To think most people don’t care about healthy eating, exercise, etc

[Notcontent]

We keep hearing about rising obesity levels, diabetes, and how sugary/processed good is responsible for a lot of it, etc.

But it seems to me that most people are completely ignoring those messages - either because they think it’s all nonsense or because they think “oh well, I want to enjoy my food and drink and I don’t really care what happens when I get to 50”.

I completely agree that we need to have treats and enjoy food because that’s what life is all about. But a lot of it is just simple stuff, like having water instead or sugary drinks. Why is that? Yes, I know some people can’t afford healthy food, but most of us do have some choice about what we feed ourselves and our families.

Okay, so let's take it it apart a bit more:

Mon-Fri I eat my seed/nut/fruit mix for breakfast and lunch. I have an active job. (By the way, I got the idea from a former male colleague, who did the same).

Saturdays is cheese on toast and Sundays is bacon sandwich day; on those two days we have sandwiches or a small cooked lunch, depending on the evening meal.

I cook dinners from scratch 6/7 evenings. Curries, pasta dishes, something meat- or fish-based with potatoes - whatever. I go for a minimum of 2 veg types when I cook.

Generally, I don't have snacks during the day. I drink water or hot chocolate. I also drink gin and tonic (full-sugar), wine and will not say no to a slice of cake or biscuits if offered by family and friends so it's not all healthy. I just moderate my intake and keep an eye on portion sizes.

And a healthy weight at 54kg in a 5'3" body.

Eating the same thing day after day is not a healthy way of eating. Variety is much healthier.

I’ve just come back from a fortnight in the States. The number of obese people is truly staggering, but when you see the amount and type of food they eat it isn’t surprising. I’m particularly sensitive to it as I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic a year ago and have been trying hard to lose weight and adopt a more healthy lifestyle. Sure, it’s none of my business if people want to dig their own graves with their teeth, but they may be in for a big shock down the line, just as I was.

If people had the self control to eat the same thing day in, day out with no snacks in between they probably don't have the same food issues that overweight people have.

Most people who work have defined breaks. They are the only times I eat or drink. Yes, it is a self-control thing, but no-one can do that for you - bizarre to take that as an excuse?

Also, dried fruit has a shit ton of sugar in it.

No more than the actual fruit itself. If I take 3 dried plums and 2 dried figs into work, the sugar content is the same as if I took in the whole fruit - only people for some reason applaud the one, but sneer at the other. Strange thinking.

I could say I could do the same thing with a 10kg bag of rice and lentils, and just eat dhal and rice for 2 weeks. More appetising

You're suggesting bland. None of this is bland - each nut and piece of fruit has their own taste and I vary what I take in, so it really doesn't get boring.

and I could feed the rest of the family too, but that's hardly helpful or sustainable for most people!

Only if you try to find excuses. By the way, wath what people take into work for lunches. I barely see any variety - the same people will have the same sandwiches, yogurts, fruit and veg in all day every day. Lack of variety is a silly thing to suggest as a reason not to eat healthier.

But of course, there has to be a will for there to be a way. Everyone can find reasons why not to do something.

Alright Tessalectus it’s not all about you and your seeds. All we’re saying is it’s daft to suggest the population should adopt his weird way of eating to avoid obesity (quite frankly I’d be very concerned if I had to take such drastic measure to keep my normal weight stable) you crack on with Your boxes of seeds

Eating the same thing day after day is not a healthy way of eating. Variety is much healthier.

We do not disagree on that point. But you seem to suggest I eat the same thing every day - which I don't. I vary my fruit and nuts and seeds, rotate them around and take different mixtures in daily.

Weekends I have dairy- and meat-based breakfasts, a variety of sandwiches or cooked lunches.

Dinners are always different and I make a point of trying a new recipe one day each week.

My diet means that I don't have to heavily watch my calorie intake. I can have cheesy sauces, cream, bread, pasta, fatty meat and oily fish if I choose and can eat my fill. If someone brings cake or samosas into work I can have piece without feeling guilty and moaning to everyone who will listen that "I shouldn't, really", but I will stop at one slice and not have the 3 or 4 some colleagues have with a guilty look and an excuse.

