As I grocery shop I look into others' carts and wonder how families are fed. The price of food is high, but as I ponder other carts I'm thankful that my cart looks different from some I see. I understand that some shoppers have families to feed, and I and my husband are empty-nesters now. Of course I shop differently now than I did when my children were young. I certainly don't need the quantity of food I once did, but I don't believe the quality of food has changed much. At one time there were some boxes of cookies in my cart and after school snacks that I no longer buy, but the quantity of packaged, processed meals that I see other people buy is astounding.
Is there any wonder why families are overweight? We have become a society of fast food, processed pre-made dinners and sugar-laden items. For many, these are their go-to foods to feed the family. They think it's easy and less expensive. It is not. The cost of this food is not only represented in the price tag at the time of purchase, it's represented in the cost of your health. With health care costs skyrocketing, I have to wonder why people give these food companies, which contribute to the declining health of their families, their hard earned money.
Many would say they are just too busy to prepare food that will nourish their families. I understand the time constraints and busy schedules of the family, but can healthy eating become a priority in these households? To illustrate this point think of a busy day where you are strapped for time and your phone rings. You take a look at who is calling and the caller is not one of your favorite people, so you think, "I'm too busy for him/her today." Five minutes later the phone rings again and it's a call from someone you've been waiting to hear from. The situation has changed and you now find the time to answer and converse. It's all about priorities.
It's time to prioritize the health of American families. The cost of eating fast food, too many sugar laden treats and drinks, and pre-packaged processed meals is just too high, not only monetarily but in the long-term effects of ill-health for you and your family.
Blogger and co-author of The Unsinkable Soul, Teresa Bruni writes in her blog titled, Measure Your Mental & Physical Health by Looking in Your Trashcan: "I learned the difference between garbage and trash early in life having grown up on a small farm. Garbage consists of things that will naturally decompose such as apple cores, banana peels, and vegetable trimmings -- basically, anything that comes from the kitchen that will naturally decompose is garbage." Everything else is trash, explains Bruni.
"We've become a nation addicted to the quick fix: everything from calorie-free drinks so that we can enjoy ourselves and not suffer the consequences of calories to relying on pharmaceuticals to fix the problems that we ourselves create by not taking care of ourselves. It's time we start taking responsibility for our own health," states Bruni.
What Bruni is suggesting in her blog is compelling. But the questions remain:
How do we change?
Take a look at what you discard each week. Is there more trash than garbage? How much garbage can you eliminate? Talk to your family members. Ask them what food they would like to replace with a different, healthier option, and what some new choices could be. Remember that change takes time and everyone may not be on board initially. A drastic change will not be well-received; implement one change at a time... but keep at it.
How do we recreate our lifestyle?
Evaluate your time -- is it being spent wisely or is it wasted. If there is wasted time in your day use it for easy food preparation. Rather than grabbing for the cookie box to snack, choose a fruit and a piece of cheese. Eating cookies will keep you feeling hungry, causing you to eat more; while a healthier snack will satisfy your hunger.
How do we get our families to comply?
You may not. You may find much opposition, and sometimes the more you preach the harder they resist. Be the leader. Your children see commercials for unhealthy food while watching their favorite TV shows. They also have friends and past experiences that influence them. They are unaware of the price they will pay to continue to eat these nutritionally-devoid items. It's up to you to take control and lead by example.
The answers to these questions are difficult, and will differ in each household. Make the health of your family your priority. Be persistent and be healthy!