April 9, 2010

A Food And Diet Revolution

Every generation of Americans seems to be larger than the previous generation. The issue is not about the overcrowding in the cities It is about the growing problem around the waist of many Americans. America is starting to realize that being fat is not a good thing. As a country we are spending more of our resources dealing with the ramifications of this issue than we have ever spent before. The problems that are caused by obesity are felt by almost every group in our country. And the problems won’t go away unless something is done.

Over two hundred years ago the American colonists fought for their independence from England. The only way left to fight the issues caused by being overweight could be a revolution like our forefathers started with a emphasis on changing the unhealthy lifestyle that we are accustomed to. This is not going to be solved by putting on a television show that has everyone following along with the host as they go through a workout of six pack ab exercises on a Saturday morning. This type of revolution will require a lot of work. We have to change how we consider food in our country. We put the idea of food on a pedestal during parties. Our holidays center more around food than around getting together with family. It is possible to celebrate major events without having to have them centered around food. A celebration should circle around the thing that is being celebrated. A celebration does not require that you cheer while stuffing your face.

One important facet of a diet revolution is our children’s diet. The media is constantly showing us ads that glorify food, but often times this food is full of things that contribute to the problem of obesity. In the schools kids are given meals and many schools now even provide breakfast. However, the food choices that are offered in these programs are full of things that are not helping the health of our youth. It is not uncommon for them to serve French fries as one of the vegetables for children. Kids have always avoided their vegetables, and teaching them this is not going to make it any easier for someone to get their kids to eat the peas that are left on the plate. Unless our kids start changing their eating habits, they will grow up and find themselves overweight only to be searching for a way to learn how to lose weight fast using some fad diet that might even cause more issues than the weight did in the first place. All of this can be avoided if children are taught the importance of proper nutrition at a young age.

There is no doubt that technology has made it easier to teach a large mass of people quickly. This could be our most effective tool to begin the change. Knowledge is a valuable weapon for someone to have, and if they are aware of the effects of living right and eating right, they might decide to try it. The internet is full of a wealth of information and has sites such as the biggest loser forum that are dedicated to helping people live a healthier lifestyle by sponsoring chat rooms to discuss all of the issues surrounding weight loss and eating right and exercising. The more people that are recruited, the more we can alter the weight of the country. It might be time to come up with a slogan that will get people ready to change.

It is not too late to stem the rising tide of obesity. Action must be taken. The way we lead our lives is being mimicked by the young and they are not benefiting from it. More emphasis must be placed on proper nutrition. The availability of fried foods and snack foods must be replaced with foods that have the nutritional value that is needed. Changing the way we eat will allow old and young alike to reap the benefits. It is okay to sometime have food as the centerpiece of a gathering. But they must become luxuries instead of our normal diet that they are now. This is how we need to alter the way that we think. And it needs to occur now.

Filed under Barbecuing by the_cook

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