There are several factors that play a role in how we decide on the choices we make. Socially, we spend a lot of time eating with our family and friends. Psychologically, sometimes we feel that food is our only friend. Physically, we know we need to eat, and often make poor choices. So I would like to take a look at each factor, and see where I can make changes in my own life.
Physically, we have to eat. There is just no other way around it. What we eat and how much we can control. So we really need to consider a healthy diet. A healthy diet is really just a plan to eat healthy. The plan needs to consist of adequacy, balance, calorie control, moderation, and variety.
Looking at this plate, I see that there is variety, it shows me how to balance what I need, when I balance what I need, I have calorie control, this would give me the adequate nutrients I need daily, and I would be eating in moderation. It looks so easy. But it is oh so hard. Now I have mentioned I love food. I even try new foods all the time, but I fall back into eating the same old thing all the time. So I really don't have variety. When I find something I like, I don't have moderation, because I can't stop eating it until it is completely gone. I know I am not getting adequate nutrients because a lot of the food I love, is very nutrient deficient. Most of my food choices have been fast food, prepackaged, highly processed foods, that really have no nutritional value. Why, because they are cheaper and taste so good.
When I think about this, then I see how social factors play a role in our diets. We see advertisements everyday about restaurants and their new improved tasty deluxe products. There are so many that at times, it is hard to choose what you want to eat. Then you add in the cost of some of the choices. To eat a burger and fries at a fast food joint is cheaper than eating a salad. How can this be the norm? Then add in the fact that you are going out with friends and family, and they are able to eat all the yummy fries and greasy tasty burgers they want, and you don't want to look silly having a boring old salad.
This then plays with your psychological self. Your mind starts telling you it will be okay to eat one burger and large order of fries just this one time. The sad thing is, it is not okay. Who am I kidding, if I start letting myself believe this, then I will be at this same place in 5 years. The sad thing is, is the eating habits I have now started when I was young. We didn't have much food when I was growing up, so if I got to go somewhere, or had my own money to purchase something, I always chose a treat. A sugary snack, or a soft drink loaded with sugar, or a big ole greasy hamburger from the local restaurant, with a huge stack of fries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. A study done in Ireland shows that the children were more apt to choose foods higher in fat and calories, than to choose foods that were more nutrient dense and better for them (Hamilton, McIlveen, & Strugnell, 2000). I believe this has to do with how we advertise these products and how we perceive their nutritional value.
Another issue is cultural choices. Many times we have friends and family who are of different cultures than us, and we gather at their homes for celebrations. There is always food readily available. Often times, these foods are much higher in calorie value than what we need, but in order to not hurt feelings, we eat. We stuff ourselves full, and then wonder why we feel so miserable.
I often wonder if having friends from the Mediterranean would help me to make better choices food wise. People from this region tend to eat more fat than those of us in the United States, but also tend to have less disease from this fat. This is because their diet is made up of good fats, vegetables, and fruits (Sizer & Whitney, 2017). If only I liked fish more. The benefits of the Omega-3 fats would be a wonderful benefit.
There are so many different controversies going on right now about diets. Eat no carbs, eat high protein, eat only fruits and vegetables, take this supplement, take that supplement, this pill will help you lose all the weight you need in just a few days. These things are all crazy. There is only one way to lose weight. That is diet and exercise. We need to make sure that we are eating a well balanced diet, and then adding in exercise to balance what we are putting in caloric wise. That is really the only way we can do it. Making sure we have this balance will be a winning situation.
Hamilton, J., McIlveen, H., & Strugnell, C. (2000). Educating young consumers – a food choice model. Journal Of Consumer Studies & Home Economics, 24(2), 113.
Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2017). Nutrition: Concepts and controversies (14th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
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