Here’s my trick: I get grossed out by the actual factory food process, e.g. 50 lb bags of dehydrated cheese powder or stabilizer being poured into rotary drums. So, I watch “how it’s made” on YouTube, and think about where the processed food comes from.

It’s not a perfect trick because marketing is strong, but it helps me.

I guess you can call it hacking. Or you can appreciate the situation for what it is and not consume that junk. We have all kinds of junk at work I don’t consume.

And, appreciate how ridiculous the situation is overall that that garage is for sale at the check out line at Michael’s.

There isn’t a “trick.” Just gotta learn to ignore it or toss it out. Or eat it randomly to remember why it’s garbage in the first place.

Anonymous wrote:Stop buying premade crap.

But that's the thing. I don't buy it. And yet. My office stocks snacks. Every social event has snacks. My kids' friends come over with snacks and then leave half-bags of chips behind.

So your judgment is misplaced. This is a case of people being hacked by corporations, with their top-secret (not kidding) food chemistry and food psychology labs. You're victim blaming and it makes you look dumb at best, and more like cruel. Is that who you wanted to be when you got out of bed today?

Stop buying premade crap.

Agree with PPs that when your taste buds get used to eating "real" food, junk is less appealing.

That said, I find I crave junk if I wait too long for mealtime and get starving. Willpower gone. So I just make an effort to eat before I hit that level of hunger whenever possible.

Anonymous wrote:I feel the same way... I'm a great cook, love my whole grains and fresh veg etc etc. Maybe kind of sanctimonious about it sometimes, even. And I'm powerless when faced with a bag of cheetos.

I'm afraid what worked was a GLP drug. That was the big effect. It eliminated the appeal of junk food-- an open bowl of chips in front of me simply didn't register. Kind of magic, that.

We are living in Aldous Huxley's nightmare, where the most effective way to fight back against the junk food industrial complex is with an expensive product from the pharmaceutical industrial complex. And then once we've lost the weight, we'll buy all-new disposable fast-fashion wardrobes. If only we had the leisure promised in Brave New World...

GLP-1 saved me, too. It's a miracle to no longer be powerless against the pull of ice cream and chocolate bars. Like you said - I can go to a party now and the most delicious cheese and crackers will be out and I'll be ambivalent. Prior to the GLP-1, I'd stand there and eat 20 crackers and then hate myself. I am on a miniscule dose now after losing the 20 lbs I wanted to, and I don't think I'll ever stop. I don't want to go back to constantly battling cravings.

Anonymous wrote:We need elites to care. Thats it.

They could write a law (I mean, a law, a policy, a corporate choice) that partitions off healthy parts of grocery stores. So people can not have to be subject to it at
-the front of the gas station
-the checkout at the hobby store
Etc etc.

Less advertising, or warnings like cigarettes. Advertising fees.

Packaging controls.

It’s everywhere.

We need elites to care. Thats it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop eating garbage and you will crave it less.

This is so very true.

I had a period when I didn't eat any sugar for months and months (other than fruit). Didn't crave it all. Then I started having a cookie here and there and now I want them all the time.

We visited family in the south last year, and there was sugar in everything. Literally. Crusted on the ham, of course. Simmered with the green beans. In the salad dressing. There was literally no avoiding it if you were eating in a home or a restaurant. You'd have to cook for yourself, and even then, it was hard to find what we're used to in the grocery store. Produce was often poor quality and limited in variety. Think limp, browning beans, slimy packaged lettuce, and pink crisp tomatoes. Not a single fresh herb to be found, but lots of bottled sauces, all loaded with HFCS. Meats were packaged in syrupy marinades. I saw some sugar-free options (for diabetics I guess?) and those all had chemical sweetener.

We are very fortunate in this part of the US to have options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop eating garbage and you will crave it less.

This is so very true.

I had a period when I didn't eat any sugar for months and months (other than fruit). Didn't crave it all. Then I started having a cookie here and there and now I want them all the time.

Also agree, but society has evolved to make it very hard to do so. There is so much crap food everywhere - from the moment you leave your house, not just the drive thrus and billboards or commercials; any errand requires willpower - even Home Depot and Joann’s sell junk food. It takes a lot more effort to seek out real or less processed food, and grocery stores are overflowing with choices of mostly processed food. Our friends from other countries are amazed, but it isn’t healthy. If you are intentionally trying to break an addiction to sugar or crap, the system is designed to wear out your will power.

Anonymous wrote:I feel the same way... I'm a great cook, love my whole grains and fresh veg etc etc. Maybe kind of sanctimonious about it sometimes, even. And I'm powerless when faced with a bag of cheetos.

I'm afraid what worked was a GLP drug. That was the big effect. It eliminated the appeal of junk food-- an open bowl of chips in front of me simply didn't register. Kind of magic, that.

We are living in Aldous Huxley's nightmare, where the most effective way to fight back against the junk food industrial complex is with an expensive product from the pharmaceutical industrial complex. And then once we've lost the weight, we'll buy all-new disposable fast-fashion wardrobes. If only we had the leisure promised in Brave New World...

Yep, Wegovy fixed this for me. And I share PPs concerns about the causes and effects...

Anonymous wrote:Stop eating garbage and you will crave it less.

This is so very true.

I had a period when I didn't eat any sugar for months and months (other than fruit). Didn't crave it all. Then I started having a cookie here and there and now I want them all the time.

I feel the same way... I'm a great cook, love my whole grains and fresh veg etc etc. Maybe kind of sanctimonious about it sometimes, even. And I'm powerless when faced with a bag of cheetos.

I'm afraid what worked was a GLP drug. That was the big effect. It eliminated the appeal of junk food-- an open bowl of chips in front of me simply didn't register. Kind of magic, that.

We are living in Aldous Huxley's nightmare, where the most effective way to fight back against the junk food industrial complex is with an expensive product from the pharmaceutical industrial complex. And then once we've lost the weight, we'll buy all-new disposable fast-fashion wardrobes. If only we had the leisure promised in Brave New World...

Stop eating garbage and you will crave it less.

Are there tips or advice for someone who feels like they eat 80% healthy, and then they eat 20% American? Drawn to the packaging and sweet flavors and bio engineered hacks.

Rationally I know that I should stay away from King size snickers bars. But they have bio hacked me.