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We here in the good ol’ US of A have reached another new high, unfortunately not one that I think we aspired to. Currently we have climbed to a new high in being overweight and/or obese. Over 64% of Americans, approximately 120 million of us, are either overweight or obese. Sadly I am one of those who are part of the problem, although it is nice to be in the majority. I wish I could be part of the solution, that is if there is truly a solution to be found.
Sure, we can diet, eat healthier, and exercise, but in this rush-around world that is easier said than done. With fast food restaurants at every corner and the clock constantly ticking, the choice is usually to eat fattening foods or to starve. Not being one who has ever leaned towards the bulimic side, I eat what and when I can.
Sometimes that means eating later than I should or having a burger instead of a salad. Just call me Wimpy because I do love my burgers. Not that I don’t enjoy a good salad every now and then. I do. It’s just when given the option the burger generally wins.
So what do we do? There are about a million diets out there and they all claim to do the trick. The most visible one that is now all the rage, is the “low
carb” or Atkins diet. As I am sure you know, basically that means you can eat all the meat and bacon that you want, but have to lay off the bread and pasta.
Personally, I have seen some pretty dramatic results in some friends of mine who were on the Atkins diet. Of course every diet has its detractors, and most of them say that you usually gain the weight back once you go off the program. I love pasta and bread so the Atkins diet is out as far as I’m concerned, but that isn’t stopping a lot of people. The food manufacturers, smelling something cooking, have jumped right on the chuck wagon to make a quick buck while the oven is hot.
In addition to a full line of Atkins food products, suddenly all sorts of foods that you didn’t think were acceptable on a “low carb” diet have been anointed with stamps on their packaging saying “Atkins Friendly” or “low carb.” I’m sorry, but when I see bread and chips marked as “low carb” I have to think that something funny is going on.
If there is a “low carb” bread out there then why are burger chains like Carl’s and In-and-Out not using them? Shouldn’t they be offering them as an option to wrapping burgers with lettuce? Which, by the way, again is not for me. I’ve never tried one and please correct me if I’m wrong, but if you wrap a greasy hamburger patty, tomato, and onions inside of leaves of lettuce wouldn’t they slide out? Unless they are using some form of abrasive lettuce I am unaware of, I would think yes. Besides a hamburger without a bun is just wrong. It’s like not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day.
Atkins purists have got to find it frustrating, not to mention confusing, to now see foods that were strictly verboten at one point suddenly being ok to eat. They may take some solace in the fact that the people who are buying these products are not really on the Atkins diet and are just looking to watch their carbs, carburetors, as I like to call them.
But even the carburetors haven’t been given a break by the food companies, quite the contrary. Just like anything that will help people lose weight it is priced much higher than their less healthy counterparts. I have never understood why that is, other than corporate greed. If it is something that will help somebody lose weight, or think that they are, it should be priced less. After all, these products generally have fewer ingredients and the portions are smaller, right? The same principle should apply to the fast food restaurants. If you are taking off the bun, then the price should go down. Why should we pay the same, or even more, for less?
If America’s weight is becoming such a concern by the medical community and the population as a whole, which it must be considering the amount of press coverage it has been getting lately, shouldn’t the government be getting involved? Shouldn’t our lawmakers pass some legislation to regulate the costs of diet foods like they do with gas prices, well maybe that’s not a good example, but you know what I mean. Make it more cost effective for those who want to lose weight.
McDonald’s, the home of the super size, has recently decided to phase out the super sizing of its fries and drinks citing it’s attempt to simplify its core menu and to present a better current lifestyle menu. Even though their press release says that removing super sizing has been in the works since 2002, it seems a little convenient that they instituted it in the wake of them being sued by a customer claiming that McDonald’s food made him obese, and in light of the government reports on the growing obesity rates.
It seems like just another attempt by a corporate giant to make more money off their best customers, the big eaters. They have to know that if somebody whose lifestyle is used to super sizing, that customer is going to order an extra order of fries or another drink if they feel one is not going to be enough. Those who are dieting aren’t going to be super sizing anything anyway.
As for me, I am still waiting for my diet to come along. You know, the one that is high in carbs with plenty of deep fried foods.
The Shrub Speaks: Earlier today, the Libyan government released Fathi Jahmi. She's a local government official who was imprisoned in 2002 for advocating free speech and democracy. Washington, D.C., March 12, 2004, while giving a speech commemorating International Women’s Week.
B.D.’s response: I hate to break it to you, Dubya, but Fathi Jahmi is a
man!
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