Liablility

The student at my desk passionately explained, "I just found out in health class that the reason we are all getting so fat is because of the big food companies. Did you know they are purposely putting extra sugar and fat in all the food in the grocery stores?"

The curmudgeon in me raised its snarky head and asked, "Is there someone holding a gun to the heads of the shoppers so they have to buy all that food in the store?"

"Well, no, but it isn't our fault that all the food is full of sugar and fat. They should stop doing that, It is making everyone fat," he replied.

Unable to let his naivety go unchallenged, I countered with, "So, you are telling me that I have no choice but fill my shopping cart with sugary goodies rather than fresh produce and wholesome foods?"

At this point, the student was smart enough to realize that I wasn't going to agree with his new found wisdom. He shook his head and gave me the you-just-do-not-understand-conspiracy-theories look and shuffled to his seat.

In defense of the young man's health teacher, I am sure the lesson on nutrition included a reminder that processed foods often have hidden sugars and fats. In defense of the big food companies, producing food that tastes crappy is probably not a wise business move and sugar and fat tend to make food taste better.

My growing up years did not involve processed food choices so I know it is possible to survive without many of our current food options. My mother baked our bread, raised a large garden, canned fruits and vegetables, raised chickens for eggs and meat. My dad milked the family cow and raised pigs and cows for the dinner table. We all pitched in with picking wild asparagus, plums and mulberries. The fastest food we ate was a fried egg. Drive-thru wasn't in our vernacular in those days and the nearest we got to a ready made treat was a small vanilla ice cream cone from Zesto.

Don't get me wrong, I am no health food guru. I could live on Cheetos and anything with a chippy crunch for the rest of my days. Bacon makes my heart sing and butter makes everything better. But, I claim total responsibility for my choices. Blaming the food companies for a grocery cart full of sugary, fatty goodness is not my style.

It is probably just a matter of time before our television screens tout a class action suit against the big bad wolf of processed foods. "Have you or any of your loved ones ever eaten a Cheese Curl? Did you know this food contains salt and vegetable oil and could cause weight gain if eaten in copious amounts? Please call the following toll free number if you think you have been wronged by Frito Lay. Our operators are standing by."

The famous French Chef, Julia Child, said it best, "A party without cake is just a meeting." She also reminded us to watch portion sizes and choose our food wisely. That probably explains why she lived a full life until the age of 91.

Embrace your freedom to choose. Sometimes it's an apple and sometimes it's a cheese curl. And when your waistband gets cranky with you, remember, you are the one in charge.