Am I telling you to read nutrition labels or not? The answer is yes, but be warned. I have grown up being taught to eat what’s on my plate and not complain. That has made me a universal eater (aka someone who loves to eat anything and everything). Picky people are the worst, right? You never remember what they like and what they don’t. They always end up being upset with what’s on their plate. That being said, I’ve happily turned into one those horrible people who refuses to eat certain foods. It’s all under good reasoning, though. Working at a health food store and learning about the food industry in my environmental class has made me aware of what’s been going on. We are no longer eating real, substantial meals, but products that are made with fillers and preservatives. Just look at the ingredients of what you’re eating right now. There are probably chemical dyes and other words that could possibly be a different language. Instead of following society today, I choose to know what’s going inside my body. I choose to read the labels and eat real food.
When I was in first grade, I wrote an acrostic poem about how I hated ice cream and loved eggs. I was that weird child who happily ate whole wheat bread and loved veggies. As I grew a bit older, I became a “regular” person again, loving ice cream to a point of wanting to marry it. Now I’m a 17-year-old girl, trying to avoid sweets as much as possible (which is funny how life can go full circle). I still love food, but I’m more conscious about it. Sadly, that has gotten me into many uncomfortable situations. When I read nutrition facts, I get comments like “Are you on a diet now?” or “you don’t need to watch what you eat- you’re already so skinny!” Friends and family give me a hard time when I don’t want to eat something due to its contents. There’s a problem with trying to become healthy nowadays. We grow up thinking it’s normal to eat chips, pizza and burgers at parties or BBQs. Salads are usually sides to a meal or appetizers. People have told me that I’m annoying when it comes to food and that is not right. Those who eat well should be commemorated for standing up against the social norms. If someone wants a salad as a meal, he or she is not being deprived of anything. If someone wants to eat fruit as dessert instead of eating a baked good, that’s not crazy. To those who have been tormented for their food choices, you’re not alone. And to those who think this entire article is just a joke: eat whatever you want but stop making others feel bad for doing the same in their own way.
People who usually do not eat healthy use the typical excuse of saying it’s too expensive. That is very true, but there’s a trick to it. Big companies producing low-quality products are controlling grocery store shelves because they’re obviously more affordable. That’s because of two things- they buy ingredients that are cheap and they also get continual support from us (the consumer). Instead of fully putting your money into products like that, choose to buy a portion of your grocery list from trustable companies. A great example of a thriving, trustable company is Field Day. Field Day makes a variety of food items, from granola bars to cookies to fruit cups. They promote organic and non-GMO foods while also trying to make it low cost. They’re appearing in supermarkets more frequently because we (again, the consumers) are now demanding it. The food industry is not only trying to feed people but also competing to make money. It’s the truth behind all business and it's what makes big companies control the markets. Make your favorite brands more popular and affordable by advocating and supporting them. If we stop buying, or buy less of low-quality brands, then the smaller companies that we buy from will lower their prices because they can afford to do so. In the grand scheme of things, it sounds like a slow process that may not be worth it. When in doubt, don’t underestimate the power of the people. Whatever the majority wants, the majority gets.
You may ask, “What is the point of this? Are you telling me to read labels, stop buying certain products or turn my life completely around?” I’m saying live your life, but do it consciously. Stop letting the stigma of reading nutritional facts turn you away from knowing what’s in your food. Stop letting others tell you that being healthy is just a hoax. Becoming aware of what’s going on behind the scenes will only open your eyes more to the serious issues we have within the food industry in America. Research, ask questions and realize the facts.
