Obesity

[quote name='camoor']Personal accountability - your bullshit answer for everything.

Do you think people of the past had more personal accountability and that's why they didn't get fat? People are no different now then they were then, we just live in a food toxic society today.

And I wasn't saying we stop at fast food joints. Regulate them all!

Anyway I think information is power. There is no excuse for not putting all people on a level playing field as far as what they are eating in terms of calories, fat, etc. From that possible (check) rational (check) and intelligent (check) perspective, having calories on menus is actually the first step in a democratic, scientific, progressive approach to tackling the explosion in obesity.

I will go there too - I think white refined sugar is alot more dangerous and addictive then most people think and for all intents and purposes it should be considered a drug ala caffeine or nicotine and I'm not a big drug regulation guy. Sugar is not natural (it's refined from sugar cane) and in large quantities it causes health ailments such as obesity and diabetes. Food producers force it into everything - Americans from a century ago ate a third of the sugar that the average American does today (IE our levels of sugar consumption are wildly unhealthy) I can't tell you how hard it is to find products like peanut butter without added sugar. Ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

This is one area where I agree with you 100%. Here's the thing, personal accountability is a certain aspect of this but why shouldn't restaurants be held accountable as well? What better way to hold them accountable for unhealthy foods then to make them own up to it in black and white.

You know, there was a day before the S.E.C. was created that publicly traded companies were allowed to do whatever the fuck they wanted. You lost your investment in a company because they were acting completely shady? fuck it, personal responsibility says you made the investment on your own at your own risk.

Since we're talking about food. What about the Food and Drug Administration? Really, they used sawdust as filler in their product? Oh well, free market and personal responsibility says that you should just man up and not buy their product in the future.

Yes, I'm being a little flippant about it but still no one has answered me. Why is it that prepackaged, prepared foods are required to carry nutrition information but that meal from McDonalds isn't? I remember what was particularly amusing was when they started posting their nutrition information on the wrappers of the food. Really, how useful is nutrition information after you've ordered the food. You just gonna throw that food away now because you realized its loaded with fat/calories.

Refined sugar. Yes, I agree that it is an addicting substance but you forgot the flip side of the coin. Corn syrup. That shit is in EVERYTHING now. You damn near can't pick up a product without it having corn syrup in it and that shit is even more refined than white sugar.

If we're gonna hold individuals responsible for their own health choices why can't we hold restaurants responsible by forcing them to report their nutrition information, or at the very least, calorie information on their menus. Not hidden on a poster behind the counter, not on their website, not on a pamphlet you can ask for that they're always conveniently out of, but front and center on their menus.
 
[quote name='berzirk']Debate you like a man? Haa haa. WTF dude. When are we going to start comparing eDick size?

And "who gives a shit what (I) think, it's just bitching that won't solve anything"?? I don't care. I'm stating my opinions in a vs. section of a videogame forum. I didn't realize this was such serious business. Christ almighty. If you don't like my response to your clearly more important opinions, then don't reply to me or ignore me.

Edit: Wait...I just saw where you literally wrote: Do you think people of the past had more personal accountability and that's why they didn't get fat? People are no different now then they were then, we just live in a food toxic society today.

Apparently you yourself are the one claiming to want to know my thoughts on the matter. I was merely responding to your direct question, then you went on your -fuck you- rant. Weird.

To respond to the one part that seems to have anything to do with the discussion-yes, I completely and totally lack confidence in a majority of consumers, particularly the fat ones, to make sensible decisions about their food consumption. Shy of clinical medical conditions/side effects to medication, there is no excuse to be fat. The information is at all of our disposal on how to live a healthier lifestyle. Do you honestly believe most people who are fat just don't get how it's happening? I may have little confidence in their decision making, but you would appear to have little confidence in their intelligence.

