More and more folks are jumping on the "Be Healthy, it's the Law" bandwagon by banning the use of trans fats in restaurants, and demanding full disclosure of caloric content, making the sale of unhealthy foods an issue of public health. It makes sense, especially when consumers are completely unaware of the ingredients... right?
Laws like this get to me because they clearly demonstrate Americans' general inability to take responsibility for themselves. This cannot possibly be the first time people were aware french fries and hot wings are bad for you. Did they really not know burgers were bad for the arteries? Were they seriously unaware eating donuts can make you fat? What really pisses me off is the suggestion that restaurants are deliberately causing obesity and heart disease. Oh, I'm sure they'd rather you didn't know precisely how fattening their foods are, but they aren't exactly cramming it down anyone's throats. Restaurant executives aren't sitting around trying to think of ways to add more calories and fat in an attempt to slowly kill their customers. Whether or not they disclose caloric content, they're not making a secret of the fact that their foods are deep-fried in grease and covered in butter and cheese.
It's the attitude in articles like this, apparently shared by the majority of Americans, that's aggravating. How dare you clog my arteries with your french fries?!? I can't believe you'd put a bunch of sugar in your smoothies!! High fructose corn syrup?? You bastards!!
Time-Life had a book series in the 80's called Healthy Home Cooking. We've known home-cooked meals were cheaper and healthier than any restaurant could offer for at least 20 years. Yet in 1998, almost half the money spent on food in America was spent in restaurants (would have liked to find something more current, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed much). Thank goodness lawmakers decided to step in and save us from unhealthy food. It's obvious we can't be trusted to do avoid it ourselves.
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5 comments:
Yeah!! What you said!
This kind of stuff just kills me.
And although not everyone will see the connection, I think growing up in public schools where all decisions are made for you is a major contributor to the prevailing attitude that what's best for all of us is something that someone else is allowed to decide.
Sorry about the grammar, dashing out the door and wanted to comment first.
Amen and Hallelujah, Sista Girl.
I agree wholeheartedly with everything you just said . . . and then some . . . but I'm in a hurry this morning so I'm going to let it end right there.
I totally agree. I can't stand the intervention in what people can or can't do, because someone decrees I am too stupid to make that decision. I agree with Ami on the whole public school thing, but then that was likely one of my first official stands against the system of institutionalized, cookie cutter life.
I agree and disagree.
I agree that we need to be wise about what we put in our bodies and only an ignoramus would think that burgers and fries from a fast food joint were good for them.
I disagree on the point that restaurants DO make claims to be healthy and lowfat when they really aren't.
BUUUTTT, we did that to ourselves. I think we as a nation are so confused about what to eat because we let these scientists and bureaucrats step in and tell us what we should eat.
Had we stuck to eating seasonally and cooking at home, we wouldn't be in this debacle.
I think cost is also a factor. When you work two jobs and don't have time to cook and feed the whole family off the $.99 menu, you start to rationalize the whole thing.
It's the American way. Sadly.
Let's start a revolution. :-0
I completely agree with you! I think that it is sad that people don't want to take responsibility for themselves.
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