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alithea: canisfamiliaris: Is Junk Food Really Cheaper? The answer is NO. The “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli …” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.” (via sunfoundation) this bullshit fills me with a very specific kind of rage. so, TIME TO DEBUNK! that meal from mcdonalds takes virtually no time to acquire AND is available almost anywhere. the second meal? that “salad” is lettuce … with nothing else, not even dressing unless its just olive oil or some milk i guess? gross. also thats the price of each serving, not an entire loaf of bread, a bottle of olive oil, etc. that stuff adds up which means you have to have a lot of money at one time to buy it all. that meal probably took an hour and a half to make, which is a long fucking time when you work multiple jobs or are caring for a lot of people or dont have help! seriously, if you are a single parent of three who works, is spending an hour and a half every night preparing a meal a likely option? same with beans and rice! also, you know whats a fucking bummer? eating beans and rice every night because you are poor. ask any person who has done it and they will tell you (you can start with me). there is a “nutrition” argument here that lacks a follow up: poor people are more likely to be doing physical labor and need more than 571 calories per meal. you know who is less likely to know how to bake or prepare a chicken? people without access to the internet, or libraries, or who werent taught how to by their parents because their parents worked all the time. access to healthy foods is a classist issue and classism is cyclical, you fucking morons. seriously, these sorts of infographics make me want to fucking flip tables. do you know why people don’t eat more fresh fruits and vegetables? because fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive, because they take a long time to prepare, because they dont live near a grocery store that has a decent produce section, because they dont have reliable transportation to get groceries to and from the grocery store, because they dont have the energy to plan all of the shit that is involved in making healthy, intentional, filling, balanced meals. basically: poor people get fucked, and then we get BLAMED for being lazy. eating “healthy”, aka access to fresh fruits and vegetables, is a privilege, first, foremost, always. so fuck you new york times and your ignorant goddamn infographic. there are SYSTEMATIC REASONS that we do not have equal access to fresh fruits and vegetables. they are very REAL problems. besides, you know, systematic poverty in america, the total mis-distribution of farm subsidies is a perfect place to start. read about that, then either get bent or start working on the actual problem. preach.

alithea:

canisfamiliaris:

Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?

The answer is NO.

The “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli …” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.”

(via sunfoundation)

this bullshit fills me with a very specific kind of rage. so, TIME TO DEBUNK!

  1. that meal from mcdonalds takes virtually no time to acquire AND is available almost anywhere.
  2. the second meal? that “salad” is lettuce … with nothing else, not even dressing unless its just olive oil or some milk i guess? gross.
  3. also thats the price of each serving, not an entire loaf of bread, a bottle of olive oil, etc. that stuff adds up which means you have to have a lot of money at one time to buy it all.
  4. that meal probably took an hour and a half to make, which is a long fucking time when you work multiple jobs or are caring for a lot of people or dont have help! seriously, if you are a single parent of three who works, is spending an hour and a half every night preparing a meal a likely option?
  5. same with beans and rice! also, you know whats a fucking bummer? eating beans and rice every night because you are poor. ask any person who has done it and they will tell you (you can start with me).
  6. there is a “nutrition” argument here that lacks a follow up: poor people are more likely to be doing physical labor and need more than 571 calories per meal.
  7. you know who is less likely to know how to bake or prepare a chicken? people without access to the internet, or libraries, or who werent taught how to by their parents because their parents worked all the time. access to healthy foods is a classist issue and classism is cyclical, you fucking morons.
  8. seriously, these sorts of infographics make me want to fucking flip tables. do you know why people don’t eat more fresh fruits and vegetables? because fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive, because they take a long time to prepare, because they dont live near a grocery store that has a decent produce section, because they dont have reliable transportation to get groceries to and from the grocery store, because they dont have the energy to plan all of the shit that is involved in making healthy, intentional, filling, balanced meals. basically: poor people get fucked, and then we get BLAMED for being lazy.
  9. eating “healthy”, aka access to fresh fruits and vegetables, is a privilege, first, foremost, always. so fuck you new york times and your ignorant goddamn infographic.
  10. there are SYSTEMATIC REASONS that we do not have equal access to fresh fruits and vegetables. they are very REAL problems. besides, you know, systematic poverty in america, the total mis-distribution of farm subsidies is a perfect place to start. read about that, then either get bent or start working on the actual problem.

preach.

(via ironfries)

“

“Excellent observations, Baronness. Veganism reminds me of a quote from H. L. Mencken: “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.”

