Actually it's just our incredibly easy access to food. Huge refrigerators full of food is the norm. Our restaurants serve huge portions, and we don't walk because everything was built after the invention of the automobile, so our villages are not walking friendly. And we're rich.
All this is true, and I think a lot of other things are contributing too. We do eat huge amounts, especially of carbs and sugar, which is not good as our lifestyle got more and more sedentary - jobs and housework generally require far less activity now.
We pay a lot less for food too. Historically, I've seen budget recommendations of 25-40% for food. I believe we average maybe 11% of our monthly budgets on food these days?
Then there's all our bad eating habits: continually snacking, enormous plates compared to vintage, children given favorites to stop them whining, gulping down food on the go or in front of the TV, no family meals. If we started eating three home-cooked meals a day, on vintage (smaller) plates, sitting at the table chatting with family, and no snacks to spoil supper, a lot of people would start losing weight.
The American diet is shit. All sugar and carbs. Great at packing on weight and keeping people hungry
Actually it's just our incredibly easy access to food. Huge refrigerators full of food is the norm. Our restaurants serve huge portions, and we don't walk because everything was built after the invention of the automobile, so our villages are not walking friendly. And we're rich.
All this is true, and I think a lot of other things are contributing too. We do eat huge amounts, especially of carbs and sugar, which is not good as our lifestyle got more and more sedentary - jobs and housework generally require far less activity now.
We pay a lot less for food too. Historically, I've seen budget recommendations of 25-40% for food. I believe we average maybe 11% of our monthly budgets on food these days?
Then there's all our bad eating habits: continually snacking, enormous plates compared to vintage, children given favorites to stop them whining, gulping down food on the go or in front of the TV, no family meals. If we started eating three home-cooked meals a day, on vintage (smaller) plates, sitting at the table chatting with family, and no snacks to spoil supper, a lot of people would start losing weight.
Yes, self control is hard when surrounded by delicious food everywhere. I love delicious food. I love delicious beer too.