One more edit: Are you defensive cause maybe you're a stout dude? It's possible that our current body types are what guide our opinions on the issue. I've always been rather slim. Started to get a bit of a gut in my late 20's but now I exercise more and eat better than I ever did, and feel and look decent to good. I'm not trying to say you're a fattie, I just wonder if our body types are what put us on opposing sides here.[/QUOTE]

God damn you sound like a complete douche
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']This is one area where I agree with you 100%. Here's the thing, personal accountability is a certain aspect of this but why shouldn't restaurants be held accountable as well? What better way to hold them accountable for unhealthy foods then to make them own up to it in black and white.

You know, there was a day before the S.E.C. was created that publicly traded companies were allowed to do whatever the fuck they wanted. You lost your investment in a company because they were acting completely shady? fuck it, personal responsibility says you made the investment on your own at your own risk.

Since we're talking about food. What about the Food and Drug Administration? Really, they used sawdust as filler in their product? Oh well, free market and personal responsibility says that you should just man up and not buy their product in the future.

Yes, I'm being a little flippant about it but still no one has answered me. Why is it that prepackaged, prepared foods are required to carry nutrition information but that meal from McDonalds isn't? I remember what was particularly amusing was when they started posting their nutrition information on the wrappers of the food. Really, how useful is nutrition information after you've ordered the food. You just gonna throw that food away now because you realized its loaded with fat/calories.

Refined sugar. Yes, I agree that it is an addicting substance but you forgot the flip side of the coin. Corn syrup. That shit is in EVERYTHING now. You damn near can't pick up a product without it having corn syrup in it and that shit is even more refined than white sugar.

If we're gonna hold individuals responsible for their own health choices why can't we hold restaurants responsible by forcing them to report their nutrition information, or at the very least, calorie information on their menus. Not hidden on a poster behind the counter, not on their website, not on a pamphlet you can ask for that they're always conveniently out of, but front and center on their menus.[/QUOTE]

That's what I get confused by. Since when did asking corporations to act responsibly become controversial?
 
[quote name='camoor']
Do you think people of the past had more personal accountability and that's why they didn't get fat? People are no different now then they were then, we just live in a food toxic society today. [/QUOTE]

I think it's not an either or situation.

Foods have changed as portions have gotten bigger, HFCS put in everything, TV dinners becoming more and more prevalent etc.

But people/society has also changed. I don't know that it's so much personal responsibility declining as some have suggested. It's things we've already talked about earlier in the thread.

-The decline of blue collar jobs and rise of white collar jobs and service industry jobs equals a more sedentary lifestyle on average.

-Trend of both parents working, and often working more than 40 hours, means fewer home cooked meals and more picking up fast food carryout, or eating TV dinners etc. than in the past.

And so on. So I don't think the blame goes entirely toward restaurants or entirely toward people. Both have played a role in the obesity epidemic.

And both need to change to get us out of it. Restaurants need to have nutrition info in the menu and provide more healthy options for customers to choose from. And people have to start giving a shit about their health and lead a healthy lifestyle where they put thought into everything they eat or drink, how much exercise they're getting etc.
 
[quote name='camoor']
I found some stuff called Fifty 50 - no added sugar and it tastes like real peanuts. The point is - it's ridiculous the amount of candy that grocery stores market as food.[/QUOTE]

Better take a look at that hydrogenated oil.

Hydrogenated oil is known to contribute to bad health, we need to regulate and ban Peanut Butter, or else the world will suffer.

Joking aside, moderation is the key, and no amount of regulation will encourage moderation.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']A better question would then be, how many would still order it if they had the full information? Not nearly as many.[/QUOTE]

I am sure this has been documented in states and restaurants that have enacted such policies. I haven't looked though. There has to be data out there somewhere, but regardless a lot of people do not know how to read such nutritional facts. I firmly believe education is the better way. If people knew more about what they need to be healthy, they would make better choices. However this does not give people a free pass for ignorantly eating at restaurants and as an after thought saying "damnit that restaurant made me fat".

