Who is responsible for what we choose to eat?
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I honestly think it's a combination of things. First, our way of life and consumerism has developed our behavioral patterns. So people are more inclined to get something "fast and cheap", which are usually fast foods. We ultimately have the choice to choose better things but media and lack of education definitely plays a huge role in how we view food and what we consume. No one is born into viewing things a certain way or acting another way.0
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I haven't seen anyone held down and forced to eat a bag of chips, 14 hotdogs, a 2 liter of pop, and a cake.
^This. There is plenty of healthy foods out there. The consumer is responsible for what THEY chose to put in their mouth.0 -
We are responsible for what we EAT!!! We choose what we want to put in our bodies so no one else should be to blame!!
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Ultimately, it is us. We make the choices about what crosses our lips. Does it suck that restaurants are "allowed" to serve such awful things, yes, but we still choose to eat them. That said, think about this. There are amazing fine dining restaurants that serve fresh, clean foods, BUT they still add a TON of butter, oil, and salt, driving up the calories and the fats as well. Of course any place serving things that are questionable as far as what they actually are (like pressed meats) is going to get a bad rap, but the only guaranteed way to keep the calories, sodium and fat down is to cook for yourself from fresh ingredients. Not that I actually do that 100% of the time, but we can judge restaurants and the government all we want, but we are absolutely reponsible for what we put in our bodies. I mean, is a drug addict not responsible for what they put into their body just because the government hasn't done "enough" in the "war on drugs?"0
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I think in this instance we are dealing with many factors. In the end you are just trying to make the best decisions you can with the information you have.
If your doctor tells you that conventional milk is healthy (it really isn't) and that is your best information who is at fault here? Your Doctor? You? The government who requires the milk producers to homogenize and pasteurize the milk within an inch of it's life AND then allows the "milk counsel" to make false health claims?
I am all for personal responsibility but we are dealing with a society AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS who has been indoctrinated with false information. What is even healthy anymore is changing on a daily basis. If you are just trying to feed your family it is a lot of information to keep up with.0 -
We are. And cost is not as much of an issue as it used to be. I can go to the store and buy a pound of boneless, skinless, chicken breast; some fresh broccoli; and an apple or orange and still be out for less than the cost of a "value meal". Does it take a little extra time and effort? Sure. Is it worth it? Definitely. You can also substitute a pound of 90/10 ground beef for the chicken and be out pretty cheap.0
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I think it's a bigger issue than just "just because it's there doesn't mean you have to eat it"..... education is a huge problem. I used to eat fast food and junk all the time and yes, I knew it was bad for me and I'd heard all the news reports about how it will kill you and blah blah blah. It didn't connect until it almost DID kill me. I was laying in the hospital and thinking "wtf have I done to myself. I almost died because I couldn't stop eating crap food? Seriously?"
Yes, we are responsible for what we put in our bodies but the American consumer is LIED to at every turn. Yay, this cereal has 250% of the daily recommended allowance of fiber!! (and sugar and carbs). Woot! This cookie is fat free! (and is full of high fructose corn syrup and a serving is only 1/16th of a cookie). I'll get this salad from fast food because hey, it's SALAD. (and the dressing has more fat/sugar/and garbage in it than if you had just eaten the hamburger.
Schools themselves are feeding our kids crap (pizza is a vegetable? c',mon!) and we expect our kids to grow up knowing what good healthy foods are? How can we expect them to be responsible for what they eat as adults when they have never been taught!0 -
It comes down to the individual, of course, but anyone who's ever taken a sociology course should be able to step back and see the bigger picture. I think the root cause lies with the US government promoting dietary and health recommendations wllly nilly without the science to back up those recommendations--and continuing the debacle by not correcting the mistakes they made because of political and economic considerations. It's outrageous.
Yes! So much this.
Anyone remember this old thing?! There's so much MISinformation out there (schools, internet, etc), that I think it's hard for the average person to differentiate between what is correct and what is 'old' or 'out-dated' info, or what's just plain wrong. Others have also mentioned, consumers see the label 'fat-free', 'light', 'diet', etc, they jump on it thinking they are making a healthy choice when often times those products are just as bad as their normal counterparts.
I'm not saying that we as consumers don't share in the responsibility, because we do. I believe the blame rests squarely on our shoulders. HOWEVER, our government and media are the ones spreading alot of this misinformation, which undeniably can affect the health choices of the public.0 -
it should be noted, too, that even if food was shoved down our throats at 3,000 calories a day, that doesn't make us fat. it is our collective inactivity that makes us fat.
Latest thinking is it is food not inactivity that generally makes this generation fat. I think I agree with this - its easy to blindly believe the less active excuse (convenient for food manufacturers)
not sure who is thinking that or why, honestly. weight is calories. work burns calories. so when we are doing manual labor, kids are running around outside and we are working out, etc., we burn what we're eating. problem comes in when we eat what we want and do nothing that contributes to burning anything off.0 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgnbRK8pij8
watch this ^^^ It's about the many causes of obesity. I think everyone would like it.0 -
<I haven't seen anyone held down and forced to eat a bag of chips, 14 hotdogs, a 2 liter of pop, and a cake.
