Have you heard any of these before?
“It’s all about moderation.”
“Let them be kids.”
“This one meal won’t hurt.”
“A calorie is a calorie.”
And of course, the classic:
“Does what I eat REALLY affect my health? I am healthy, I feel just fine.”
We hear this A LOT – so often, you would almost think this is all true.
But when you start to really look around, it has us asking, “Can we do better?”
Observations from a local Charitable Event
Recently, we attended a 5K race that our son and his girlfriend were running. The race was organized to raise funds for children with cancer. It was a great cause and, although the weather was a blustery cold and rainy day, it was so nice to see the community support. Because it was so cold, we huddled with the race participants in the shelter building before the race started.
As we looked around the room, our hearts sank. There was a table full of donuts, a rainbow variety of sports drinks and, sadly, lots and lots of ultra-processed food snacks from Oreos to Nutter Butters to Ritz cheese crackers. It was surreal…the very children we were rallying around – many of them survivors, fighters, or loved ones of someone battling cancer – were walking around eating the foods known to contribute to the kinds of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction that drive these and other chronic diseases.
And yet – no one blinked. No one questioned it. Because that’s just what we do. It’s normal. It’s fun. It’s tradition.
The Secret to Feeding Your Family?
That very same evening, someone we know shared a video proudly showing off their dinner, after hearing about this meal solution on TikTok – a gallon of soup from Olive Garden and a pile of breadsticks.
With a big smile and pride, she shared on social media:
“We just ordered dinner from Olive Garden, and we have so much soup left. With the price of groceries, there is no better way to feed your family than a gallon of soup and a bunch of breadsticks. This is amazing!”
And in her thought process, she wasn’t wrong. It was warm, easy, affordable, and I’m sure everybody loved it. But we all know that gallon of soup is loaded with sodium. And the breadsticks are basically ultra-refined carbs with minimal nutritional value.
Is that meal going to make anyone sick right now? Of course not.
Is it feeding her family? Technically, yes.
But is it nourishing them? Not even close.
Why Is There No Connection?
When we see children – and adults – sipping fluorescent drinks at a race, or families proudly dishing out processed dinners, it’s tempting to throw up our hands and say:
“Well, everyone’s gotta eat. You can’t fix it all.”
But what if that way of thinking is what got us here?
We live in a culture where food is often entertainment, not fuel. Where marketing, convenience, and tradition have overpowered common sense and science. And where the illusion that there’s no connection between diet and health is easier to digest than the truth that there absolutely is.
As Dr. David Katz asks, “where is the outrage?”
Should we just not say or do anything and chalk it up to “nothing is going to change”?
Headed Towards a Cliff…
Imagine you are riding in your car with your best friend or a loved one. She is driving straight towards a cliff that will sure lead to her – and your – demise. What would you do? Would you say, “great job – you’re doing great – keep going!”? No – of course not! Instead, you would scream at the top of your lungs, “STOP – YOU ARE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF!”
Is this really any different than situations all around us – in the office, at school, at church? Should we scream, “Stop, you are going to kill yourself!”? Well, that is probably not the most appropriate thing to say…unless you want to be viewed as the crazy one!
But there are things we can – AND SHOULD – do. Here are a few ideas to consider:
Be a Role Model
Actions speak louder than words. When you are intentional about making nourishing choices, it can be an incredibly powerful example for others.
You can take a big salad (loaded with personality) to a family or friend gathering. You can invite people over to your house and serve them a healthy vibrant meal loaded with flavor. You can bring your lunch to work and when others comment about how delicious it looks or how wonderful it smells, this can open the door to an inspiring discussion.
We don’t need to preach or persuade – just live the example. When friends and family see you loving your food and feeling more energized, they will notice. Your actions will plant seeds of curiosity and that quiet influence is more powerful than you may think.
Be a Storyteller
One of the most powerful ways to inspire healthier food choices is through telling stories. Facts and data can be helpful, but it’s the stories, including real and relatable moments, that move people. Consider sharing your own journey. Share what sparked your shift towards better eating, how you felt before and after, and the small wins (and struggles) along the way.
You can tell stories about others too – friends or family members who have reversed health issues, kids who grew to love vegetables, or families who improved their relationships once they started cooking and eating together. When we wrap everything together in a good story, it gives people a glimpse of what is possible.
Bang Your Head Against a Wall
Just kidding!
Keep the faith and keep going!
If being a good role model and telling good stories doesn’t seem to be making a difference, you may feel like it’s just not worth it. Nothing is ever going to change. Don’t give up! Your words, actions and example matter more than you know. Change often doesn’t happen the first time someone hears a message. It happens when they hear it at the right time, in the right way, from the right person. Consider sharing quotes or books or podcasts from experts. Or you might encourage someone to watch a documentary like In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto or The Game Changers.
That seed you plant today may not sprout for months – or even years. But that doesn’t make it any less powerful. Keep showing up with kindness, patience, and persistence. Your influence could be the nudge someone needs to finally take the first step. A step that could change their life.
It Takes Courage!
Like most things worthwhile, it takes real courage to try to influence our culture and help others discover the amazing benefits of REAL food. We are often going against the grain of what’s normal, accepted and convenient. It can feel uncomfortable, and feel like you’re risking judgment, misunderstanding or even rejection. It doesn’t require that we have the answer to every question – we just have to care enough to try.
Let’s do whatever we can to reconnect food with health, joy and nourishment! And reconnect our loved ones with the truth about what they’re eating.
We all deserve the health and vitality that comes from REAL food!
Zonya, So very well said. It’s a crisis in America that we can only fix by starting with our families. Thank you for such a remarkable article.
This is all so true. My grandkids know me as the fruit and vegetables gma because we dont have processed snacks at our house. Unfortunately at their house it is all fast food and processed food. I hope my example will someday have an impact on their food choices.
We had a similar reaction back in January, when we went to the open house for the new YMCA that was built in partnership with our local hospital. They had an array of snacks such as baggies of Cheez-its and Nature Valley granola bars, mini candy bars, cups of hot chocolate. Makes you think the hospital is implying those snacks are just fine since they are offering them. Most recently though, they had a basket of clementines on the front desk when we checked in to exercise. Progress!
I am so proud of my granddaughter. She is choosing to feed her family fresh fruits and veggies, although she does use some processed foods, like spaghetti, mac & cheese. I modeled that for them as they were growing up. When they came to my home, they got mostly whole foods, no candy whatsoever, no sugar sweetened cereal, home cooked meals, no fast foods. She is still a work in progress, though, because she recently had a 4th birthday party for her son and she gave out candy bags. I am trying hard to get her away from that. Maybe next year… I do think that the connection has been lost because at many races (we have the Crim Road Race here), they give granola bars, popsicles, chocolate milk but they also give bananas (the only good thing). For the most part, though, the food they give out at the races are the ultra processed foods. It may be cheaper in the beginning, but we all pay for it with our health in the end. I usually opt not to take anything except for the banana.