Not that education of these things will necessarily do anything as people have a tendancy to do what they want regardless of the repercussions. Health is always an after thought because the time lapse in enjoyment to disease or pain. As always banning or restricting options is never going to work though. (not that you said they would)
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']Yes, I'm being a little flippant about it but still no one has answered me. Why is it that prepackaged, prepared foods are required to carry nutrition information but that meal from McDonalds isn't? [/QUOTE]
While I ultimately believe that people are responsible for the choices they make (which means doing the research when the information isn't front-and-center) I will support this. Put that information right on the menu, counter, front door...whatever it takes.

Will it make a difference? I doubt it. Those that give a damn already know what they're getting into, even if they didn't know the specifics.
 
[quote name='Knoell']I am sure this has been documented in states and restaurants that have enacted such policies. I haven't looked though.[/QUOTE]

Everyone can stop reading here.
 
According to this article, they found that 1 in 6 people change their orders when they see nutritional information in NYC. (It looks like they just looked at receipts before and after the new law went into effect, so, IMO, it's hard to say what really caused the difference in orders.)

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43903792/ns/today-today_health/


I noticed that Panera Bread put calories on their menu a few months ago. I love it, and I do wish that all chain restaurants had to include at least calorie information right on their menus.

Of course people, especially kids, should be educated on how to make good nutritional choices. However, restaurants can be deceptive with "healthy-sounding" food. There are so many salads and grilled chicken sandwiches at fast-food and chain restaurants that actually have more calories than a Big Mac. Even when people are trying to make healthy choices, they can't just rely on common sense.
 
[quote name='camoor']Everyone can stop reading here.[/QUOTE]

:lol:[quote name='chiwii']According to this article, they found that 1 in 6 people change their orders when they see nutritional information in NYC. (It looks like they just looked at receipts before and after the new law went into effect, so, IMO, it's hard to say what really caused the difference in orders.)

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43903792/ns/today-today_health/


I noticed that Panera Bread put calories on their menu a few months ago. I love it, and I do wish that all chain restaurants had to include at least calorie information right on their menus.

Of course people, especially kids, should be educated on how to make good nutritional choices. However, restaurants can be deceptive with "healthy-sounding" food. There are so many salads and grilled chicken sandwiches at fast-food and chain restaurants that actually have more calories than a Big Mac. Even when people are trying to make healthy choices, they can't just rely on common sense.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I found that study as well. I was waiting for Knoell's inevitable reply to say something like it won't make a difference to ordering habits to post it but you beat me to it. Ah well...
 
I'm just tired of fucking fat chicks, but I'll be damned if I didn't meet the 5'9" 260lbs version of Alicia Witt the other day. She'd be an interesting project. Get her down to 175lbs or so and she'll be a curvy knockout...

Citation on wood in fast food please?
 
[quote name='Allnatural']While I ultimately believe that people are responsible for the choices they make (which means doing the research when the information isn't front-and-center) I will support this. Put that information right on the menu, counter, front door...whatever it takes.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, the info really needs to be readily accessible.

Most people aren't going to bother looking it up on the restaurants website.

And even for those who do care it's a problem when eating when traveling, or going to a restaurant for lunch that colleagues/friends chose etc. as you don't always have time to check the website first. And not every state requires every type of restaurant to even have nutrition info available upon request.

Having it on the menu is best as it's right there for anyone who cares to look at when deciding what to order. And it gives restaurants more incentive to have more healthy options so they don't have people who care about their health looking at the nutrition info and leaving to go somewhere else if they can't find something that won't wreck their diet.
 
[quote name='perdition(troy']Bezirk, he's definitely a fatty.[/QUOTE]

Seriously...is it just me, or did camoor fly off the handle in the middle of a fairly innocuous discussion? Jesus Christ, whatever is in his diet, I'd suggest adding something soothing like chamomile tea! Haa haa.
 
