Okay, so that quote isn't entirely relevant to anything I'm about to say. Except that it involves food. I SUPPOSE that rice could be used as a transition to say how hunger is a problem that plagues billions, and eating 2000 of something is nice when you live in one of those places. Maybe that's why rice is so common in the third world... Anyways, here in the plump first world, we often suffer from the opposite of hunger, as evidenced by the accurate illustration below.
But I digress, when the conflict between our seeming desire to put anything near us into our mouths meets with societies demands of physical perfection, eating disorders may arise. Whether these be bulimia, anorexia, or anything in between, they can wreak havoc on our physical and psychological health (but then again they are a result of a psychological irregularity, so I suppose it'd be the other way around). This being 'merica, the simplest and fastest solution is the one we all want. However, the majority of these miracle diets are hogwash, especially anything that involves cleansing, purging, fasting, magical foods, one specific food, or cardboard. These can often lead to even more severe physiological consequences on top of your already weak psychological state, and end up worsening the condition altogether. I know... intense. So long story short, eating is complicated. If you're hungry, you're screwed unless you eat more. If you're fat, you're pretty much screwed either way, unless you have the will power and motivation to eat your vegetables and exercise regularly. Hey that sounds like a good idea for a diet... I should sell that to someone.
I like rice. Rice is great if you're hungry and want 2000 of something.
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First off, +1 for Mitch Hedberg and use of meme. Secondly, this made me think of the fact that Congress recently declared pizza a vegetable. In a country that suffers so much from obesity, I think it is great that the government is starting to take notice and deciding that things need to change. But they're really not changing anything by declaring pizza a vegetable just to satiate whatever big company put on the pressure. Also, in a country such as 'merica where taking away any of our right to choose leads to sure anarchy, we can't really start telling people what they can and cannot eat. I think that our best option is to start giving more government aid to organic farmers so they can sell their healthier products at a cheaper and more accessible rate. Although it is unfortunate, it is almost obvious that the country with the highest rate of obesity is also going to be the country with the most eating disorders and this isn't just going to change through a magic diet pill.
Let's be honest, in complete agreement with your point, people in our country are much like babies. Anything that they can get their hands on easily will go straight to their mouth. We don't know any better. People need to realize what they put in their body, but the majority of us are too lazy and ignorant to care. We think that unless you have a personal trainer, dietitian, and a million dollars, you're never going to have a perfect body. Really, all you need, like you said in your post, is healthier foods and a little will power to get off of your butt and do something active.
Really, I don't think that it sounds that hard. Take some time and a conscience to make a list of healthier foods to get from the grocery store. Frozen lasagna for dinner? Why not just pick up the ingredients and throw it together yourself? Sure, it might take a little extra time that it may take a little effort to find, but if losing weight and/or being healthier is important to you, cut out your processed food. You can't just pop a magic pill and suddenly be 93 pounds like Snooki. It just doesn't happen that way.
I think one of the biggest problems in the U.S. in recent times is the unhealthy relationship with food. One study that I recently read about asked participants to answer what word they think of when they hear the word "chocolate cake." Americans replied with "guilt," while the French respondents said "celebration." Eating healthy is important, but it shouldn't be seen as a punishment.
The question about diets and eating healthy is one that has been at the forefront of the headlines for quite some time now. Everybody is looking for that miracle drug to make them skinny or in shape. The truth is, people have grown accustomed to eating whatever is in front of them and that is not okay. The fact is, too many companies are making billions of dollars every year because they found a way to process our favorite foods and make them readily available and fairly cheap as well. Too many people would rather eat the processed food than eat healthy and get in shape. This is the main problem to our countries obesity problem we are facing today.