Skip to main content

Bored of "Health"

The title here is meant to be a bit deceiving.  No one is bored of health.  We're all grateful for our good health and wish good health for everyone.  What I am bored of, is the TERM "health," in its various forms. . . especially when used to promote better eating habits.  Every day, we're barraged with urgings to "eat healthy," have "healthy snacks," prepare "healthy meals," and practice "healthy exercise."  With VERY, VERY few exceptions, there is no mention of how delicious these snacks and meals can be. . . or how good it can feel, to exercise.  Using the label "healthy" seems to justify to the users and marketers, that they've done due diligence.  They haven't.

Want some examples?  I know you probably don't, but because you opened my blog, you're about to see them.  

SALMON:  Healthy fats, healthy protein.  But sadly, the word "healthy" just encourages people to eat it, without considering the one aspect that's most obvious to the rest of us: IT'S DELICIOUS!  Sardines and mackerel are also healthful, but to me, they're absolutely delicious!

VEGETABLES: Groan. . .Okay, I'll have a side of broccoli, with my steak.  Or I'll take the small salad, with my pasta.  You shouldn't HAVE TO eat vegetables. . . marketers and nutrition experts should make you WANT to eat vegetables.  And telling you that it's "healthy" only makes it seem more like medicine, than delicious food.  On average, most Americans don't look at vegetables as a delicious part of their meals.  Instead, they look at it as if it's an unpleasant - but necessary - part of a health regimen.  Sorry, folks, but broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, etc. are a DELICIOUS part of the meal.  And having a salad does NOT mean eating the 300 calories of blue cheese dressing off the top and sending back the rest.

WHOLE GRAINS:  They're often chewy, have to be cooked longer and taste more like nuts, than spaghetti or rice.  But it's that very feature that makes them so delicious.  Most white-grain products are pretty bland, by comparison.  Healthy or not, I'd rather have brown rice, barley, whole-grain bread or whole wheat pasta, than their white counterparts.  Why don't makers of pasta, bread and rice products MAKE them sound delicious?  Understand why I'm bored of "health?"

If we look at "delicious" first, many of those whole, simple foods will turn out to be healthful, as well.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Organ Meats

Before  You make a face, consider that organ meats are never eaten in large quantities. Not only that, but they're also mixed in with potatoes and vegetables and other things.. Lastly, the way organ meats are prepared before cooking can make all the difference in the world. I'm not urging you to eat organ meats, but I am suggesting that you give them a try, if possible.Although I have always liked kidneys, I hadn't had them until recently at a local sichuan restaurant. That same restaurant also prepares things like tongue and tripe, pork intestines and beef tendon.They're all highly seasoned and absolutely elicious, in small quantities and only occasionally.
Post a Comment
Read more

The "Nondiet Diet?"

At the ripe old age of 74, I've certainly seen and most likely participated in any number of diets. Including fad diets. Many fad diets. Lately, there's a lot of talk about something called intuitive eating. I still don't know very much about it, but it seems to be guided by logic, rather than mere number crunching. While most fad diets rely upon some measurement or distorted measurement of some nutrient or calories, intuitive eating depends more on good, healthful choices, eaten in moderate portions, guided to a great extent by mindfulness or slow eating, as well as a measure of hunger versus fullness. This last attribute is, perhaps, the most important. Many of us of my generation were taught to clean the plate. Much of that, of course, was generated by parents who did not have reliable refrigeration open to them. Food was prepared freshly, served quickly, and anything else needed to be thrown away. Nowadays, of course, we have reliable refrigeration, as well ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Flex Those Mussels!

Yes, you read that right. Mussels. . .tender, plump and tasting of the ocean.  They're low in calories, provide almost no carbs, and they're easy to obtain and prepare. Although the tendency for most fish and seafood is toward wild-caught, when it comes to mussels, I prefer farm-raised. This shellfish, grown on wires or ropes will have little to no sand or grit. Wild-caught always will. It's your choice. With any bivalves, I prefer to allow them to purge themselves, for about an hour, in cool water. Very simply, take the mussels and place them in a pot that holds plenty of water and cover them to the top. I recommend that the water be changed every 15 minutes for the hour, then you can go ahead and cook them. If there is any sand or grit, it is likely to be expelled by the shellfish when taking in fresh clean water. Pour off all the water from the pot, except for about a cup. Put it on high heat and allow that water to come to the boil. Place a top on the pot, a...
Post a Comment
Read more