Nutrition For Mortals Are There Actually Good and Bad Foods?
Jan 25, 2023
They question labeling foods as good or bad and why people do it. They trace historical and media messages that attach morality to food. They explore how context and associations change what we perceive as healthy. They examine harms of moralizing food and alternatives like unconditional permission and listening to internal cues.
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Questioning Good vs Bad Food Labels
- People commonly ask whether a food is "good" or "bad," but that framing oversimplifies nutrition.
- The hosts challenge whether labeling foods this way is necessary or helpful.
Three Reasons Foods Get Labeled Bad
- People label foods "bad" for three main reasons: perceived unhealthiness, fear of body change, or anticipated guilt.
- These motivations shape food decisions more than objective nutrition science.
Early Cheat Food Example
- The term "cheat food" dates back to the mid-1910s and reflected vilification of refined carbs.
- A 1948 doctor labeled sweets and white bread as "cheat foods," illustrating long-standing food moralizing.
