner 402). The cultural presence in eating habits has become a major factor of why individuals make certain food decisions. The social norm associated with fast food is one of pleasure and happiness, and the billion dollar food companies use this aspect to their advantage.
In today’s world people don’t give a second thought to the greasy, oil saturated French fries they shove into their mouths by the handful because their mind frame at the moment is enjoying the taste, or relating a message of “It’s ok to eat these.” Warner also adds, “You can’t change specific eating behavior without addressing that way of life—without changing our culture of food” (Warner 402), emphasizing that the way of eating starts within the eyes of how food is viewed. We can alter this depiction of food by reversing the advertising and social stigma of food brought to the public via ads. The practical approach to changing the media is to start with the individual mind. If the American population started to view food as a vessel to fulfill bodily functions instead of a means of entertainment the overall view of food would be altered greatly to be more conducive to a healthy lifestyle. The biggest changes often occur through the ripple effect associated with the stance of a single individual.
Another prevalent aspect of obesity is the superfluous portion sizes of fat-rich foods. This factor ties into the gluttonous mindset of the American public. Enough is never enough anymore; American pride has fueled a passion of applying excess to a simple task just to prove that they can. Somewhere along the way Americans began to see that having an abundance of food makes it ok for us to consume large quantities of it at every meal. Slogans like “Everything is bigger in Texas” and “All you can eat” have come about encouragingthe consumption of large amounts of food. These mental allowances and physical mountains of food are combining together to give the illusion of a practical way of eating that is considered normal. The fact is that this way of eating doesn’t take away the health risks, or make an individual superior to weight gain or obesity; it merely numbs the intellectual mind to its effects and essentially causes social illiteracy to the topic of health.
Eating properly does not have to mean cutting the food we enjoy out of our diets entirely, but they should be moderated in the correct manner. Although the serving sizes of fries that are portioned out for consumption at drivethroughs are supposedly single servings, they aren’t portioned out to be beneficial to health. Michael Pollan, a prominent food writer, theorizes eating habits as “Not too Much” (Pollan 440) which is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of excessive eating. He explains, “Last, under ‘Not Too Much’, the focus shifts from the foods themselves to the question of how to eat them—the manners, mores, and habits that go into creating a healthy, and pleasing, culture of eating” (Pollan 440). Taking Pollan’s theory into consideration the issue of over eating these types of foods could be lessened by designing plates and containers that offer the appropriate serving size that correlates with health guidelines. For example, creating a container at fast food establishments that hold the proportional amount of French fries that corresponds to the fat intake of a person would illustrate to individuals the proper amount to consume. Providing what is needed eliminates the temptation of overeating.With an innovation such as this supersize me options could be thrown out of play creating a standardized serving for all customers eventually leading to a healthy outlook on food.
Many nutritionists and even everyday health enthusiasts might say that what kind of food you eat should be the main focus, but an individual can eat whatever they want and still be healthy if they keep everything in moderation. Surely everyone has heard interviews with fit and socially classified “healthy” models and athletes in which they reveal that they cheat with sweets and greasy food every now and then. This revelation does not turn the public off forever deeming these idols unhealthy, but the moral of this insight is to demonstrate that eating what you want doesn’t have to be sacrificed to obtain a healthy lifestyle. In her address to the NAACP, first lady Michelle Obama offers, “How about replacing all of that soda and those sugary drinks with water?” (Obama 428). The first lady offers a valid point, but her seemingly quit cold turkey solution is not necessary. Shrinking the intake of those sugary drinks at a single sitting would greatly reduce the health issues that are present. As offered earlier, distributing lesser amounts of these less nutritional foods would greatly change their impact on health.
The models and athletes mentioned earlier are just as human as the average Joe, and their ability to stay fit just shows that portioning the correct serving of any kind of food can lead to a healthy physique when accompanied with the appropriate level of activity. I agree greatly with first lady Michelle Obama’s path to a healthier America, but some of her points of focus are extreme.For instance, Obama suggests that “deciding that they don’t get dessert with every meal” (Obama 428), offers a solution to correct unhealthy eating habits that could be avoided with correctly portioned amounts. Offering a small choice of dessert every meal rather than scrap the notion all together would offer a slight satisfaction without guilt. It does not seem necessary to cut these items completely out of an individual’s diet on a daily basis when it would be more beneficial to greatly decrease the intake of these items.
Changing the way Americans view food is essential for changing the consumption of food. With the right approach the brainwashing methods of advertising food to relate a peaceful and inspiring lifestyle could be reversed. If the mindset of food does not shift back to the essential nourishment for bodily functions the American obesity epidemic is only going to continue to grow. Establishing a uniform portion that correlates to individual health and proportional fat-rich consumption would provide consumers with a responsible way to eat less than nutritionally beneficial foods.Combining these efforts would set the foundation to rebuild a realistic eating habit encouraging the population to make healthy decisions.
Works Cited
Obama, Michelle. “Remarks to the NAACP National Convention.” They Say/I Say with readings. Ed. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, andRussel Durst. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2012. 417-433. Print.
Pollan, Michael. “Escape from the Western Diet.” They Say/I Say with readings. Ed. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2012. 434-441. Print.
Warner, Judith. “Junking Junk Food.” They Say/I Say with readings. Ed. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2012. 400-405. Print.