Americans: Eating more, Enjoying less

Living in a co-ed cooperative house like Babcock has its advantages, especially when there is a cook involved. Our cook, Tiffany, makes balanced, healthy meals with fresh fruits and vegetables. She always makes sure there are plenty of leftovers for those who cannot make the meal times. With a busy and hectic schedule like most college students, I fall into this category.

Last night after getting done with a long Dairy Science lab, I came home craving a wholesome, quality meal. Tiffany had made a spinach salad earlier that day so I helped myself to some of the leafy salad. I proceeded to heated up some pasta that my mother had sent back with me when I was home this past weekend. With my salad, pasta, and glass of milk I ate my dinner and felt satisfied afterwards.

In his book, Pollan suggests that an overabundance of food in America has made us indifferent towards food, causing us to eat more and enjoy less; and even though a majority of the food I eat is prepared beforehand, I still have to make the difficult decision of what to eat. Sometimes having too many choices is confusing. I often think, “What should I eat that is healthy, few in calories, but will also last until the next time I am able to eat?”

I believe this is where those “low-fat processed foods” play a role. A study published in Appetite journal found that people do not think of snacks as energy intake and fail to compensate for the extra calories. The study also noted that snacks are consumed at a more irregular basis than meals and are possible contributors to positive energy and weight gain. Even though snacks are consumed for their convenience, the public needs to be aware of their potentially hazardous health effects. I believe Michael Pollan has a valid point about over-indulgence and next time I may decide to grab and enjoy an apple over those Oreos when I need a snack.