Known as the Standard American Diet (though Wikipedia calls it the Western pattern diet), it is “generally characterized by high intakes of pre-packaged foods, refined grains, red and processed meat, high-sugar drinks, candy and sweets, fried foods, high-fat dairy products (such as butter), eggs, potato products, and corn products (including high-fructose corn syrup). Conversely, there are generally low intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts, and seeds.”
It’s generally agreed-upon to be unhealthy, but how to move away from it is a much harder question. Capitalism, food deserts, willpower, etc etc all get talked about. But regardless of whether or not it’s a good thing, how SAD is your diet?
Photo taken from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Walmart_Wenatchee.jpg
I genuinely try so hard. I love cooking, and im the main chef of the family. Really thought id turn it into a career at one point.
The bottom line for everyone is money. Its just unsustainable for most people to prepare food. The price of everything fresh has doubled or tripled, while pre packaged garbage is the same price (or maybe a few cents more than it used to be). My household just got out of qualifying for poverty assistance stuff, we make about 60 a year. I cannot fathom being where i was when i was 18 but in todays america.
I genuinely feel so awful for the younger generation. The min wage federal is the same dogshit its always been. I live in a state that has 15$ min but too little too late, its not enough today. I cant imagine these kids are eating better than i was their age. In fact im willing to bet they eat worse in general than i did.
It feels like were watching the fall of america happen in real time. Food is just one of the many many symptoms of a waning empire.
My experience is that the packaged garbage has become untenably expensive, while the protein and produce that I buy have increased in prices more moderately.