I realize that having the health info on the menu would be ideal, but are we really questioning if people can make the decision between a fresh cut fruit platter and deep fried twinkie in terms of which is more or less healthy?
Then again, consider how dumb the average person is and remember that half of them are even worse than that...
 
[quote name='camoor']I'll put my cards on the table. I have a BMI of 25.1 What's your BMI?[/QUOTE]

Just looked it up (although I hear BMI is a bit of a suspect number because body fat percentage should also be considered). I'm a 21.2 FWIW. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

According to these guys you're just barely overweight.
 
[quote name='nasum']I realize that having the health info on the menu would be ideal, but are we really questioning if people can make the decision between a fresh cut fruit platter and deep fried twinkie in terms of which is more or less healthy?
Then again, consider how dumb the average person is and remember that half of them are even worse than that...[/QUOTE]


Of course. But there are things that are often deceptively unhealthy. Salads that are full of fat and calories etc.

It's easy to avoid fried foods etc., but there are lots of things that have more calories than you'd think when you go look up the info on a restaurants website.
 
Hell a hamburger isn't that bad for you if you leave things like mayo off. You could easily have a healthier meal with a burger from Burger King vs a sandwich from Subway depending on what you get.

And yeah, that salad isn't so healthy once they add all the shit to it that they do, plus lettuce has little nutritional value anyway.
 
Yep, subway is a good example. They tout being healthy, but that's only if you stick with lean meats like turkey, get it on a whole grain sub, and add nothing to it but veggies (no cheese, no dressings etc.).

And salads, yeah any salad with lettuce is generally a waste of time. Opt for a spinach salad or mixed greens, make sure there no cheese, egg yolks etc. in it, and get no dressing or a fat free dressing.

Otherwise some typical restaurant salad is loaded with cheese, eggs, ham and fatty dressing and sometimes has as many or more calories than a cheeseburger and fries etc.

I do agree it's people's responsibility to know that kind of stuff and focus on what they put in their bodies. But there's no harm in restaurants being required to list the info so it's readily apparent. Maybe that will lead to orders going down for the crazy high calorie dishes and force restaurants to start offering more lower calorie/lower fat options if sales start to show that's what many people want.
 
Yeah and most cheap fast food places don't seem to have good salads because they're more expensive. Iceberg lettuce is cheap filler, then you can add all the crap to it that will make people want it like the cheese, bacon etc.
 
[quote name='berzirk']Seriously...is it just me, or did camoor fly off the handle in the middle of a fairly innocuous discussion? Jesus Christ, whatever is in his diet, I'd suggest adding something soothing like chamomile tea! Haa haa.[/QUOTE]

I suggest not acting like a douche. Haa haa.
 
[quote name='berzirk']Just looked it up (although I hear BMI is a bit of a suspect number because body fat percentage should also be considered). I'm a 21.2 FWIW. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

According to these guys you're just barely overweight.[/QUOTE]

tumblr_lm2myhlKX31qafrh6.jpg
 
[quote name='camoor']I suggest not acting like a douche. Haa haa.[/QUOTE]

Thank you. I will consider it. Your opinion means a lot to me, so I will try harder next time.

OK, fine, I'll try harder after this one.

So if you're fat, why is it? Is it because restaurants haven't been forced to print calories and nutritional information on their menus in your area, or is it because you eat more than you burn in daily activities? Cause we've established it's not your fault, because personal accountability is bullshit, as you said. So do you lack will power or intelligence to make good decisions? Weren't those the two excuses we settled in on as options?
 
[quote name='berzirk']Thank you. I will consider it. Your opinion means a lot to me, so I will try harder next time.

OK, fine, I'll try harder after this one.

So if you're fat, why is it? Is it because restaurants haven't been forced to print calories and nutritional information on their menus in your area, or is it because you eat more than you burn in daily activities? Cause we've established it's not your fault, because personal accountability is bullshit, as you said. So do you lack will power or intelligence to make good decisions? Weren't those the two excuses we settled in on as options?[/QUOTE]

Personal accountability is not bullshit. However it is bullshit to use personal accountability as a catch-all explaination of the problems that this country faces.