Your arguments don't work. It's simply a different way of eating and probably far more closely aligned with natural eating than the sandwich/ crisp/ chocolate bar culture many people have.

Alright Tessalectus it’s not all about you and your seeds.

Yup, it's a (swoon) different way of eating!

All we’re saying is it’s daft to suggest the population should adopt his weird way of eating to avoid obesity (quite frankly I’d be very concerned if I had to take such drastic measure to keep my normal weight stable)

Lol. Poked a sore spot? Nope, my way isn't the only way - I never said it is. I pointed out that it's cheap, full of nutrients and easily prepared - all of which are points people make to say they cannot eat healthily.

you crack on with Your boxes of seeds

Thank you, I will

No, junk food is not uniformly delicious. In cultures which have not yet embraced over processed food as normal, junk food from here would not be considered delicious. Junk food is basic and one dimensional in flavour profile, and people who did not grow up with it don't find it appealing. I agree. Or you can have grown up with it but since changed how you eat so you don't find rubbish food appealing anymore. Right now I really want to eat the coriander on my windowsill more than the bourbons in the cupboard, but I need to save it as a garnish for dinner!

I think it's pure laziness.
It's very simple! Don't buy junk food! Don't buy jars of sauces etc full of sugar! Don't buy takeaways! Don't sit and eat crisps and sweets while watching telly at nighttime..
Make things from scratch..it's just as simple!
I'm not saying don't have a piece of cake, but people shouldn't be eating crap everyday!
Vegetables and fruit are very cheap..
The majority of obese people are obese because they overeat. If you have an obsession with food and it's your comfort, go to your GP. Seek help.

I can spot a Brit or American a mile off on holiday..the majority of them are obese.

And the slim posters saying they eat loads of rubbish and don't put weight on, it's irrelevant.
The damage it's still doing to your body is bad.

I do think that companies shouldn't be allowed to put so much sugar in products.

I am my primary carer for my diabetic grandfather and foods you would never expect are full of sugar! It's shocking!
People need to read labels on products before buying, educate themselves more

Not at all Tessalectus, I’m 9 stone and have been for the last 25 years. And 5ft 7. I don’t have any weight concerns. And I manage it without all the weird planning and Control. I just have more emotional intelligence than you, and understand not everyone’s life is like mine

I live in a fairly well to do area. Recently I happened to visit a far more deprived town on a weekday lunchtime.

There was a very noticeable increase in the number of people smoking, plus a lot of visibly overweight people in their fifties who seemed to have chronic health problems and were using walking aids etc.

It is well evidenced that socio-economic status is a factor in health outcomes, but the obesogenic environment affects us all.

People don't take is seriously and it frustrates me as it's these same people who obviously understand the dangers of smoking. I know people who go "oh well I like food". I'm sure there's more to it than that though.

Sidenote: In Russia, seeds... especially sunflower seeds... are the food of the common man. Taxi drivers and street cleaners stereotypically have a pocketful they chew through during their shift.

I don't see how Tasselectus having her seeds and nut mix every day for breakfast is all that strange, it's no different to someone who has a slice of toast every morning or a bowl of muesli or other cereal every day. Maybe it's unusual to skip lunch and just eat the seeds again, but whatever- t's probably quite good for you.

I think its also lack of knowledge. I am 52. My mum bought all the new convenience foods that arrived in the 60's/70's and that is what I ate growing up progressing on to takeaways as they became better off financially so I was never taught to cook or shop. I work two jobs and have two disabled sons so time is stretched. I look at the comment "cook from scratch" and think what does that actually mean? Cook what? I wish in school I had been taught cooking but all I cooked was a nut cutlet and pasta the rest was cakes. I spend over four hours a day in a car and 4-8 hours sitting at a desk or in a chair. I struggle to get 4-500 steps a day on my fitbit. I think lack of imagination, knowledge and time make things difficult. And cookbooks are full expensive ingredients I would only use for that recipe. I am obese and fatter by the day and I hate that my children will be the same. None of them have eaten vegetables or meat since they were small they hate the taste. I hate the fact I am useless and healthy eating.