Bingo! McDonalds doesn't hold my family hostage if I don't eat there! It's all about personal knowledge and personal responsibility.
as you can see that's not true.0 -
Oh guys, if only it were as easy as most of you seem to think it is. LOTS of science and psychology go into the food industry selling us the junk. ULTIMATELY, the decision on what to put in our mouths, for us adults, is ours. However, you must realize that people are not making poor decisions just to make poor decisions.
AND, food has changed since the good old days. I know it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to find organic (or even half-way edible) fruits and vegetables in the town where I live. But I can get all kinds of junk. If I don't want to travel 30 miles to get to the next town (where my options are still pretty limited), I have to use what is available. This was not the case in, say, 1950. Now, we have so many chemicals and junk in the foods that they actually change our body chemistry.
Do you remember how shocked everyone was to find out that cigarrette producers were putting chemicals in the cigarrettes to make them more addictive? Hello!!! That's what is happening to the food now! They want to sell more...making it addictive is a good way to do that. And once a person is hooked, it is really hard to break that cycle. I struggle with it. I also realize all the science and what the food industry is trying to do...sell their product...and as much of it as possible. Even knowing that, though, I still struggle with it.
As for government regulation...it is already being regulated to the Nth degree. You just don't realize it. The standards that have been set, however, are to help the food producers' bottom lines...not to make us more healthy.
And misinformation is HUGE...I mean, SnackWell's are good for us, right? They said so. Be honest...how many of you bought those things thinking you were making a better decision. I know I did. O, and the government said to take out all the fat in your diet and eat lots of grains, etc. Guess what, big ag wants to sell grains...not because they are better for us, which we are finding out is often not the case, but because they make BIG money from it.
Sorry to tell you, but most people are not making as many of their decisions as you would hope. Kudos to all those that have gotten healthy despite this!0 -
When I was at school (I left in 2003), from the ages of 4-18 I was fed rubbish. I was at a boarding school for a while and we had no choice for dinner, we had chips with everything. When I went to that school I put on so much weight and lost some when I left.
Every school I was at we were given the choice of chips, chips and more chips. There was sometimes a salad option but I swear there were bugs in there.
I understand they are reforming the school meal system (at least in the UK) slowly. They need to.
However I chose to eat a slice of cake the other day.0 -
To question anyone beyond yourself upon the choices either to eat or not eat is futile. No one but yourself if putting the food in your mouth.0
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Even though my husband and I are VERY low income we still eat fairly well. Obesity is on us (poeple in general).0
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I'm curious, to the people that lay 100% of the responsibility on the consumer,
Since being on MFP or otherwise doing your journey to a healthier you, have you learned anything new about nutrition that you were unaware of or totally misinformed about?
Personally, there are a lot of things that I've learned that only a few years ago I thought was very healthy, such as drinking fruit juice. I know better now, but I was taught that juice was good for me by my parents, teachers and everyone else in authority.
I imagine that a lot of overweight people fall into that catagory versus the 'lay on the couch eating cheetos' camp.0 -
Okay, I am still a bit pissed off at elementary schools banning cupcakes, but... Big Food is a BUSINESS. They would not be in business if they didn't give the consumers what they want. We get what we ask for and choose with our dollars.
Individuals are responsible for making their own choices, it would be nice if people would educate themselves instead of relying on others to tell them what to eat and what to do. It's your life, no?0 -
To question anyone beyond yourself upon the choices either to eat or not eat is futile. No one but yourself if putting the food in your mouth.
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The answer is in the question... If it's a choice, then it's the consumer's responsibility. Now in the case of an overweight child, it's their parent's responsibility.0
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I have nobody to blame but myself. Now I am responsible for my child and I will make good choices for her.0
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I believe we are responsible...not because I dont think the government should be held accountable... we make our government, in the united states, so we should not only as a individual make the healthier, smarter, logical choices, but also get our representatives in government accountable by our vote.
Just a micro/macro point of view....one small change can have great impact0 -
I guess the majority of us all agree that we are responsible and ultimately. Some have stated other factors but than there's the other argument. I never expected anyone to completely blame the food industry or government. I found the programme interesting and proves that we are taking responsibility.
I'm used to be skinny and live on junk but in little bits. I would say I had a eating disorder and was way to thin and was always told your to skinny you look nasty. So im am coming from both sides. After working for a major fast food retailer as a teenager I pilled on the weight. I then got to a more healthy weight. But forgot to stop. I started to cook my own meals which I thought would help me be healthier but I was still putting on weight. It's only now after joining mfp that I understand food better. I really wished they taught it in schools I'm only 21 so left school not too long ago but was never really taught a lot about food. I'm also learning that retailers are misleading us on what is healthy and for someone that is trying to make the healthier chose this doesn't help. I'm not saying bring in a whole law on what we are aloud to buy but clearer regulation on how they label and stop misleading customers wouldn't be such a bad idea.
I guess at some point either some people didn't care or was ignorant in what is healthy or not. But with my critical thinking head I understand it's deeper pyschiologically, socially and educationally.
