Working with teenagers for more than a decade has made it very obvious to me that women are taught that being overweight is morally wrong; not just in terms of how it affects them personally, but in terms of their place in society. On a personal note, my mom's family comes from the aforementioned hearty peasant stock on top of being short, and I watched her struggle with her weight and self-image my whole life. As much as she loved me, I know part of her resented the fact that I took after my dad's tall, skinny family (well, nsm with the tall, but you know what I mean). I felt guilty about being thin my whole childhood. I remember watching her diet and exercise and fret while I did nothing and stayed thin. People assumed she was unhealthy because of her weight, and she ate so much healthier than I did.

I definitely think our society equates thin with healthy. I can't tell you how many times I had people comment how "good" I looked after losing ten pounds because of the pneumonia last year or the stomach flu this year.

Huh. Ranting. Sorry.

You people help me understand why I wanna punch everyone who tells me I look more beautiful with that fucking braces on better. I love that in an online community.

I have no bacon. Now I cry.

I have no bacon, but I did just have a Cadbury's Creme Egg.

Maybe, but it's not an intrinsic component of advocating health

Shouldn't be -- but it is the marketing approach.

Doing unhealthy things is bad for you

But the questions comes down to -- is eating a cookie bad for you? or some bacon -- good food is good for your soul

and these leads to this:

I'm with Teppy on this. If I had a shiny pound coin for every time I've heard a woman refer to her eating choices in terms of "sinning", I'd be able to buy myself an iPhone.

I'm going to guess that I hear this 100 times a month. And it isn't at work. ( I hear a little there, but not much) It is as I walk by people in the neighborhood, hang at my coffee shop, any time I go to a restaurant, at the library, in the grocery store....

I'm guessing 4 months to an iphone at a penny a comment.

I get that some people don't see the moral choice that being healthy has become -- but listen to the language.

Do I think the government should be involved -- sure, in making things possible. Sidewalks, public transportation , safe places to play and walk , education. I actually believe they should be banning transfats. ( We know this is something that confuses our bodies - it isn't food)

now I need to go make quiche lorraine for tomorrow's brunch .

I actually believe they should be banning transfats.

Transfat is a way of making food cheaper, not of making it taste better. Plenty of fats, some healthy, some not (but still healthier than transfats) that taste as good or better.

Transfat is a way of making food cheaper, not of making it taste better.

Many chefs who serve french fries or fried chicken would disagree with you there.

Palm oil (which is high in saturaed fat but low in transfat) tastes pretty good for those purposes. Peanut oil makes really good fried chicken. Corn oil (IMO) makes really good fries. (I also happen to like olive oil (non-extra virgin) for fried food, but admit not to everybody's taste.

Here is a NY Times article on country fair food made without trans fat. [link]

The oil has to be changed more often (in this case soy oil) but the taste is the same.

I just tried my first experiment in vegan matzo brei. It's not perfect, but definitely good enough that I'll try again, and adjust the recipe a bit. (This time: two pieces matzo, 1/4 cup blended silken tofu, salt, fried in Earth Balance.)

I have my first attempts at ricotta pies in the oven. I'm hoping they turn out well.