It never ceases to amaze me how vegans can happily dig into a salad of totally unsustainable lettuce from Arizona, the production of which is depleting our precious aquifers, croutons made from totally unsustainable monocrop frankenwheat, and tomatoes grown in the fields of southwest Florida that federal prosecutors have referred to as “ground-zero for modern day slavery”, and then have the nerve to turn around and criticize even the most humanely and sustainably produced fully pastured meat because of “environmental and ethical concerns”.

Needless to say, I’m not exactly a fan of “factory farming”. But I honestly don’t see how you’re being any kinder or more environmentally responsible by choosing a salad from the average buffet or grocery store salad bar than you are by picking up a Tyson chicken from the meat case, vegan propaganda notwithstanding.”

”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/honeybear64/vegan-bill-lou_b_2128952_207954633.html (via sabelmouse)

(via ceepers)

This is your pre-Thanksgiving reminder:

verybusyandimportant:

You are allowed to eat.

You are allowed to choose your food, how much, and how little you want to put in your face.

It doesn’t matter what your body looks like, you are the person— the only person— who decides what goes on your plate and how much of that goes into your mouth.

You do not have to justify your choices to anyone, not even yourself.

Eat what makes you feel good in amounts that make you feel good, whatever good means for you at that particular time.

Hope you have a pro-stuffing, pro-gratitude, anti-colonialism, kick-ass Thanksgiving with your (chosen) families, kids!!

(via crystalsavestheday)

The Vegan Quinoa "Superfood" Demand is Destroying Bolivia»

girljanitor:

I actually kind of felt like this deserved a post on its own because I think not many people realize that the demand for quinoa, which provides a ridiculously expensive source of all the essential amino acids and central to the “new” vegan diet, is causing near anarchy in Bolivia as the prices get driven up and up.

According to one farmer quoted in the story, “Quinoa was always comida para los Indios [food for Indians.] Today it’s food for the world’s richest.”

Fights over territory previously considered worthless is now being fought over as prime land for growing the new cash crop, and have resulted in kidnappings, injuries, and bombings.

It’s also destroying the environment, since everyone is selling their llamas and planting quinoa instead, which is stripping the soil from overfarming and lack of llama poop for fertilizer.

I’m sick and tired of vegans claiming that their food exists in a vacuum. I mean, are these people THIS far removed from understanding that we all exist in nature? That your stupid fucking quinoa, your excuse to be more militant than ever, more elitist than ever, demanding everyone adhere to your dubious moral convictions, is destroying a country’s economy AND ecosystem? Because of a sudden, insatiable demand for their Indigenous peoples’ food?

Half the world’s quinoa supply is grown in Bolivia.

(via shorm)

“

We need to divorce the discussion of fat positivity in terms of body positivity and self-love in our bodies no matter their size, shape or color (and recognizing the problematic aspects of loving our bodies when we have disabilities and/or illnesses or dysphoric issues) and the political issues of food, food policy, food access and the like. They’re only tangentially related.

And in fact, when we conflate the politics of food and food access with fatness, we’re walking right into the trap of problematizing fat bodies. When we join up a discussion of fat with “food deserts, poverty, shitty public school lunches, unhealthy fast food,” all unquestionable negatives, we’re falling right into the mainstream narrative of “oh, if only those poor fats (and poor fats especially) had access to healthy food, they wouldn’t be so fat.”

NO.

There’s nothing fat accepting or body positive about perpetuating notions that give food choices and/or access primacy in the issue of fatness or suggest that fat folk are fat because of the symptoms and manifestations of systemic oppression, that variance in body size is something solvable or even addressable if only there was more fruit and less fries.

When we take it the step further and bring in a discussion of “rampant rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease” we are stock centered in the muck of the “fat is unhealthy!” tropes that fat acceptance, especially the HAES-focused model, rejects entirely.

I’m not willing to grant that ground. I’m not willing to have to fight the causation ≠ correlation battle yet again. I’m not willing to fight the fat = unhealthy vs. unhealthy = unhealthy battle again.

Not for my working class community of color, not for any community.

The only way that food access, policy and politics issues interplay with fat issues is if you accept an incrementalist perspective on fat that says “well, fat is okay on a personal level but…”

There are no acceptable “buts” here, though. It is or it isn’t. Which is it?

Fat acceptance says that there is, on this one fundamental issue, one answer to that question. Hint: it’s right there in the name of the ideal.

Mind, I’m not saying that we don’t need to talk about food politics and policy. I’m not saying that by any means. I’m especially not saying that we don’t need to talk about how our national food policy that gives preference to the issues of rural communities, is overly influenced by mega agribiz multinationals like Monsanto and is designed from the top down in order to enrich the rich while spending as little as possible on its actual goals is killing people (and not just in America) in a number of ways.