If we all throw up our hands and say "personal accountability" the problem will not be solved. If you build policy on this notion, and try to eradicate obesity with market corrections such as higher insurance costs the problem will not be solved.

Solving the obesity crisis will require a partnership of informed citizens and regulated, labeled food supply. That means telling people how much calories, sodium, and fat are in the foods they buy whether it be the supermarket or the fast food counter or an expensive restaurant.

FWIW I take full responsibility for my weight, but I also recognize that I am priveleged enough to have access to caloric information at the touch of a button that others do not.

In all honesty my arguement has nothing to do with my current weight. I believe a good arguement should be able to stand on it's own regardless of the speaker. I guess I have a knack at getting under the skin of conservatives because I sure attract all the creepy CAGs. There was another guy who really was interested where I live because of my views. Then there's Knoell who always wants to know what religion I have. Now you're really interested in my weight and eating habits. I come on here for a good debate. As for the other stuff - get a life! :)
 
[quote name='camoor']In all honesty my arguement has nothing to do with my current weight. I believe a good arguement should be able to stand on it's own regardless of the speaker. I guess I have a knack at getting under the skin of conservatives because I sure attract all the creepy CAGs. There was another guy who really was interested where I live because of my views. Then there's Knoell who always wants to know what religion I have. Now you're really interested in my weight and eating habits. I come on here for a good debate. As for the other stuff - get a life! :)[/QUOTE]

I think you misunderstood my reference to our specific body types when I included it. I was saying it as more of a concession that perhaps my strong view on the issue of obesity is biased based on my body size and lifestyle. I wasn't doing it as a way of needling information out of you about yours.

Whatever. I think you take yourself, and your place in your CAG "adversaries" lives a little too seriously. I enjoy discussing issues on CAG because I think there's a higher number of intelligent posters than other forums. If you're not interested, or don't care about my opinions, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to add me to the ignore list, or choose not to reply.

I do think it's funny how you and a couple others see me as a right wing nutjob, when in reality I'm registered independent, and have voted for two republicans in my entire life. (Bush I and Gordon Smith for Senator, the latter a decision I dreadfully regretted)
 
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[quote name='berzirk']I think you misunderstood my reference to our specific body types when I included it. I was saying it as more of a concession that perhaps my strong view on the issue of obesity is biased based on my body size and lifestyle. I wasn't doing it as a way of needling information out of you about yours.

Whatever. I think you take yourself, and your place in your CAG "advisaries" lives a little too seriously. I enjoy discussing issues on CAG because I think there's a higher number of intelligent posters than other forums. If you're not interested, or don't care about my opinions, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to add me to the ignore list, or choose not to reply.

I do think it's funny how you and a couple others see me as a right wing nutjob, when in reality I'm registered independent, and have voted for two republicans in my entire life. (Bush I and Gordon Smith for Senator, the latter a decision I dreadfully regretted)[/QUOTE]

whatever
 
[quote name='berzirk']I enjoy discussing issues on CAG because I think there's a higher number of intelligent posters than other forums.[/quote]
LOLZ:lol:
 
The level of discussion here is the best of any video game forum I've found.

That said, it's still not great for serious topics, which is why I take long breaks from the vs. forum as it's not worth the frustration most of the time. Though to be fair I've not found a forum on any topic that was worth the frustration of trying to discuss any serious topics....
 
[quote name='Clak']Dude, have you ever been to Gamefaqs?

Seriously.[/QUOTE]
9 year registered user homie. :D


[quote name='dmaul1114']The level of discussion here is the best of any video game forum I've found.

That said, it's still not great for serious topics, which is why I take long breaks from the vs. forum as it's not worth the frustration most of the time. Though to be fair I've not found a forum on any topic that was worth the frustration of trying to discuss any serious topics....[/QUOTE]
I kinda agree. Most people don't have any specialized knowledge on "niche" topics. Hell, some of the things we discuss are the very basics, but it'll still go over most people's heads. Every forum I've come across is very similar to this one, but with a more rightist tinge.

