Yesterday was a good day for me. For breakfast, I had my favorite cereal, Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs, which I washed down with a tall glass of RC Cola. For lunch, I had my favorite sandwich: a BLT, hold the veggies. For dinner, I had a pepperoni pizza— deep fried, of course. And for dessert, I had a stick of butter. Many people criticize such meals, saying that they are “absurdly unhealthy” and “a heart attack waiting to happen.” However, I'm here to tell you that you can and should eat whatever you want! While there may be some disadvantages to this approach, namely in regards to health and weight gain, I believe that the benefits of such a diet far outweigh the drawbacks.
I recently read an opinion piece in the New York Times by Dr. Kelly Brownell. In it, Dr. Brownell argues that obesity is rising as a major threat to health in America and around the world. A major part of the increase in obesity is food conditions , such as “huge portion sizes, economics that make healthy foods cost too much and unhealthy foods cost too little, ubiquitous access to high-calorie foods and relentless food marketing.” Dr. Brownell says that the government needs to take action and enact laws that encourage nutritional and healthy eating habits. He also believes that personal responsibility plays a role in reducing obesity. He says that Americans who are otherwise responsible in matters of health (mammograms, prostate exams, smoking, drinking, using seatbelts, etc.) are not eating healthily. Because of this, we, as individuals, should do everything possible to reduce obesity.
While Dr. Brownell has some good points, he doesn't tell the whole story. There are several reasons why we can, and should, eat unhealthy and fattening foods. First of all, unhealthy food tastes better and is more enjoyable to eat. Which would you rather eat, broccoli or bacon? Celery or cupcakes? Donut holes or whole grains? The great Mahatma Gandhi said to “live as if you were to die tomorrow.” Think about it: If you were to die tomorrow, what would you eat? Death row inmates face this very question as they select their last meal before they are executed. According to a compilation of statistics released by state prison departments, the most popular request is a cheeseburger and fries, followed by steak, fried chicken, and ice cream.
Second, food low in nutritional value is generally much less expensive than food high in nutritional value. A study by researchers at the University of Washington found that healthy food costs over eight times as much per Calorie as unhealthy food. Why would you waste your money on expensive, healthy food when you could spend it on cool things like nice cars, big TVs, or even a pet sloth?
Third, eating unhealthy food is faster and less confusing than eating healthy food. Healthy food can take hours to prepare. Fast food, though generally unhealthy, is a great way to save time, time that can then be used for family bonding or personal development. Diets like Weight Watchers and the South Beach Diet require the use of a complicated system of adding points based on what you eat. Furthermore, preparing healthy meals, like steamed or sautéed vegetables, whole-grain rice, and salads, is far more complicated than preparing unhealthy meals, like Cheetos and Hot Pockets. Life is already complicated enough. Shouldn't we spare ourselves the confusion and anxiety of healthy eating?
Fourth, many prominent figures have spoken in favor of the abandonment of healthy eating. The great American comedian Dr. Bill Cosby has said that he feeds his children chocolate cake for breakfast, despite strong opposition from his wife. President George H. W. Bush was an even firmer opponent of healthy eating. He said “I do not like broccoli. I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it, and I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.” If unhealthy eating is good enough for these respected, outstanding Americans, shouldn't it be good enough for you?
Finally, eating unhealthy food is the American way. As Americans, it is our duty to make sure that America is number one. The BBC describes us as “the world's foremost economic and military power, with global interests and an unmatched global reach. America's gross domestic product accounts for close to a quarter of the world total, and its military budget is reckoned to be almost as much as the rest of the world's defense spending put together.” But these are not the only areas in which America comes first. Right now, America has the highest obesity rate of any developed nation. Don't we want to keep America first? As patriotic Americans, it is our duty to make sure that America stays number one.
After hearing all of this, you probably want to go eat a pound of bacon and a dozen donuts. And I would encourage you to do so. Many people point to the Food Pyramid as a model for healthy eating, even though the food pyramid looks suspiciously like a slice of pizza or a Dorito. But as we all know, the first pyramids, those in Egypt, were built by slaves. Do you want to be a slave to nutrition and healthy eating? Like Martin Luther King, Jr., I have a dream that one day we will all be granted the right to eat fattening, unhealthy food.
