Weight loss vs muscle gain

[Trek420]

I wonder how much of our current obesity epidemic is caused by chemically altered junk foods. Would not be surprised if the future research finds truth here. Remember when margarine was supposed to be healthier than butter & transfat was just a word?

BUT (as she digs out her beads & sandals from the '60's) there is a big business in promoting fruity pebbles, top ramen, and other foods that will last beyond Keith Richards & roaches. Sadly, many families are looking for cheap foods that will fill them up quickly.

Food preparation takes planning & time. Fruity pebbles are easy.

+1, well said. (as she drinks camomile tea from the mug made by her commune along with a plate tofu scramble).

We're all paying a high cost to cheap fast food. Poor communities particularly are hit hardest with a triple whammy of all the impacts of obesity, lack of access to "real food" as well as open space to exercise and bike. I'm glad to see many organizing to bring in farm markets, even community gardens in.

It's not hard to make cheap, fast, delicious meals from real food. I'm no sociologist, I used to be souse chef. I didn't go to culinary school as all of my coworkers did. If I know anything about cooking I learned from my parents just being in the kitchen with them (yes, Dad cooked too).

One thing is people lack the basic knowledge of food prep. I'm not saying "it's the break down of the family! Aaaaaaaaaargh!!! Run away, run away " I feel we're not getting those "kitchen lessons" from cooking with family and friends.

Guests in the cafe I worked in hung around/over the counter fascinated, amazed, astounded even ... as I'd dice tomatoes, peppers, prepped a pineapple ...

It was nice to be so admired but a little sad. I felt like saying "people, it's not rocket science, it's food prep. You can do this. Get a knife and fruits and or vegetables. Just put food on your family "

But fruity pebbles have a budget for: ads on TV, to be placed strategically in the supermarket (at eye level for you, or slightly lower for your kids to hound you "Mommy, I want this")**, designers for splashy packaging ....

Fresh berries do not. They have us.

** that's why one trick when in a supermarket is to bring a list, shop the edges first and get your produce, then when in the middle look UP. Often the healthier, less heavily advertised brands are above eye level.