I’m just saying that fatness isn’t one of those ways.

And I’m saying fat acceptance cannot have this discussion on the terms of the fat hating mainstream which is exactly what this kind of conflation is. I’m saying that fat acceptance and body positivity recognizes that as soon as you start merging a discussion about fatness, especially fatness in communities (which is already a very fraught area to get into) with negative issues of politics and policy, the discussion is already lost.

You want to discuss what it means when a whole community has no easy access to fresh food? So do I. As soon as you say “and that’s why people there are fat” and make it an issue of blame, there’s nothing left to talk about from a fat acceptance perspective.

If you want to talk about how food policy and politics, from federal farm bills down to local zoning laws impact how entire groups of people are able to safely feed themselves and their families, I’m in.

You want to talk about how that is one of many systemic issues that has a negative impact upon health metrics like blood pressure and heart disease, yes, let’s do that.

When you bring body size into it? You’re not only completely disregarding fat acceptance, you’re betraying it.

And none of that has anything to do with whether or not a fat person takes a picture with a piece of pie on their tits. We have to break these issues down, put them in their proper places and recognize when seemingly like topics? Actually aren’t.

And above all else, we must stop problematizing fat bodies (especially poor and/or brown fat bodies) and sacrificing them on the altar of food justice.

Fat acceptance is for every fat body.

Food justice is for every person who eats.

The two are not at odds. The two should be allied causes. But they are not one in the same, and neither can be subsumed or co-opted in the battle for the other.

”

Amadi Talks on fat bodies and notions of food justice (via fatbrownanddown)

Glorifying Unhealthy Eating Habits in Skinny Women

jennylewren:

Anyone who’s spent a fair amount of time living in a fat body understands that when you’re eating something you become hypervisible. That the people around you will scope what you’re eating and cast judgement on you. Often times you can be served the wrong order in restaurants. And sometimes friends or relatives might even make you special “healthy” plates because they are “concerned” for your health. 

And I’m becoming increasingly frustrated by television featuring skinny women who eat copious amounts of junk food and are deemed sexually attractive for it.

Because it’s just thin privilege in action. A fat girl on a television show will be teased and mocked mercilessly for eating large amounts of food or junk food, but if a woman is thin and attractive it distinguishes her as different from the majority of thin and pretty women, women who are portrayed as having birdlike appetites.

Not understanding how it fits into thin privilege? If you are thin, you have the freedom to eat whatever you want without judgement. In fact if you “eat like a fat girl” it’s highly likely that you’ll be deemed as even more attractive.


If you look like Winifred Burkle you will be described as: “A remarkable woman. Particularly the way you can shovel a mountain range of food into your mouth. That is some Olympian feat, that much eating”


If you look like Rory Gilmore, you’ll be able to eat a large amount of junk food and have men tell you that they enjoy the fact that you can eat, or: “half the fun in being with you is the horrified looks on the waiters’ faces.” 

But if you look like Lauren Zizes, the food you eat will define you and be used as comedic relief. You’ll be made fun of for eating an entire box of chocolates and other characters will make comments about you wanting your ”damn candy!” 

If you’re a fat girl eating a mountain of food, you’re not told you’re remarkable or that it’s charming. You’re told that you have no sense of self control and should be ashamed of yourself. You’re told that you’re a poster child for unhealthy lifestyles. You’re called names and probably told much more traumatizing things than I mentioned here.

I mentioned a long time ago that I think one of the reasons why our culture is paranoid about becoming fat and constantly trying to lose weight or demoralizing fat people is because most of society has unresolved issues with regard to their own sexuality. Humans are desiring of flesh, and the fact that fat people have more flesh which is the object their desire, can be deeply disturbing and a hard concept to grasp.

And the more culture I soak up, the more I think that it’s not just about flesh. Food isn’t just fuel for our bodies. Food can be an experience, a trigger for our memories, and an aphrodisiac. I think food plays a much larger role in human sexuality than we give it credit for. 

Too bad it’s only culturally okay for thin people to explore it.

(via shorm)

[Trigger Warning for eating disorders, diet talk]

sexxxisbeautiful:

pompadoursandpincurls:

[Trigger Warning for eating disorders, diet talk] Yes, “I just love cheese” is a perfectly acceptable reason not to be vegan.

rabbitfeminist:

radicallane:

violetroots:

womenwithspunkandexplosives:unknowablewoman

Alright, [white] Tumblr vegans. Since I’m unable to physically smack y’all upside your nasty dreaded heads, you get this rant instead.

I want to talk about food choices. 

