‘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/.
First of all, I just want to thank you for this post! I am a fierce advocate of dispelling the “health obsession.” I can identify with the idolisation of food, as if leading a “healthy” life were a religion. Something I am very passionate about, (which you have alluded to) is reconstructing our languaging of food and what it means to be “healthy.” This can be as simple as reconstructing “I’ve been eating so bad recently” to “I haven’t been in the best eating habits lately… but that’s life!”. The reality is that we can’t make the media (or any other external influences), our scapegoat for promoting these notions of “good” and “bad” food or what it is to be “healthy” or “unhealthy” if we are still using language that endorses these false ideals.
First of all, I just want to thank you for this post! I am a fierce advocate of dispelling the “health obsession.” I can identify with the idolisation of food, as if leading a “healthy” life were a religion. Something I am very passionate about, (which you have alluded to) is reconstructing our languaging of food and what it means to be “healthy.” This can be as simple as reconstructing “I’ve been eating so bad recently” to “I haven’t been in the best eating habits lately… but that’s life!”. The reality is that we can’t make the media (or any other external influences), our scapegoat for promoting these notions of “good” and “bad” food or what it is to be “healthy” or “unhealthy” if we are still using language that endorses these false ideals.
I couldn’t agree more. I feel that I have been led to believe that sugar is, ‘the same as smoking’, and for a long time I always felt really guilty when I ate ‘unhealthy food’. I tried to avoid sugar as much as possible but I came to realise the stress created from constantly trying to avoid certain food and my following disappointment when I failed to uphold this, was, in fact, pointless waste of time. I definitely missed the point and was influenced by advertising.
I absolutely agree that society’s narrowed focus on ‘healthy’ food having to fall under a sphere of nutritional value has definitley messed with people’s relationship with food. I think when we refer to something being healthy, we shouldn’t neglect mental health. If chocolate was detracted from the media-induced associations with guilt, it would bring happiness and comfort, therefor I see no reason why it shouldn’t warrant same respect as salads etc (eaten proportionally ofcourse!). People are having to choose between mental and physical health, whereas food has the potential to be a support for both. I liked what you said about how these ingrained views have a detrimental effect on mental health. To build on that, I think it’s likely a consequence of guilt being surrounded with the choice. People are being guilty-tripped into picking their physical health over their mental health. If more people were making a similar connection, views towards chocolate would be very different.
“It’s about balance.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement. So many in society get caught up in the false perceptions of food, believing everything companies tell them. I must admit when I read your title I thought your blog was going to be 250 words of making me feel bad for the last Snickers bar I just ate!
Why can’t we just enjoy the food we eat? Food that makes us feel good and happy. Isn’t that what “good” food should be? Like you allude to, if we focus too much on health and we disregard other pursuits that create purpose in life, we REALLY ARE missing the point.