Food for Thought
A recent NYT mag article entitled: "The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food" has been popping up on all my social media. Whether by Twitter, Facebook, or both, my news feeds seem to be blowing up with comments linking to this article. I finally had some time this morning to read it and while I skimmed past most of the actual science stuff (preaching to the choir) it reminded me again of the role marketing plays in consumerism.
My first exposure to how marketing targets people came through Jean Kilbourne's "Killing Us Softly" documentary. There have been several iterations since its initial debut, but each update provides perspectives that encourage the targeted audience to actually think about advertisements out there. I saw it in college at the prompting of my counseling/nutrition team and can honestly say it completely changed the way I perceived magazine ads and viewed commercials, as well as how I watched TV. Thoughts on the evolution of TV sitcoms? Notice how parents, who were once a source of wisdom for their TV children, are now comedic punching bags? Or how a husband is typically a dim-witted oaf who somehow managed to snag a smoking-hot, over-achiever wife? And during commercial breaks for these sitcoms that portray lack of respect in basically all human interactions, we're bombarded with ads for carbonated beverages to satisfy thirst, energy drinks to give us a boost, and candy bars that will cure our hunger. (If you're hungry now, why wait? Skip the candy bar and go eat a steak. If it takes too long to cook a steak, guess what? You can make a salad. Add almonds or walnuts or pecans. No cooking required.)
Food for thought.
The NYT article offers insight into an interesting meeting among the big names in the processed food industry. Those manufacturers that provide easy, go-to snacks that are specially formulated to make your body want more. (Seriously. Gene-splicing's got nothing on these guys.) They make those snacks are filled with empty calories while offering zero nutritional value. And even those "healthy" options that consumers flock to blindly with a herd mentality. My favorite "healthy" option cited in this article is yogurt. In just one "healthy" serving, you the consumer get more sugar than a bowl of Lucky Charms. Lucky you! Aren't you glad you chose the "healthy" option?!
Educate yourself. Read the label. And stop with the victim mentality!
Just because someone who is paid to market something as "healthy" tells you it's "healthy" does not actually make it healthy. Case in point? Fast food restaurants. The same beef in that "healthy" snack-wrap is the same meat used in the high-calorie burger. (If it's even really meat.) This same high-calorie burger is what my mom has for her "show and tell" during nutrition talks. It's the burger she bought five years ago that still looks the exact same. You know why? The burger has absolutely ZERO nutritional value. There are no live enzymes in the burger or the bun or the accompanying fries. Items with actual nutritional value, that have live enzymes, will mold and rot as those live enzymes die.
And don't get me started on artificial sugar/sweeteners.
Take a look at your boxed "healthy" food. Consider the manufacturer. Act accordingly. This isn't an article to rip on corporate America, but keep in mind the so-called "food giants" of the food industry see you as a mouth. That's all. They do not see you as a living, breathing being that requires actual nutrition. Do they care about your emotional well-being? Of course, inasmuch as it benefits them. The only emotional aspects they see in you are those which they can target in their advertising. They have a food for every mood. Bad day at work? Have a candy bar. Rough night? Have an energy drink. Big party for the big game? Have some party food and lots of it--this game only happens once a year. Work hard on your diet today? It's okay to indulge--you deserve it.
You know what you deserve? The truth.
If you're interested and have the time: READ ME.
My first exposure to how marketing targets people came through Jean Kilbourne's "Killing Us Softly" documentary. There have been several iterations since its initial debut, but each update provides perspectives that encourage the targeted audience to actually think about advertisements out there. I saw it in college at the prompting of my counseling/nutrition team and can honestly say it completely changed the way I perceived magazine ads and viewed commercials, as well as how I watched TV. Thoughts on the evolution of TV sitcoms? Notice how parents, who were once a source of wisdom for their TV children, are now comedic punching bags? Or how a husband is typically a dim-witted oaf who somehow managed to snag a smoking-hot, over-achiever wife? And during commercial breaks for these sitcoms that portray lack of respect in basically all human interactions, we're bombarded with ads for carbonated beverages to satisfy thirst, energy drinks to give us a boost, and candy bars that will cure our hunger. (If you're hungry now, why wait? Skip the candy bar and go eat a steak. If it takes too long to cook a steak, guess what? You can make a salad. Add almonds or walnuts or pecans. No cooking required.)
Food for thought.
The NYT article offers insight into an interesting meeting among the big names in the processed food industry. Those manufacturers that provide easy, go-to snacks that are specially formulated to make your body want more. (Seriously. Gene-splicing's got nothing on these guys.) They make those snacks are filled with empty calories while offering zero nutritional value. And even those "healthy" options that consumers flock to blindly with a herd mentality. My favorite "healthy" option cited in this article is yogurt. In just one "healthy" serving, you the consumer get more sugar than a bowl of Lucky Charms. Lucky you! Aren't you glad you chose the "healthy" option?!
Educate yourself. Read the label. And stop with the victim mentality!
Just because someone who is paid to market something as "healthy" tells you it's "healthy" does not actually make it healthy. Case in point? Fast food restaurants. The same beef in that "healthy" snack-wrap is the same meat used in the high-calorie burger. (If it's even really meat.) This same high-calorie burger is what my mom has for her "show and tell" during nutrition talks. It's the burger she bought five years ago that still looks the exact same. You know why? The burger has absolutely ZERO nutritional value. There are no live enzymes in the burger or the bun or the accompanying fries. Items with actual nutritional value, that have live enzymes, will mold and rot as those live enzymes die.
And don't get me started on artificial sugar/sweeteners.
Take a look at your boxed "healthy" food. Consider the manufacturer. Act accordingly. This isn't an article to rip on corporate America, but keep in mind the so-called "food giants" of the food industry see you as a mouth. That's all. They do not see you as a living, breathing being that requires actual nutrition. Do they care about your emotional well-being? Of course, inasmuch as it benefits them. The only emotional aspects they see in you are those which they can target in their advertising. They have a food for every mood. Bad day at work? Have a candy bar. Rough night? Have an energy drink. Big party for the big game? Have some party food and lots of it--this game only happens once a year. Work hard on your diet today? It's okay to indulge--you deserve it.
You know what you deserve? The truth.
If you're interested and have the time: READ ME.
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