Everyday Systems

From:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/weeki ... an.html?em

the truth is that most Americans eat so badly — we get 7 percent of our calories from soft drinks, more than we do from vegetables; the top food group by caloric intake is “sweetsâ€; and one-third of nation’s adults are now obese — that the organic question is a secondary one. It’s not unimportant, but it’s not the primary issue in the way Americans eat.

(the rest of the article is pretty good, too)

Reinhard

On Saturday, my almost 15 year old daughter said to me, "I'm kinda sick of sweets." No one has Haagen Dazs bars anymore except for me, and I'm getting sick of them, too. The beauty of this diet is that having a time when you can eat sweets and as much as you want, followed by several days of no sweets, results -- at least in the case of my daughter and me -- in the lessening of a desire for sweets. There are some chocolate eggs right next to me right now, and I have no desire whatsoever to eat them.
That is just great!
Kathleen
P.S. The "out of sight, out of mind" approach didn't work for me.

I had a thought the other day that it USED to be that cake was reserved for birthdays, candy was for easter and halloween, and cookies were for christmas. My how times have changed.

Great article. The food companies really know what they're doing. Cake tastes good - hence, companies make cake readily available whenever a person might want cake. Which is, you know, always.

May I just say, however, that it's extremely difficult to achieve certain caloric goals using vegetables as a major building block. Of course, that's probably why it's a good idea. Why eat half a Pop Tart when you could eat a whole plate full of steamed green beans, lightly seasoned with sea salt and cracked black pepper, lemon juice, and thyme?

Okay, maybe the Pop Tart does have more appeal. But still. This is all very interesting, but wholly unsurprising.

VintageGeek wrote:Okay, maybe the Pop Tart does have more appeal.

Only if you've never eaten a Pop Tart before.

And on that very page, in the "most popular" sidebar, we find this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/nyreg ... dy.html?em -- people eating more candy to cope with economic anxiety.

I'm with Mark -- and Michelle Obama, too. We need to start eating more real food and less processed stuff. I'll bet no one knew I believed that!

Am I the only person in the world who eats sweets for an emotional boost, then ends up feeling even crappier? I mean, it might be nice for a minute, but let's face it America...it's a flawed concept.

PS:

wosnes wrote:I'll bet no one knew I believed that!

The quote in your signature kind of gives you away.

wosnes wrote:I'm with Mark -- and Michelle Obama, too. We need to start eating more real food and less processed stuff. I'll bet no one knew I believed that!

Lol! Wosnes, that was a COMPLETE surprise!

why, you wild-eyed radical! How did you come up with such a wacky idea?

VintageGeek wrote:Am I the only person in the world who eats sweets for an emotional boost, then ends up feeling even crappier? I mean, it might be nice for a minute, but let's face it America...it's a flawed concept.

PS:

wosnes wrote:I'll bet no one knew I believed that!

The quote in your signature kind of gives you away.

Well, there's sweets (fruit) and then there's sweets (cookies). I like 'em both.

Speaking of sugar:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/dinin ... =nutrition

Nichole,

I think you've really made a good point here. We talk about how No S takes us back to the way that people ate decades ago. When did we start putting candy jars on every desk or reception table or thinking that coffee breaks mid-morning have to include multiple kinds of pastries! Good grief--no wonder I look like I do!

Nichole wrote:I had a thought the other day that it USED to be that cake was reserved for birthdays, candy was for easter and halloween, and cookies were for christmas. My how times have changed.

LA_Loser wrote:Nichole,

I think you've really made a good point here. We talk about how No S takes us back to the way that people ate decades ago. When did we start putting candy jars on every desk or reception table or thinking that coffee breaks mid-morning have to include multiple kinds of pastries! Good grief--no wonder I look like I do!

Nichole wrote:I had a thought the other day that it USED to be that cake was reserved for birthdays, candy was for easter and halloween, and cookies were for christmas. My how times have changed.

I found this on a blog this morrning:
http://findingladolcevita.blogspot.com/ ... okies.html

I'm not so sure that people didn't snack in decades past -- or at least eat more than 3 meals daily. But they certainly didn't perma-snack or snack on poor quality food. I think what was eaten when might have been a little more regimented.