Category Archives: General Musings

Live, For Now

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On my drive to work this week, I noticed a new billboard off the freeway. It’s a Pepsi campaign with the slogan “Live For Now”. It shows beautiful, thin, young people enjoying themselves while drinking Pepsi.

All I can think of when I see this ad is “live for now” and “die early later”. Drinking soda has been shown to be one of the leading causes of our obesity epidemic. It’s just empty calories with a side of chemicals. While drinking soda in small quantities does not cause obesity, it is part of an unhealthy lifestyle. Drinking soda in large quantities, which Americans do on a regular basis, is a deadly serious problem.

“If we are serious about tackling the obesity crisis, cutting back soda consumption has to be the top priority,” Goldstein asserts. “Parents, communities, businesses and government all have a role to play in helping to reduce consumption. We cannot afford to raise another ‘Pepsi Generation.’” From the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Maybe we should live for now, but realize that our actions today impact tomorrow. If we want to live a healthy tomorrow, why not drink water instead? It will hydrate you without adding empty calories you don’t need.

Here’s my parody of the ad.

Pepsi Ad Parody

 

Food Choices Are The New Politics

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I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 20 years. In that time, I’ve rarely been challenged about this choice. Occasionally, I have been asked questions that come off as defensive arguments, but mostly people are respectful, sometimes curious, and every so often admiring.

However, since transitioning to a vegan diet this year, I’m met more often with open hostility from friends and family. I find this odd, because all I’ve given up is dairy and eggs. I gave eating animals years ago.

Sometimes the challenge is formed in the cloak of concern. That I can accept a little more, because even though we are thriving on a plant-based diet, they might be basing their concern on outdated dietary information. When we try to share information about how this is actually better for our health, the health (and possibly survival) of the planet, and ethical concerns for animals, we just get tuned out.

I’m finding that food choices are becoming the new politics with some people. If you talk about it, or even eat in front of them, it becomes an argument. I guess talking about the weather will have to become the norm until they get used to it.

Burnout

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Chicken stressYesterday, I ran into a former colleague while having lunch off campus. I noticed a marked difference in her demeanor. Where just a month ago she looked dejected and beaten down, now she beamed. I asked her how she was and she grinned so widely that her smile seemed to wrap around to reach her ears. I contrasted this with the faces I see every day, which are drawn with stress and anxiety.

We’ve had a lot of changes at the University in the past few years. Budget cuts and departmental consolidations have shaken up everyone’s world. We haven’t had any layoffs in my department, but many people are leaving on their own. The ones who have left seem to be happier and more energized. Something is definitely wrong and I’m not sure what can be done about it.

I’ve noticed the same beaten down look in others. When I ask them how they are, most smile wanly and note they are getting by. One thing that sticks out is the feeling that no matter what we do, how much we do, it’s not enough. That we’re not enough. That is a big change that is not related to budget cuts or consolidations.

It is very expensive to replace people. Luckily we are still in the position to be able to replace most that leave. For the others, the workload just gets absorbed with little regard to what it’s doing to the staff.

At this point, I don’t have any answers. It’s more of just an observation of what we’re doing wrong. I guess the first step in solving a problem is acknowledging that there is one.

The Journey to Compassionate Eating

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Omnivore Childhood

I had the typical, albeit not healthiest childhood. I loved my orange Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, sugary Kool-Aid, and greasy fried chicken. I hated vegetables and tolerated fruit. I was the last one anyone expected to become a vegetarian. I never really thought about food in terms of what I should eat. I never connected what I ate to how I felt. I definitely never thought about who I ate. I didn’t think in those terms, yet.

I distinctly remember one afternoon in high school when I had a bad headache. I was sitting in the backseat of my best friend, Jill’s car. Her mom was driving us to their house where I was going to spend the night. I was sitting quietly, eyes closed, my head pressed against the glass. “What’s wrong,” her mother asked. “I have a headache,” I mumbled. “What did you eat today?” she asked.

“Um, a Snickers bar and a Coke,” I answered. “A Snickers bar and a Coke? No wonder you feel awful. You need to eat some food, dear.”

What? I thought that was food. I’d like to say that was my epiphany and that I was a very healthy eater after that. Not really, but it is the first time I connected food (or food-like stuff) and health. Continue reading →

Facebook Confession

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I have a confession. I hide meat related posts from my friends on Facebook. Mostly it is photos posted of meals (a.k.a. food porn), but also posts about meat people are devouring. I know Facebook monitors all we do; that’s how they make their money. I wish they noticed these patterns and allowed filters for content. I like my meat-eating friends and want to see what is going on in their lives, except for this one area. So for now, I hide the posts so I don’t have to see them. My little cruelty-free bubble.