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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
You have chosen to structure your life so that cooking and eating healthy food isn’t a priority. I guess that answers the subject title question, at least. [/quote]
NP here, and this thread is truly fascinating. I'm actually shocked at the number of presumably well-educated Americans on DCUM really and truly can't wrap their head around a couple of things:
- There has been tons written about Big Food and how it has avoided regulation to promote and serve up an unhealthy diet, there are actual food deserts, tons of Americans don't have time to prepare meals because they are working long hours (and a subset of those people also don't have access to a proper kitchen or fridge), and we add sugar to everything for no rhyme or reason. Why on Earth does sliced sprouted grain bread need added cane sugar?!
- If a very high percentage of Americans have diet-related illnesses, maybe the solution isn't just to bleat about "personal responsibility"...and instead look at systemic change.

Now for my anecdote. I've traveled in many parts of Europe, and while they certainly eat their share of pastas and pastries...the food quality is significantly higher. Among other things, high quality food with less sugar and additives can make you feel fuller and less likely to have cravings. For me, the eye opener was being stuck waiting in the airport in Geneva for a friend I was meeting for a hiking trip. I was hungry, and there was only a small coffee stand there. The options were limited, and I chose a small baguette cheese sandwich packaged in plastic. I expected it to be terrible, as it would be in the US with soggy bread, simultaneously waxy and greasy cheese...but I just needed to eat something. Instead, though, the bread and cheese were great. That just doesn't happen in a setting like an airport here.

I cook most meals at home. I've stopped using any pre-prepared sauces or even spice mixes from the regular grocery store, because they all have added sugar. [Notably, sauces and spice mixes from the ethnic groceries never seem to have added sugar...unless it's obviously for something sweet.] It's "not hard" to do this in a sense, but it takes time that a lot of people don't have. And everyone wants convenience foods once in a while, but outside of big metropolitan areas it can be hard to find anything remotely healthy...especially if you have any other dietary restrictions such as food allergies or intolerances. It's simply bizarre to argue otherwise.[/quote]

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