Beyond forums.somethingawful, I haven't found anywhere else that has as many diversified specialists, but I balk at the idea of spending money to register and then spend more money if I want pm's and other basic bbs features only to be banned and lose all my "upgrades" if a mod feels like breaking out the ban hammer either because they don't like a post or that the site owner needs more money.
 
[quote name='nasum']I'm just tired of fucking fat chicks, but I'll be damned if I didn't meet the 5'9" 260lbs version of Alicia Witt the other day. She'd be an interesting project. Get her down to 175lbs or so and she'll be a curvy knockout...

Citation on wood in fast food please?[/QUOTE]

http://www.thestreet.mobi/story/11012915/2/cellulose-wood-pulp-never-tasted-so-good.html

Apparently I was wrong though because it hasn't' been banned as a filler...

Yummy!
 
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So, I read the article Dmaul posted in the opening post. In 14 posts, a lot must have been discussed. I'll say that some cases of obesity, in the U.S., must be related to the types of food that is consumed when people eat socially. I mean, I eat socially, but I'm not eating high-fat, grease-infused foods.

The prominence of technology surely is another factor that may attribute to obesity. As Dmaul's article tells, Colorado has a lower rate of obesity because they're outdoor-minded. I've actually stepped away from gaming, for instance, in favor of recreational sports and outdoor activities.

I love games. I'll buy BF3, MW3, Dead Island, etc. But, I hate that a part of our society has become dependent on technology, which, in turn, has led to people turning to independent, quite frankly, antisocial activities, instead of learning some social grace in public situations.

For instance, when you're out shopping, take a note as to how quickly someone pulls out their mobile phone while idle (be it at a check-out line, or in line for a club, or whatever). I'm only 27, and it's starting to drive me mad. Social media may allow people to be connected in more ways, but, in my opinion, it's also disconnecting people. Two people could be in the same room, but, instead of talking to each other, they exchange caveman grunts, and show a preference for shooting texts to each other.

My apologies for an obesity opinion turned technology rant. :oops: Heading back to the obesity chat, I have noticed that some people seem to be confused between women having "a little meat on their bones" and "being covered in fat." The latter is far from the same as the prior. However, there's someone for everyone, in this world. The world's good like that. :)

And this reply is way too long, already, but I'll end with: The only way to truly measure one's body fat is to use body fat calipers. The BMI system is broken. In that system, I'm "overweight" at 5-feet-9-inches and 170 pounds. Outside of a little fat around my midsection, I'm pretty damn toned/lean.
 
[quote name='camoor']

Then there's Knoell who always wants to know what religion I have. [/QUOTE]

? I guess this is an example of how backwards camoor sees things.

[quote name='camoor']Lay your cards on the table - are you a devout Christian or did I totally miss the mark on that one?[/QUOTE]
[quote name='camoor']

More clues, I know you're not Catholic now.
[/QUOTE]
[quote name='camoor']
But come on. Given his sporadic posting history and lack of logical analysis on this issue, is anyone on this thread surprised that Knoell is a devout Christian
[/QUOTE]
[quote name='camoor']
For someone who is such a devout Christian, you sure get upset when someone mentions it. It's almost like you have something to hide. Are you that embarrassed of your religion?
[/QUOTE]

Here's the kicker camoor, quote one time I have asked your religion.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']:lol:
Yeah, I found that study as well. I was waiting for Knoell's inevitable reply to say something like it won't make a difference to ordering habits to post it but you beat me to it. Ah well...[/QUOTE]

The link doesn't work now so I wasn't able to read the study. I don't think I ever argued that nutritional facts shouldn't be put on menus though..... I argued that moderation and education is the key, and people hardly understand nutritional facts let alone what they need to eat to be healthy. I also mentioned that people make poor health decisions because of the time lapse between the enjoyment of terrible foods, and the health effects.