I care. I run 30+ miles per week and cross train for 30mins per day. I eat 90% clean and cook all my meals from scratch. I would say I'm in the minority of the people I know

I look after myself. I exercise and eat well. But allow myself treats.

Never underestimate the power and hold junk food and sugar can have.

I still find it incredibly difficult to resist. I need treats to keep me going otherwise I'd fall off the wagon but I'm looking to slowly replace them with healthier options.

This weekend, I'm trying rice cakes covered in chocolate as an alternative to fruit and nut chocolate. See how I get on.

But imagine being incredibly addicted to junk food and sugar... and then imagine going into town where every 3rd or 4th shop is a major junk food retailer. McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Subway, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Nandos... you can get it delivered through Deliveroo or Just Eat. Alot of them have drive thrus to make it even easier.

It's incredibly difficult to resist especially for someone who has a major addiction to it.

I dont think it's people ignoring it. I think it's hard. It's hard to build up that discipline to say no once you're addicted to it.

In my case is because the food I actually like the taste of and enjoy is unhealthy. And while i can eat food just for the sake of eating it ,I'd rather enjoy it too. I'm quite fussy too.I don't eat a lot of fast food or takeaways because of the fussiness. Things just don't taste right, so i cook from scratch for most of my meals .
Last takeaway I had was grilled chicken liver,chips and fish roe salad(with onions and olives).

The only frozen foods I eat are veg bags, sweet things and haloumi fries. Microwave or canned meals I find absolutely disgusting.

I can't stick to a diet or healthy plan for long because I simply don't like the food and I get quite miserable after a while.

Deb- you obviously don't hate it enough to do anything about it. People don't learn to cook at school and nobody learns all their skills from their parent's either. You teach yourself, bit by bit. You start with a spaghetti bolognese, or a stir fry or a pasta sauce etc. Cooking is easy. All you need to be able to do it is follow a simple set of instructions- I don't understand why people find it so difficult. If you wanted to cook you would.

@Debfronut My mother was the same.

I started learning with the help of a student cook book - they're full of recipe ideas for people who struggle with time and money and don't need anything exotic; they're just really good, simple recipes that are easy to follow.

I didn't stand beside my mum learning to cook, although admittedly she did cook every day so I saw it being done and cooking dinner every evening was something that was normal to me.

But as for learning to cook? I did that myself, from books. I certainly did learn it at school and I don't really see why the responsibility for that should fall to schools. I think the onus is on everyone to learn to do these things for themselves. It's what most people do. And these days it's easier than it has ever been because we have video on demand so if you want to know what a book means when it says 'bring to the boil' you can look at a video.

And the internet is awash with ideas of how to cook on a budget/a restricted diet/with no access to an oven/only using a slow cooker. All sorts of things.

The lack of movement shocks me.

A lot of my colleagues drive to work, get the lift up to the third floor . Stay in the building during lunch. And drive home. Our bodies aren't designed to cope with being that sedentary for 8 hours a day.

Cooking is a lost art. I grew eating processed foods out of a box as my parents were too busy making a living. I had to really make an effort to learn to cook and try to retrain my taste buds. I find eating spicy food really helps with the sugar cravings for some reason.

But it wasn’t until I lived in Asia that I discovered that veggies can be delicious (unlike here, where traditionally you boil the shit out of them and salt them) and everyone seems to know how to cook and there are little roadside markets everywhere so ppl usually just get ingredients for dinner on the day.

It was also a revelation when I gave my best friend over there some “treats from home” and it was all she could do from spitting it out in front of me and then cried out “too sweet”! Never occurred to me a cake or candy bar could taste vile to people in some cultures, but people there (China) really don’t have a well-developed sweet tooth. Fruit is about the limit.

I know women who have been severely sexually abused who say that emotionally they feel best when they keep their bodies still, and find doing any form of exercise emotionally difficult.
It is not a surprise to me that those who have serious mental health problems, tend to also have very unhealthy lifestyles. Eating properly, exercising, looking after yourself are all things that seem to me the privileges of people managing fine with life, work and kids.