Remember when you were little and looked forward to eating? You polished off a pizza without blinking, drank gallons of kool-aid and thought nothing of it. You didn’t bother to read labels. Heck, whole milk was real milk, none of this soy, rice or skim milk stuff. You ate cookies fresh from the oven, cookies made of butter, white flour and chocolate chips. There wasnt such a thing as lite and you didnt worry about it.

If you’re a typical adult, your attitude toward food has changed. Who would admit to eating a brownie, a cheeseburger or a malt? This is the time for purists. Even whole wheat is out in favor of products never before known: amaranth and spelt and quinoa, grains that cant even be spelled much less tolerated by your taste buds. It seems that food has become the enemy.

So why are we so fat?

Why are so many of us imprisoned in a power struggle against food, seeking thinness at all costs or at least a bathroom mirror that will lie?

On the surface, our obsessive hatred of eating seems healthy. Obesity has surpassed smoking as the highest risk of death. Over 60 percent of all Americans are considered overweight. Our bodies are universally composed of more than 25 percent body fat, and that includes kids. Were no longer a nation that can pass the pinch test, squeezing only an inch or so of fat at our waists. Heck, were lucky if we could survive a cinch test with a one-foot belt! In general, we are a nation of Eaters Anonymous, hiding our compulsive eating in fast food bags. Were all deserving of Olympic Gold Medals in lifting weights. Our own weight, that is.

Continue Reading »
Nutrition