I understand the point, but it doesn't really make sense without taking government guidelines - that *define* healthy food - into account.
Let's go back to the beginning. Sit back, relax - or lean forward & be tense, I'm fine with that too - this is gonna take a little bit. 1/
Let's go back to the beginning. Sit back, relax - or lean forward & be tense, I'm fine with that too - this is gonna take a little bit. 1/
Before the DGA, "healthy food" (or "healthy diet") meant "foods that fulfilled adequate essential nutrition needs."
With the DGA, the meaning of "healthy food" shifted to mean "foods that prevent chronic disease." 2/
With the DGA, the meaning of "healthy food" shifted to mean "foods that prevent chronic disease." 2/
The idea of adequate essential nutrition didn't disappear, we just began to assume that "everyone" was adequately nourished - see "the war against hunger" of the 60s and early 70s, where McGovern's committee (who eventually created the foundations of the DGA) got their start. 3/
It became more important for food to play the part of "protecting" us from chronic disease than to nourish us.
This also served social agendas of the time, particularly the rise of "healthism," the belief that every individual is responsible for their own health outcomes. 4/
This also served social agendas of the time, particularly the rise of "healthism," the belief that every individual is responsible for their own health outcomes. 4/
Now we could blame people for their own poor health & not have to do anything about the social drivers of chronic disease (poverty, environmental toxins, stress, etc.).
The food industry jumped right on this bandwagon. Now they could use the term "healthy" to market food. 5/
The food industry jumped right on this bandwagon. Now they could use the term "healthy" to market food. 5/
And "healthy" frequently became a sign of what food DIDN'T have - fat, sat fat, sodium, cholesterol - and not a mark of what it DID have: nutrition.
But when something gets removed from food, that doesn't mean it gets removed from the food SUPPLY. 6/
But when something gets removed from food, that doesn't mean it gets removed from the food SUPPLY. 6/
The fat that used to be in milk is now in premium ice cream & cheep cheeze for cheep cheezy pizza. The boom in demand for boneless skinless chicken breasts is DIRECTLY related to the availability of chicken wings for Buffalo chicken wing joints that opened up across the US. 7/
My point is that "the food system" is not a monolith. The DGA definitely created "winners" & "losers" in the food economy. But when you pull on one thread of the food economy, you make a lot of other things move too--sometimes in unexpected & unintended ways. 8/
And if we don't know what we're doing, when we pull those threads, we may be creating more problems than we are solving.
And let's be clear: When it comes to dietary means to prevent chronic disease for an entire population: We don't know what we are doing. 9/
And let's be clear: When it comes to dietary means to prevent chronic disease for an entire population: We don't know what we are doing. 9/
For some, fat-free dairy might be the best way to stay healthy. For others, those fatty, blue-cheezy chicken wings might be a fine choice.
Bottom line is that we're not going to "make a big dent in diet-related chronic disease" until we stop pretending everyone is alike. 10/
Bottom line is that we're not going to "make a big dent in diet-related chronic disease" until we stop pretending everyone is alike. 10/
We were wrong in thinking we could treat a "sick population" with national guidance, instead of identifying high-risk individuals & treating them individually. And now that nearly everyone is "high risk," this is even more the case. 11/
We don't need low-carb, high-fat dietary guidelines (a potential disaster in the making). We need individuals (who need it) to get the individualized care they deserve.
We may all run on the same basic physiology, but we come to food with different needs & experiences. 12/
We may all run on the same basic physiology, but we come to food with different needs & experiences. 12/
The DGA (unethically) disregard culture, tradition & foodways. We don't need to replicate that mistake.
We need to get the government out of the business of telling people how to each--THAT will go along way to "leveling the playing field." 13/
We need to get the government out of the business of telling people how to each--THAT will go along way to "leveling the playing field." 13/
Why? Because one group of foods will not be championed over others. One approach to health will not be "the only" way. Tradition, culture, food preferences & health needs will be varied; many foods could be "healthy." 14/
The market, of course, will make best efforts to "capture" that variety, but the ability to pass off a sweet, oily granola bar as "healthy" will be greatly diminished.
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And maybe, just maybe, if we return to a focus on "nourishment" - and ensure that we meet essential nutrition needs (especially protein) first - the drive to eat (ALL the things) will also be diminished.
Okay, I'm done. Back to your regularly scheduled Twitter.
16/16
Okay, I'm done. Back to your regularly scheduled Twitter.
16/16
