Why don’t Americans give a f*** about what they eat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would rather lash out at an anonymous stranger than admit you are an enthusiastic backer of Nestle's dirty work, but you go ahead believing I'm the confused one. I mean, that is sort of inline with your whole "mah freedoms", 40-year-old science take on junk food, so it makes sense.

DP - I hear you make this argument in the multiple threads on obesity. I’m curious to know if you yourself are overweight or obese?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Take a good look at yourself, OP, and you’ll find your answers.

I cook from scratch at home 90% of the time and send lunches to school. My child didn’t know what a pop tart was or had been to a
fast food restaurant for the first ten years of life. Until someone outside home introduced these. We only drink water, no sodas or juice. We have 3 meals. We eat family dinner every night that I cook fresh from scratch. We walk,swim, play tennis or hike every day.

I’m not on any meds, no chronic conditions, my physical’s tests are normal.

It takes tremendous effort. I find it incredibly difficult in America to guard my family from junk food. It’s everywhere, on every corner, every step of every day. The food culture is awful. When I’m in Europe it’s effortless. There I don’t have to worry about gaining weight or what I’m eating, the quality of food is at another level.

In DH’s extended family of 17, 4 are morbidly obese, another 7 are seriously overweight, 1 has diabetes, 2 have had cancer before age 60, 2 have thyroid disease, 2 have hypertension, 1 twenty five year old has Crohn’s disease. These are middle class people all with college education. None of this is genetic. This a picture of American society and you can’t pin it on individual responsibility. It’s a cultural phenomenon.

Where do you live that this is so hard for you? I grew up in DC and have lived in 3-4 major cities across America and I only ever really actually see fast food restaurants while on road trips. With the exception of a few McDonalds or Taco Bells or whatever, there are a lot of "fast casual" chain places like Chipotle / Cava / Starbucks in cities, all of which have relatively healthy options these days. You're projecting a lot from your immediate family onto all Americans.

It's also not that hard to just, not buy soda. I can't think of anyone in my family who does. Why would this be any less or more difficult in America compared to say, the UK or Spain (where 62% of the population is overweight). You seem to be pinning a lot on American school lunches, which, yes, are terrible and should be changed. But that doesn't mean it takes "tremendous effort" for a lot of Americans to find healthy foods to eat. And you're also underestimating how easy it is for people living in other countries to be overweight or unhealthy, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because our government is influenced by money more than people

What does the government have to do with it? We go to grocery stores and restaurants and choose what we eat. We have a lot of choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because our government is influenced by money more than people

What does the government have to do with it? We go to grocery stores and restaurants and choose what we eat. We have a lot of choices.

No, people are influenced by money. They sell what people want to buy because they want to make money. You open a gourmet vegan salad restaurant in rural American, you will be out of business quickly, but the Golden Corral next door will be a hoppin’

There has to be a strong enough and wide-ranging market and demand for heathy foods and there just isn’t. Many people don’t want to spend their money that way and don’t put a high value on “heathy” foods- outside of the wealthy hip-urban areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you that think the government should be responsible for the obesity crisis, what do you propose they do? Ban certain foods or ingredients? Outlaw cheese puffs and potato chips, force people to exercise? There’s no possible way to legislate will power. Look how difficult it was even to get people to wear masks or get vaccinated. Look what happened during prohibition when government outlawed booze. They can get rid of subsidies, raise minimum wage, and make healthcare more accessible, and maybe even educate better, but in the end, they can’t just take away junk food or forbid people from dining at Disney.

I’m very thin and athletic and eat healthfully 95% of the time, but once in awhile, I too would like a donut or ice cream or French fry. I’m not addicted to these things but I do enjoy them on occasion.

Not OP but I propose:

Significant, large-scale taxes on junk food and soda, with the taxes going to food education and healthcare (essentially the tobacco tax model).

Removal of corn (syrup) subsidies.

Subsidies to farmers who make vegetables and fruit for consumption.

