Food and our relationship with it.

It's all so tied up with emotions too isn't it?

I have a friend who stops eating when she is anxious, I do the absolute opposite. My stress-buster is to bake - and then I have to live with the consequences!!
We both are fully aware of a healthy diet and usually eat sensibly, cooking from scratch most days.

Lucca

*most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight* a

How can anyone not know what a healthy diet is these days ? Or rather what an unhealthy diet is ?

I agree, surely the vast majority of people know perfectly well - they just prefer a diet consisting very largely - or even wholly - of unhealthy food.

Before anyone jumps on me for being judgemental, please NB I don’t make a habit of looking, not at all - but now and then when I’m waiting right behind the person at the checkout, I can’t help seeing that the only non-processed food in a full trolley is maybe eggs, and/or a few bananas. Not even a bag of frozen peas.

I think just try to be sensible. It's not easy I know. I had a friend who was a health fanatic. I used to take my breakfast cereal to eat at work and she'd say 'Try some seeds on that. Try almond milk'. She was very slim. She even brought her own food to office parties - a small salad and some fruit while we all tucked in to party food. She died of cancer at 53 poor soul.

My mum was obsessed with her weight in the 60s sweet things were rarely allowed in the house, a mars bar would be cut into small pieces, all this did her no good at all, she, by her own admission has ruined her bowels, having to eventually have an operation for piles. She also took slimming pills that made her very anxious.
As soon as I left home I lived on chocolate and craved the forbidden fruits. My house was full of treats. Having said that mum is 91 now won’t eat anything sweet and weighs 7 stone I on the other hand am 2 stone overweight, but I do enjoy everything.

It is not just about diets. It is about your genes, type of personality. inclinations and digestive system. We are all different.

Part of the problem is that no-one HAS to drink alcohol or smoke - but we all have to eat. Food is more than just fuel for our bodies and minds. It's a very social thing too, whether that is sitting around the dinner table with family, popping into a cafe for a cake and coffee with a friend or a full-blown celebration meal at a restaurant.

most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight a

How can anyone not know what a healthy diet is these days ? Or rather what an unhealthy diet is ?

Oh absolutely nail on the head Aussie gran!
Healthy moderation for most days and blow outs now and again. And I believe that’s for all areas. Obesity is a curse in most public settings. Seating is generally for average sized and weighted people. Hospital equipment likewise.
I watched a mother shopping with her small child the other day and was saddened as she was educating her on the fat free options however. As I think children need good metabolism building with decent building blocks.

Most of us do know what a healthy diet is Aussiegran but are tempted by the sugary, fatty foods that are being promoted all around us by unscrupulous retailers.
Why are the so called ‘naughty foods’ addictive? Why do they taste so good?

AussieGran, I know someone who is at huge risk of this- but will not change his habits, it is so sad.

Yes, our relationship with food has become so complicated. Obesity is a massive problem argymargy- but so is the opposite, I have currently several friends who were obsessed with dieting all their lives and always remaind very thin (unlike me)- who are all crumbling in the old age of osteoporosis, and nothing can be done. When I had my knees replaced, the surgeon commented that it was much better to be chubby and healthy, with strong bones (NOT obese) and fit and active.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Obesity and overweight are a huge strain on our society and services. However much you quote anecdata about obese alcoholic smokers who live to 100 it is a fact that most of our health (physical and mental) troubles are lifestyle related. Yes, dieting the way many people do it is doomed to fail and as you rightly point out, we have a twisted relationship with food and often use it as a weapon. Most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight and a quarter are obese.

I kick start the day with a very healthy breakfast - more brunch time really - then I eat whatever I fancy for the remainder. Worked well so far........

I can’t be bothered with diets,either. I am probably more aware of the amount of fruit and vegetables that are supposed to be part of our everyday diets and vaguely try to align with that. These days I don’t drink that much, just a glass of wine with dinner and the odd beer in hot weather because I see my heavy drinking friends have all, without exception, had serious health issues. I have come to the conclusion booze is as bad and worse than cigarettes except it takes longer to ‘get’ you.

Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef on Instagram), is an Aberdeen based nutritionist and fitness coach. He has a big following on Insta, his advice for losing weight and more importantly maintaining that weight loss is the most sensible I think I’ve ever read. His wee videos are great as is his choice of music.
He is very anti any kind of slimming clubs, special diets, etc. In his opinion, they only give people a dis-ordered view of food, and are often very expensive. He sees no food as being bad, it’s actually very simple, it’s calorie deficit, but over a long period.
He’s certainly made me re-evaluate how I feel about certain foods, and I’m losing weight gradually but steadily although Christmas has set me back a bit what with all the “goodies” I’ve consumed.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Everything in moderation is my plan. Not that I stick to it of course.