2008 Woodie Awards
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The Scene
Everybody does it...Indulgence leads to stomach, heart ache
By Blair Bryant Nichols on 3/1/07
A mid-week fire alarm resulted in an early evening visit to the Eagle's Nest. When a friend couldn't find the Velveeta shells and cheese she so desired, I convinced her that the organic brand would be just as good. For those of you who consume organic food regularly, this is not meant to be critical, but the substitution was a far cry from the "cheesy" richness everyone remembers from childhood.
Thinking about this fresh and organic food revolution that seems to have America in its grip makes me wonder about what this says about us as a people. As consumers, it says we are willing to pay higher prices for healthier, more environmentally friendly food. But this also suggests we are willing to pay twice as much for food that stays fresh half as long, and in some cases tastes half as good. Who's surprised that other countries don't understand us?
We're all obsessed with finding a significant other who is right for us - someone who adds value to our life, helping us to grow and mature without the burden of adding too much weight. Yet how often do we gravitate toward someone who destabilizes our happy routine, knocks us out of our healthy habits and leaves our emotions malnourished?
We overindulge in someone's sweetness only to get so buzzed we want to flit onto the next conquest and regret the pain that follows. We take shot after shot of someone's bitter or sour attitude, hoping it will get better if we endure - only to black out and suffer the exhaustion of returning to normal life, mentally and emotionally hung over.
Why is it that we always go back to the foods that comfort us when we inevitably feel bloated, lazy and unattractive afterward? Why do we crave the lovers we've left behind when they only seem to undermine our self-esteem?
We are a people who want to stop global warming but balk at the price of a hybrid car. We complain about the price of gas but still insist on driving SUVs. We want our bodies to look thin and healthy but can't stomach the taste of most fresh or organic foods, so instead we compensate by paying exorbitant amounts for diet programs or spending hours in the gym. Or worse, we merely whine about how fat we are but do little more than lift the remote or chopsticks provided with our Chinese takeout.
Thinking about this fresh and organic food revolution that seems to have America in its grip makes me wonder about what this says about us as a people. As consumers, it says we are willing to pay higher prices for healthier, more environmentally friendly food. But this also suggests we are willing to pay twice as much for food that stays fresh half as long, and in some cases tastes half as good. Who's surprised that other countries don't understand us?
We're all obsessed with finding a significant other who is right for us - someone who adds value to our life, helping us to grow and mature without the burden of adding too much weight. Yet how often do we gravitate toward someone who destabilizes our happy routine, knocks us out of our healthy habits and leaves our emotions malnourished?
We overindulge in someone's sweetness only to get so buzzed we want to flit onto the next conquest and regret the pain that follows. We take shot after shot of someone's bitter or sour attitude, hoping it will get better if we endure - only to black out and suffer the exhaustion of returning to normal life, mentally and emotionally hung over.
Why is it that we always go back to the foods that comfort us when we inevitably feel bloated, lazy and unattractive afterward? Why do we crave the lovers we've left behind when they only seem to undermine our self-esteem?
We are a people who want to stop global warming but balk at the price of a hybrid car. We complain about the price of gas but still insist on driving SUVs. We want our bodies to look thin and healthy but can't stomach the taste of most fresh or organic foods, so instead we compensate by paying exorbitant amounts for diet programs or spending hours in the gym. Or worse, we merely whine about how fat we are but do little more than lift the remote or chopsticks provided with our Chinese takeout.
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