But regardless we all learned from camoor that one study means jack shit and the opposite should be taken as fact until more studies speak to the contrary.
 
I advocate personal responsibility - as in the restaurants give you all necessary information to make an informed decision and you're responsible for the decision you make.
 
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitnes...ating-calorie-packed-take-out-food/49719676/1

A decent read about how families are eating out/getting carry out a lot more than in the mid-90s and how that's contributing to the obesity epidemic.

The obesity epidemic is being fueled still further by a growing trend among kids to eat out and bring take-out food home, University of North Carolina researchers say. Such foods are high in sugar and calories, and their increasing popularity means youngsters are getting more calories than they need, the researchers noted. Since 1994, this trend has been growing rapidly and reflects the availability of fast food restaurants and foods prepared in supermarkets and other food stores, the researchers say. In fact, calories eaten away from home increased from 23.4 percent to 33.9 percent between 1977 and 2006.
Click to expand...
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitnes...ating-calorie-packed-take-out-food/49719676/1

A decent read about how families are eating out/getting carry out a lot more than in the mid-90s and how that's contributing to the obesity epidemic.[/QUOTE]

The one thing I always wonder about whenever I read these studies is why they don't factor in the prices of cooking said food as well. Earlier this year out of boredom I figured out how much it costs to cook a roast in an oven and was kinda shocked when the energy to cook it was about 30 percent of the entire meal. Either way I wonder how rising electricity and gas prices have affected this trend of eating out more as well.
 
Most meals aren't something like a roast that requires the oven or slow cooker to be on for a long time though.

Costs are pretty negligible to boil some pasta and veggies, or saute something etc. etc. Most meals people are just cooking on the stove top and microwave.
 
[quote name='SpazX']I advocate personal responsibility - as in the restaurants give you all necessary information to make an informed decision and you're responsible for the decision you make.[/QUOTE]
I like this.
In Sweden, whenever you eat out, they are required by law to give you the nutritional information on your receipt. It's pretty weird - it tallies up everything you ordered and it's nutrition. I am just not sure how that's terribly useful AFTER you've ordered.

I agree with you though, it's all about providing information.

[quote name='dmaul1114']http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitnes...ating-calorie-packed-take-out-food/49719676/1

A decent read about how families are eating out/getting carry out a lot more than in the mid-90s and how that's contributing to the obesity epidemic.[/QUOTE]

I think that is a side-problem of the real problem: both parents are working more and more in order to live the lifestyle advertising tells them they should - so parenting in general is severely reduced, which is likely the root of nearly every increasing social ill you can think of.

[quote name='dmaul1114']Most meals aren't something like a roast that requires the oven or slow cooker to be on for a long time though.

Costs are pretty negligible to boil some pasta and veggies, or saute something etc. etc. Most meals people are just cooking on the stove top and microwave.[/QUOTE]

I can only speak for my own experience but many of the times I find myself eating out has two main components:

1) Cost. Yes, if you are smart, and don't have to feed more than two people, it can be cheaper to eat out. I've become a master of several restaurants - figuring out meals to share or things to order that are dirt cheap. There are at least a dozen restaurants I know of where we can happily leave full for $5-ish for both of us. You can't really eat that cheap at home if you do it healthy.

2) Mess and time.
After both my wife and I have worked a long day, neither of us is in a mood to dirty the dishes and make the mess required to eat at home. Cooking food is one thing, cleaning up after often meets or exceeds the time and energy that went into preparing it. Unless we are cooking a pre-made meal from costco (which sort of defeats the purpose of avoiding to eat out), it actually FEELS like work to eat, which isn't appealing after work. So many nights this has lead us to actually just NOT eating dinner because it's too much work - is that healthier than eating out?

If we had a family, it would make A LOT more sense for us to prepare more meals at home. But since the time/work cost can exceed what it is to just eat out for 2 people, It often doesn't feel worth it just to be a tad healthier.
 
