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Understand the dangers of the big food culture and the importance of running away from it with a healthier routine

Image of Pablo Merchán Montes in Unsplash

Food is an essential part of our lives and the role of food goes far beyond simply nourishing our bodies. The progressive increase in the consumption of unhealthy foods (very fatty, with excess carbohydrates, etc.), also known as big food , is pushing obesity to surpass hunger as the world's biggest problem in terms of food and nutrition.

Know the dangers of fast food

the consumption of fast food it has already become routine for most people, either because of its practicality or the low price, although a survey carried out by gallup revealed that people with better financial conditions consume more fast food than people from lower strata.

This type of food is usually very tasty and practical... The problem is that it is also very caloric, full of fat, cholesterol and sodium, but with very little fiber, which impairs the functioning of the intestine and can cause constipation and other complications.

If you can't resist, try to reduce your intake of this type of food as much as possible. A good first step is to eat fast food at most once a week. Another measure that can help you in this arduous task is to change the soda cup for a smaller glass of natural juice - a fruit salad or banana tart for dessert is better than that sundae giant.

The culture of big food

A survey by Shopper Brazil, in 2011, points out that much more than speed, practicality and low cost, the consumption of fast food it is made in such a large quantity because it has already become a cultural issue, an eating habit. And that's the big problem.

The networks of fast food they have been around for a considerable time, but by the beginning of the 21st century they have become an important part of food culture - particularly in the western world. A visible trait of this is how we've become obsessed with giant portions, even when we're not eating fast food... We tend to serve ourselves much larger portions than necessary to satiate ourselves, in addition to excessive consumption of beverages, especially soft drinks.

Another sign of this culture is the lack of involvement that people have with their own food. We are already losing the habit of making our own food. When this happens, we are far from knowing the precedence of the products we buy in the market. This ends up harming the diet a lot, as we do not pay attention to the ideal amounts of vitamins, carbohydrates, fat and others that we should consume, in addition to not being sure of the quality of the food we eat.

An important ally of the brands of big food it is advertising that is often directed directly at children with the use of children's cartoon characters (including in gifts). The issue of children's advertising is complex, is being discussed and is growing in importance. Data revealed that children have 70% of the purchasing decision power within the family nucleus, and 92% of this total is directed to food. In Brazil, there is Bill No. 5921/2001 that provides for some restrictions on the use of children's advertising (learn more about the PL).

how to escape from big food

Changing our eating routine is not easy, but with a few simple steps we can transform our diet and improve our quality of life. The first step - and perhaps the most important - is to start cooking at home. In addition to preventing us from eating any kind of junk food, cultivating this habit forces us to create a healthier relationship with what we eat, makes us look for alternatives to what we like and, of course, increases our culinary skills (see 18 other tips to enhance your diet).

It is also very good to pay attention to the eating habits of children who are close to you, as it is at this stage that they are consolidated. Invite your child to cook with you, make a vegetable garden with some simpler spices or vegetables so that he can have fun while understanding the importance of knowing the precedence of your foods.

Watch the video made by Yale University about the culture of big food (in English).