Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

This The Joy of Tech comic made me laugh!

It reads:

Children, today I will show you something you may have never seen before. It’s called, “Real Food,” and it’s the kind of thing our ancestors once ate. It doesn’t come from packages or fast food restaurants!

Whoa! Weird.

Creepy.

You actually expect us to eat something that grew?

Hey! How did these things get dirt on them?!

When I was growing up, I was a big fan of The Jetsons. It was a futuristic cartoon in which the Jetson family enjoyed flying cars and robot housemaids. They also took in all their nutrition directly from machines. If you are unfamiliar with The Jetsons, here is an example of their futuristic fun and how their meals were prepared:

Back then, it seemed like science promised us the best in food. Instantly cooked, ready to eat with little work or preparation. Welcome to the backlash. Instead of appreciating the quick and easy preparation, we have come to realize that food that is fresh and as close to whole as possible is actually better than the stuff that pops out of our machines.

Which is right? The Jetsons or The Whole Food Fadists?

I think there is a benefit to both kinds of food. Whole food TASTES better than processed food, but it does take longer to prepare. Processed food is a quick way to make a meal, but it can be less healthy than fresh. A equal balance of both is probably the best way to go. Planning is key. On days when you know you’re going to come home exhausted, plan for a processed meal, knowing that you have fresh and healthy food to prepare on days when you aren’t so busy.

Processed food isn’t the savior that The Jetsons made us believe it would be, but it isn’t the villain either. It’s up to us to choose our meals wisely.