It was great hearing everyone's opinion and it's amazing that we take responsibility and are choosing healthy foods and being active.0 -
We are responsible for our own actions and that includes the food we choose to put in our bodies. I suppose it is much easier to blame someone else including the food industry and government, but we have no one to blame but ourselves for what we choose to eat. I don't buy into the whole arguement that fast food is cheaper and that is why we eat it rather than healthier foods. I have eaten for just a few dollars today, breakfast, lunch and a few snacks here and there. The only thing I ate that was fast food was ONE leftover slice of pizza. The rest of what I ate was healthy and cheap brought from home.0
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It's really interesting to find that we all feel that we are responsible. Which sort of contradicts the programme which states the government is not making enough regulation on the food industry to ensure to stop obesity.
I guess my stance is everything in moderation. We are responsible but as a consumer I have been misleaded in thinking something is healthy even though this is far from the truth on the labelling. I would say I'm an educated person but I do feel that the government could play a more proactive role in regulating the Industry so it's easier for everyone to make the healthier choice and that labelling would be simpler to understand. Its also interesting in the research showing that people perceive just because it says or assumed as 'healthy' doesn't mean that it's low in calories.
Currently I'm obese in my BMI and have taken the responsibility to change that.
I think it's great that you're making the choice to change, but do you really want the government to "protect" you from making your own choices?
they do that already. it's called laws:
i cant drink and drive.. i cant take some drugs... i can't get mad at someone and stab them in the neck... i can't walk out of a store with some shoes without paying...some guy just cant see me on the street and go hey i wanna piece of that and then rape me ....
we already have laws in place to protect people from making their own choices. heck we even already have laws involving FOOD that prevent people from making their own choices, so how would this be any different?
The difference is that the laws you use as examples prohibit activities that hurt OTHER people.
You can drink legally, but you can't drink and drive because you could kill someone else with your car.
You can't stab someone else in the neck or rape them because it hurts or kills THEM.
You can't steal shoes, because it's a financial loss to the shoe store.
Food laws would protect us from ourselves which it is not the government's responsibility to do, even though it doesn't keep them from trying by constantly passing stupid laws.
ahh ok.. so obesity doesnt hurt people and doesnt have health risks attached to it?
i'm neither for nor against these type laws, but i do find it interesting that people are able to excuse one set of laws as being natural while saying another set of laws are unnatural. simply put, all laws are unnatural. they are created by societies mainly to keep order but also as a way to help protect those who might not have the power to protect themselves..
plus we do have laws that are set up to protect people from themselves : suicide attempts are illegal, people get thrown in jail for drug use even though they arent selling it, and prostitution is illegal in most states.. those are all examples of personal freedoms being limited by the government. i guess the difference is we dont see eating disgusting food as a moral issue the same as we do getting paid for sex, wanting to get high on your own time in your own home, or wanting to end your own life0 -
I agree with your point but it is a lot deeper than that. For example Fatty foods being cheaper than healthier options. False marketing on food which aren't really healthy especially on food targeted towards children.
There is a high incididence of obesity of people living in poverty. The single low income mother isn't going to have the time to prepare gourmet meals every night. However, she is in control of making some better choices. She needs to be taught those choices and I think that is where we fall short.
NPR's On Being had an interview with Dan Barber and he said,
"So the question comes down to priorities. To what extent is cooking and eating and all the rest of the things that are attached to that, to what extent does that become a priority? And if it is a priority, you make the time.
It goes hand in hand with the amount of money you spend because what we're talking about — and I don't want to skirt around it; I think it's a big issue. It's more expensive. There's no question about it. You're paying the real cost of growing food. Locally, it's usually more expensive. So the question is, again back to the Internet example or cellphone use, 25 years ago, if I said there'd be 95 percent penetration in cable television, you all would have said, "That's nuts. We have free television. Who is going to be able to find $125 a month extra?" You all would have agreed with Krista, right? I would say, not only that, you're going to find another $125 for cellphone use in disposable income. Everyone would say, "Oh, $250 extra? Nobody has that money." Well, of course, we found it because we found it indispensable without those things. So can we excite this issue around food and pleasure to the extent that people feel the same way about dinner?"0 -
you are.0
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We are all responsible for our own actions. We put the foods we eat into our mouths.
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Don't have time to read all the responses yet but each individual (or the parent if it's a minor child) is responsible for what goes into his or her mouth. And when people take responsibility for it and stop blaming others.....there will be a change. 0
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To question anyone beyond yourself upon the choices either to eat or not eat is futile. No one but yourself if putting the food in your mouth.
Futile lol it's only a discussion lol just interested what others thought. If you read my response you'd realise im not saying or claiming that I am not responsible but in a general consensus what peoples opinion is?0 -
I agree with your point but it is a lot deeper than that. For example Fatty foods being cheaper than healthier options. False marketing on food which aren't really healthy especially on food targeted towards children.
It's not more expensive to eat healthy. Even living alone, I'll prepare healthy foods and store leftovers.
http://therounds.stanly.org/2011/10/is-fast-food-really-cheaper-than-healthy-food/0
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