America is a country that is eating itself to death. I just read an article that predicts that almost 90% of Americans will be obese by the year 2030. Why does this happen? Some of the answers are pretty obvious…food is readily available, with little effort required on our part to get it. Foods with high sodium and saturated fat have longer shelf life than healthier alternatives, adding to their broad appeal. Many highly processed foods are cheaper to manufacture. More jobs involve sitting in an office or cubicle all day. Driving is easier and more comfortable than walking or riding a bicycle. As I mull it over, there are more factors that contribute to the overeating issue, factors that affect us on a more personal level.
I’m working another night shift (yes, on my fanny much of the time….sigh) in the midst of a busy time for myself and co-workers. One of my colleagues took me aside…she wanted to bring in some kind of food for us, as we’ve been working so hard lately, and asked me to choose something for her to bring. This is not a comfortable topic for me. I have had issues with junk food addiction, so I really try to avoid rewards and comforts that are edible. While I tried to decline my friend’s offer, she insisted, to the point where the conversation was becoming awkward. While she was offering things like ice cream bars or trays of cookies, I finally caved and suggested a veggie tray or melon salad that we could all pick at. My friend meant well…it’s been busy here, and she wanted to provide a comfort to all of us. What do we do when we have guests to our homes? We see to their physical comforts first, making sure our guest has a seat, something to eat/drink..then we can relax and enjoy the visit. The intent is to be thoughtful and generous to people in our home, just like my friend is looking to provide for her co-workers. We want to be seen as kind and able to do for others. We become uncomfortable when our generosity is declined, and sometimes even take it as a personal rejection. I think of the holidays…my husband and I would visit his mom, his dad, then my grandmother, all on Thanksgiving day. If we didn’t eat at every visit, things would get awkward, even unpleasant! “Why did you eat supper at your father’s, when I baked this pie just for you?” Relatives would work for hours preparing outlandish feasts, only to feel unappreciated, as though their very worth was undermined. The pressure to overeat can be a difficult hurdle. I know…we should politely decline, or take something “for later”. I’ve even accepted food on occasion, only to discreetly dispose of it (a desperate move to be used with utmost caution). Our holiday dilemma was further eased when my husband and I moved to another state (because of new jobs, not the food issue!)
I don’t know of an easy answer. Our need to provide for friends and family is deep seated, and we can’t “cure” everyone who feels compelled to force feed us. As for tonight, my generous co-worker brought in a meat and cheese tray. I enjoyed a reasonable amount at my normal mealtime, checked the nutrient label, and made sure to compliment the turkey. Hopefully she feels appreciated, and I am happy to have ducked an ice cream attack!
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