‘I’m breaking up with chocolate’ Photo by blogger Paula Brennan

 

Why is food such a troubling and problematic topic for so many people?

Chocolate is bad.

As I write this, I can hear the grinding of teeth and heads being shaken. “How dare he classify a food as ‘bad’?”

In our daily language, this simplified categorization is all too common, yet it represents a changing social attitude towards food.[1] No longer do we classify ‘bad’ with taste, but whether it is healthy or not. This societal obsession around ‘healthy’ food (a term I have grown to despise) has become a dogmatic religion of the middle-upper class.

The time has come to dispel such a religion; for, as Anthony Warner puts it, ‘there is no such thing as healthy food or an unhealthy one,’ rather ‘healthy eating is about balance.’[2]This religion has been created by clever advertising campaigns to target those looking for a ‘magic bullet’ that solves the problems to a healthy life; however, it is a pseudoscientific discovery preying on the modern-day, internet savvy consumer. But, have we come to care more about our health, or is there a greater reason for this obsession?

With an abundance of easily accessible choices to the privileged, some will have mental and physical problems that lead to a dysfunctional relationship with food. Although, if we focus too much on ‘achieving’ health – to the detriment of other pursuits that create purpose in life – we’re missing the point.

 

 

References

[1]Bishop, T 2019 Texts and Treats: Shakespeare and Food, lecture, Art Scholars, University of Auckland, delivered 6 May 2019.

[2]Warner, Anthony. “Why So Angry?” Angry Chef Food Pseudoscience Science. Accessed May 23, 2019. https://angry-chef.com/.