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Comfort Food
"Maybe, instead of depriving ourselves, we need to reevaluate our relationship with food."
By Alix Black
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to this Commentary!
Youth Radio's Alix Black has heard of all the diet trends out there. But despite the hype, Americans' waistlines seem to be expanding. Instead of falling for the latest market promotion, Alix says that to shed the pounds, maybe we need to change our relationship with food. Of course, it won't hurt to eat everything in moderation and to exercise. (February 3 on WABE)
My stepmother works as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Atlanta’s Emory Hospital. She regularly sees teen patients who weigh three-hundred pounds or more!!!
The number of fad diets seems to be increasing exponentially, so why are America’s waistlines expanding, as well? I constantly hear about how cutting carbs, sugars, fats, et cetera out of my meals will make me thinner and healthier. Maybe, instead of depriving ourselves, we need to reevaluate our relationship with food.
The link between food and emotional comfort is established at an early age. When a baby cries, a parent will calm it with a bottle. As the baby gets older, food is used to reward good behavior – like getting ice cream after scoring a goal or making a good grade.
My parents bought me a milkshake at McDonalds every time I got a vaccination. And as we mature, we praise meals that are "just like grandma makes." Food is used as a nostalgic tool for celebrating happy occasions or simply for cheering us up when we're blue.
Food should be enjoyed as a sensual pleasure, not employed as a psychological savior. Food sure soothes me, but I know something that works even better: plenty of exercise and everything in moderation.
- Youth Radio Atlanta is produced in cooperation with WABE and funded in part by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
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