Lawsuits and settlement agreements with the largest junk food manufacturers (again like tobacco)

Restrictions on sales to under 18-year-olds

This all could be done and would have measurable and likely immediate public health impact. We have tobacco as an example. We know this works. But all the "git yer hands off my junk food it's totally free will" addicts in this thread are emblematic of the resistance this will face.

Individual cities/counties have tried all of the above steps I laid out. They have largely been defeated by malignant corporations who pour money into efforts to defeat the measures. They don't even have to do the dirty work themselves, they get people like the PPs to do it for them.

It’s so incredibly hard to take you seriously when you characterize the thread like this…it makes you seem like you are not well-versed in the English language, or logic, or both.

Too bad. I'm done coddling you people with your wildly outdated understanding of public health and devotion to the altar of junk food. I call it like it is. You are just like the pro-mass-shooting gun nuts. I don't care if you don't think of yourselves like rabid gun nuts. You are just like them at the core, both devoted to doing the dirty work of overtly bad corporations.

Freak out all you want. I don't care. History will show you are wrong, eventually. Keep siding with Nestle and PepsiCo. You will eventually lose.

People who say "I call it like it is" really mean "I want to be an arrogant, judgemental a-hole without consequences."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Take a good look at yourself, OP, and you’ll find your answers.

I cook from scratch at home 90% of the time and send lunches to school. My child didn’t know what a pop tart was or had been to a
fast food restaurant for the first ten years of life. Until someone outside home introduced these. We only drink water, no sodas or juice. We have 3 meals. We eat family dinner every night that I cook fresh from scratch. We walk,swim, play tennis or hike every day.

I’m not on any meds, no chronic conditions, my physical’s tests are normal.

It takes tremendous effort. I find it incredibly difficult in America to guard my family from junk food. It’s everywhere, on every corner, every step of every day. The food culture is awful. When I’m in Europe it’s effortless. There I don’t have to worry about gaining weight or what I’m eating, the quality of food is at another level.

In DH’s extended family of 17, 4 are morbidly obese, another 7 are seriously overweight, 1 has diabetes, 2 have had cancer before age 60, 2 have thyroid disease, 2 have hypertension, 1 twenty five year old has Crohn’s disease. These are middle class people all with college education. None of this is genetic. This a picture of American society and you can’t pin it on individual responsibility. It’s a cultural phenomenon.

Serious question: why was it easier in Europe? Cooking from scratch is time-consuming everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Where do you live that this is so hard for you? I grew up in DC and have lived in 3-4 major cities across America and I only ever really actually see fast food restaurants while on road trips. With the exception of a few McDonalds or Taco Bells or whatever, there are a lot of "fast casual" chain places like Chipotle / Cava / Starbucks in cities, all of which have relatively healthy options these days. You're projecting a lot from your immediate family onto all Americans.

It's also not that hard to just, not buy soda. I can't think of anyone in my family who does. Why would this be any less or more difficult in America compared to say, the UK or Spain (where 62% of the population is overweight). You seem to be pinning a lot on American school lunches, which, yes, are terrible and should be changed. But that doesn't mean it takes "tremendous effort" for a lot of Americans to find healthy foods to eat. And you're also underestimating how easy it is for people living in other countries to be overweight or unhealthy, too.

Do you think it’s only fast food places that unhealthy? Ha. I’ll find out how much salt, fat and sugar they add to restaurants in Nashville after I get onnthe scale since they don’t provide nutrition facts.

Like I said, there is junk everywhere when you step outside the house. When your kids step out of home - junk school lunch, junk at birthday parties (pizza, soda, chips, etc.), restaurant food is going to be junk 8 out of 10, when they visit friends houses are likely to get junk, when they get rewarded with candy and cookies by adults, the list goes on and on.

I can’t believe that you won’t admit these facts, this is so obvious.

In France if you go out to eat or to someone’s house the food most likely will be healthy. It will not be overflowing with salt and sugar, chemicals. It will make you feel full longer and not cause hormones imbalance. You’re not going to gain two kilos from eating at a restaurant or cafe. Your kid will not receive low quality Nestle chocolate or cheap, low quality cookies from others. Neither will they be eating gold fish, chips, puffs and other junky snacks there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Serious question: why was it easier in Europe? Cooking from scratch is time-consuming everywhere.