Yeah I hate cooking cleaning too. My gf and I have it down to a system though, if you don't mind eating pretty much the same things. Skinless chicken or turkey burgers, with a little bit of olive oil, walk away, throw frozen veggies in, place lid on, walk away, eat, soak pan, wipe down, repeat.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']1) Cost. Yes, if you are smart, and don't have to feed more than two people, it can be cheaper to eat out. I've become a master of several restaurants - figuring out meals to share or things to order that are dirt cheap. There are at least a dozen restaurants I know of where we can happily leave full for $5-ish for both of us. You can't really eat that cheap at home if you do it healthy.[/QUOTE]

Sure you can. $5 x 21 = 105 per person. Even if you're eating two meals a day that's $70 per week. My grocery bill is less than that and I only eat local and organic (edit: except for staples like rice and oats). It's just a matter of planning.
 
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fuck all y'all, I love to cook.

We also just joined a communist/socialist food co-op. $15 a week for a fuckton of fresh, local produce. It's the best thing ever - again, since I love to cook a meal, I love the challenge of whatever the box provides ("collard greens? fuck." is often heard though I can make 'em awesome now).

We're minimizing the shit out of the processed foods we eat, and it's awesome.
 
I'm guessing you are a big fan of Chopped.

I'm with thrustbucket - we hate cooking and cleaning after work but we do it because the kids need to eat and going out is just too expensive. I do like cooking in general though but only on the weekends or when I have more time to plan.
 
Never watched it. I do watch food porn shows on occasion, though - caught 15 minutes of some pastry show on Sunday AM and am now determined to hit up the momofuku milk bar some time in the next few weeks to try their crack pie.

I used to really dig Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares until it became painfully apparent that he applied the same philosophy to every restaurant he went to, hammed up and oversold how awful the food was, manufactured schisms and feuds within the business, and most sordidly, clearly didn't give a flying fuck about killing the business he was at.

I did watch the motherloving fuck out of Top Chef, but the last season I saw was maybe 2008ish.
 
Another easy way to deal with cooking (though it works best if it's just you or you plus a spouse/SO) is to cook up a bunch of stuff on say Sunday night and have left overs for most of the week. i.e. cook up a bunch of boneless, skinless chicken breast, a bunch of brown rice and a bunch of veggies and just warm it up for dinner the next few evenings.

And then there's breakfast and lunch where you can eat healthy without cooking at all. For breakfast you can just go with fruit, yogurt, healthy cereals etc. For lunch just slap together a healthy sandwich (i.e. turkey on whole wheat with some lettuce and no cheese or mayo) and some fruit.

Eating healthy doesn't have to mean doing a lot of cooking and dirtying a lot of dishes every day etc.


And hell, to avoid obesity one doesn't have to be a health buff and worry about processed foods and all that crap. One can lose weight by ordering lower fat/calorie foods when eating out, buying lower calorie TV dinners, eating baked potato chips rather than regular ones etc. That kind of eating isn't healthy as you're getting too much sodium, preservatives etc. but it will still help lose weight and keep it off so one is at least not a fat slob even if their cholesterol etc. is still high! :D

Of course the ideal is to eat healthy, but even I don't do so well at that as I don't always feel like cooking fresh veggies and may warm up a can of peas. Or I'll just eat a TV dinner and a salad etc. I just try to limit the super unhealthy things (high calorie, high fat, simple carbs etc.) I eat and work out at least 2 or 3 times a week (ideally 4) rather than focus on being a total health buff personally. Currently my cholesterol and blood pressure and all that jazz are fine. I get a physical every couple years and would of course change diet etc. if any of that changes.
 
Breakfast is always easy for me. Egg whites and two slices of turkey bacon.

Lunch I have a tablespoon of natural PB on whole wheat and a 1/4 cup of almonds. Keeps me really full and takes 30 seconds to prepare.
 
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