If you’re not totally clueless, you’re probably already aware of the classism and racism inherent in the “EVERY1 CAN BE VEG*N!!1” trope. We’ve been down that road with them before. We’ve explained food deserts, we’ve explained how costly “healthy” food can be to obtain and prepare for working-class folks with families to feed, we’ve explained the importance of certain foods to minority communities and the problems inherent in assuming there is only one right (see:white) way to respect animals. 

I don’t want to talk about that. I’m not particularly well-read in food politics and I’m not a person of color, so I don’t have much of value to add to that discussion anyway. But there is something I know a hell of a lot about as a fat woman—and that’s dieting, disordered eating, and how incredibly complex and downright agonizing everyday food choices can be for women. 

We are bombarded with messages about food before we even get into grade school. And not just messages—rules. Oh, the rules! It would be hilarious how contradictory they all are (low carb! no fat! low fat! high carb! no egg yolks! yes, egg yolks! YOGURT FOR EVERYONE! but that not that one, it has HFCS! READ EVERY LABEL ON EVERYTHING YOU EAT! low-cal! no-cal! sugar-free!) if they weren’t so fucking damaging. Almost nothing is safe. I’ll just talk about mine for a moment. All these things that vegans tout as the solution to our dietary woes—yeah, they’re not special. Tofu and whole grains? Too many carbs. Fruit? Too much sugar. Vegetables? I don’t like most of them, and then I end up feeling ashamed and disgusting for not wanting to eat a food that I simply DO NOT LIKE THE TASTE OF. Absolutely every item in the grocery store has something wrong with it, so then I end up eating nothing, and then I end up binging because I’m ravenous and I’m losing my mind, and the cycle continues. 

If you can’t identify with any of this, be glad. Be ecstatic that food is a neutral subject for you! I wish it was for me! No, not every woman develops disordered eating or a full-blown eating disorder, but I suspect that the estimates are much higher than we realize. According to this study from 2008, it’s 3 out of 4 American women between the ages of 25 and 45. And it’s not an easy thing to get a handle on, since all surveys on disordered eating are self-reported. Additionally, when the culture around you is sick and obsessed with dieting, it’s obviously going to be difficult to recognize that your own food behaviors are not healthy. 

The point is, for millions of us, giving ourselves permission to simply eat what we want tohas never been an option.

Eat what you want?! Are you kidding? You’ll eat everything! You’ll gain weight until you can’t walk! You can’t do that. What does this has to do with self-righteous veganism? EVERYTHING. It has everything to do with it, because any—yes, absolutely any—set of dietary restrictions can wreak havoc in the mind of someone who is already struggling to feed themselves. I’m not even talking about EDs here, though; shoving veganism down the throat of someone in the throes of a life-threatening ED would be downright criminal. I’m talking about your average woman, one who may not necessarily have a fully developed ED, but she has still internalized countless negative messages about food. This is where, to me, veganism completely breaks down, because I just cannot wrap my mind around telling other people what to eat. 

Eating is hard, okay? I can’t stress enough how difficult it is for some people (myself included, obvs) to feed themselves regularly, healthfully and without guilt. So when you add yet another restriction to the mess of food rules people have already taken to heart—in this case, it’s “no animal products”—you are complicating that even further. I personally cannot adhere to a single food rule or else I lose it. Yes, I lose it. I will stay up all night for days on end fantasizing about that forbidden food, I will binge on it, and I will then abuse myself for eating it.

I’m not saying mistreating animals raised for food products is acceptable. I’m saying you’re blaming the wrong people. You’re disrespecting and shaming people who are just trying to survive in a food-obsessed culture rather than going after the corporations themselves that you have grievances with, and in the process, you are actively doing harm. Every time you or one of your buddies tells someone that eating cheese is wrong, you add another layer to the deliciously horrible cake of food guilt that we’re all carrying around. Because for some of us, cheese may be safe. Cheese may be that one thing we can eat without wanting to purge, or maybe it’s the way we get our protein, or WHATEVER. It’s actually none of your fucking business, but I digress.

thank you

Oh my god this

Especially LOVE the last paragraph.

Great read!

also, hehehe “your nasty dreaded heads”. white vegans seriously stop getting dreads it does not make you “more natural” or whatever it just makes you racist

[bold mine]

THANK you.

My mom put me on my first diet when I was still a toddler. I remember wondering why I had different food than all the other kids in preschool and kindergarten. I am not kidding.

You do not want to fuck with me and my food issues.

“Be ecstatic that food is a neutral subject for you!”

 I just want to say that to everyone who ever gives me shit about what I eat. Everyone who has never had issues with food or an eating disorder needs to recognize the fucking privilege they have in being able to eat “normal “healthy” “nutritious” “properly portioned” food without problems.