It’s a cultural thing, they like good food. Not because they are health nuts, they like to eat well.

Also, the eating habits and taste are established in childhood. Only in America I think children have their own menu - chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, pizza, French fries, etc. In Europe kids eat the same as adults and a much bigger variety of food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Take a good look at yourself, OP, and you’ll find your answers.

I cook from scratch at home 90% of the time and send lunches to school. My child didn’t know what a pop tart was or had been to a
fast food restaurant for the first ten years of life. Until someone outside home introduced these. We only drink water, no sodas or juice. We have 3 meals. We eat family dinner every night that I cook fresh from scratch. We walk,swim, play tennis or hike every day.

I’m not on any meds, no chronic conditions, my physical’s tests are normal.

It takes tremendous effort. I find it incredibly difficult in America to guard my family from junk food. It’s everywhere, on every corner, every step of every day. The food culture is awful. When I’m in Europe it’s effortless. There I don’t have to worry about gaining weight or what I’m eating, the quality of food is at another level.

In DH’s extended family of 17, 4 are morbidly obese, another 7 are seriously overweight, 1 has diabetes, 2 have had cancer before age 60, 2 have thyroid disease, 2 have hypertension, 1 twenty five year old has Crohn’s disease. These are middle class people all with college education. None of this is genetic. This a picture of American society and you can’t pin it on individual responsibility. It’s a cultural phenomenon.

I do the same and don’t find it hard. I cook our meals and we eat them. Sometimes they aren’t super exciting. But I have no problem saying no to McD on the way home from a busy night to cook a piece of fish quickly and put some carrot sticks with it. I always have lentils and rice on hand and that is my go-to for those afternoons when I am at a loss for what to make and not in the mood for more elaborate cooking. Sure they get junk food other places, but most of the eating is done at home and that is where habits are formed

[Anonymous]

Op you sound like a moron. I live in LA and I’m pretty sure people here care a lot more about their diet than you. You must be real fun at parties.

I’m an immigrant and I have literally never told anyone to go home, but you’re going to be the first. If you’re so smug and think Europe is so great, go home?

Since you’re asking why Americans don’t care about what they eat, I’m going to ask why so many Europeans don’t care about fixing their teeth or sun damage.

[Anonymous]

Serious question: why was it easier in Europe? Cooking from scratch is time-consuming everywhere.

I think one factor is travel time from/to work and time spent at work.
But mainly it's being motivated to invest some time in cooking a fresh, delicious meal instead of watching tv or going to a gym. It's relaxing when you're into it.

[Anonymous]

A lot of products have hidden sugar and it is hard and expensive to find things like ketchup, barbecue sauce, soy sauce etc without sugar. Avoiding sugar can feel like a full time job in america. I am always surprised when I find yet another product with hidden sugar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Where do you live that this is so hard for you? I grew up in DC and have lived in 3-4 major cities across America and I only ever really actually see fast food restaurants while on road trips. With the exception of a few McDonalds or Taco Bells or whatever, there are a lot of "fast casual" chain places like Chipotle / Cava / Starbucks in cities, all of which have relatively healthy options these days. You're projecting a lot from your immediate family onto all Americans.

It's also not that hard to just, not buy soda. I can't think of anyone in my family who does. Why would this be any less or more difficult in America compared to say, the UK or Spain (where 62% of the population is overweight). You seem to be pinning a lot on American school lunches, which, yes, are terrible and should be changed. But that doesn't mean it takes "tremendous effort" for a lot of Americans to find healthy foods to eat. And you're also underestimating how easy it is for people living in other countries to be overweight or unhealthy, too.

Do you think it’s only fast food places that unhealthy? Ha. I’ll find out how much salt, fat and sugar they add to restaurants in Nashville after I get onnthe scale since they don’t provide nutrition facts.

Like I said, there is junk everywhere when you step outside the house. When your kids step out of home - junk school lunch, junk at birthday parties (pizza, soda, chips, etc.), restaurant food is going to be junk 8 out of 10, when they visit friends houses are likely to get junk, when they get rewarded with candy and cookies by adults, the list goes on and on.

I can’t believe that you won’t admit these facts, this is so obvious.

In France if you go out to eat or to someone’s house the food most likely will be healthy. It will not be overflowing with salt and sugar, chemicals. It will make you feel full longer and not cause hormones imbalance. You’re not going to gain two kilos from eating at a restaurant or cafe. Your kid will not receive low quality Nestle chocolate or cheap, low quality cookies from others. Neither will they be eating gold fish, chips, puffs and other junky snacks there.

These aren’t universal “facts.” People have said time and again in this thread that while this may be others’ experience, it is not theirs. Perhaps if you listen rather than just pontificate you’ll learn something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Where do you live that this is so hard for you? I grew up in DC and have lived in 3-4 major cities across America and I only ever really actually see fast food restaurants while on road trips. With the exception of a few McDonalds or Taco Bells or whatever, there are a lot of "fast casual" chain places like Chipotle / Cava / Starbucks in cities, all of which have relatively healthy options these days. You're projecting a lot from your immediate family onto all Americans.

It's also not that hard to just, not buy soda. I can't think of anyone in my family who does. Why would this be any less or more difficult in America compared to say, the UK or Spain (where 62% of the population is overweight). You seem to be pinning a lot on American school lunches, which, yes, are terrible and should be changed. But that doesn't mean it takes "tremendous effort" for a lot of Americans to find healthy foods to eat. And you're also underestimating how easy it is for people living in other countries to be overweight or unhealthy, too.

Do you think it’s only fast food places that unhealthy? Ha. I’ll find out how much salt, fat and sugar they add to restaurants in Nashville after I get onnthe scale since they don’t provide nutrition facts.

Like I said, there is junk everywhere when you step outside the house. When your kids step out of home - junk school lunch, junk at birthday parties (pizza, soda, chips, etc.), restaurant food is going to be junk 8 out of 10, when they visit friends houses are likely to get junk, when they get rewarded with candy and cookies by adults, the list goes on and on.

I can’t believe that you won’t admit these facts, this is so obvious.

In France if you go out to eat or to someone’s house the food most likely will be healthy. It will not be overflowing with salt and sugar, chemicals. It will make you feel full longer and not cause hormones imbalance. You’re not going to gain two kilos from eating at a restaurant or cafe. Your kid will not receive low quality Nestle chocolate or cheap, low quality cookies from others. Neither will they be eating gold fish, chips, puffs and other junky snacks there.

Oh, yes, "there is junk everywhere [EVERYWHERE!] when you step outside the house"! The world is a veritable Candy Land!

You really have to believe us that your hysterical exaggeration makes you sound stupid and illogical.

I have commented several times about living just over the border from France. In non-Covid times we are there shopping or visiting our close friends several times a month. I actually live in the area, and I am telling you that what you say about France isn't true. You sound so unsophisticated and naive with your absurd generalisations. Really, just do yourself a favour and don't try not to talk much about these things around your friends.

Also, why do you refuse to tell us what country you are from? It's because you made that up too, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op you sound like a moron. I live in LA and I’m pretty sure people here care a lot more about their diet than you. You must be real fun at parties.

I’m an immigrant and I have literally never told anyone to go home, but you’re going to be the first. If you’re so smug and think Europe is so great, go home?

Since you’re asking why Americans don’t care about what they eat, I’m going to ask why so many Europeans don’t care about fixing their teeth or sun damage.

She isn't from Europe. I'm saying this as someone who actually lives in Europe. She is an unhappy mom who is bitter about what her bad choices have done to her body and life, so she posted this thread pretending to be a non-American.

Also, she is poorly educated. I feel kind of sorry for her when I see her illogical generalisations and hysterical attempts to assert her hare-brained notions as universal truths. I am beginning to think we are being cruel by continuing to engage with her.