Food Neutrality

When I read the One America News article, I wondered if it was from the Babylon Bee.

On Thursday, One America News posted an article about Los Angeles Unified School District releasing a video claiming that diets are an example of ‘food oppression.’ The video claims that we should tell our kids that we’ve lied to them and no one food is better for them than another food (oppressive food hierarchy).

The article reports:

The L.A. Parent Union drew attention to the presentation. The Union alleged that ‘food choice’ is the result of a false standard of health. Nutritionist, Kera Nyemb-Diop, and influencer Blair Imani, are featured in the video. The two ladies encouraged students to eat whatever they want as no nutritional choice is healthier than another.

Now that’s really interesting. I remember in junior high school seeing a video of an experiment on white mice. One group of mice was fed vegetables and protein and the other group of mice was fed potato chips and soda. The first group of mice thrived and the second group did not. I realize that we are not mice, but somehow I think there are some things we could learn from that experiment.

Obesity is a problem in America. What is in our food? How much real (natural) food do we eat? How much sugar or high fructose corn syrup do we consume? Do children who grow up drinking sweet tea have more cavities? Do children who eat a lot of sweets tend to weigh more?

I will admit that I have never heard the expression oppressive food hierarchy before. I also realize that some of the information we were given as children about what we should eat has turned out to be false. The food pyramid puts starches on the bottom as things we should eat a lot of and puts fats and oils on the top to be used sparingly. Studies have shown that certain oils (coconut oil, olive oil) have nutritional benefits. Studies have also shown that many Americans are gluten sensitive, so the pyramid does not work for them. Many nutritionists believe that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest way to eat, but according to the Los Angeles Unified School District that would be part of the oppressive food hierarchy.

At any rate, I think the introduction of the concept of oppressive food hierarchy sounds like something out of the Babylon Bee. We do know that Americans eat too much sugar and too much fat that those things are not good for you. Some foods are simply more healthy than others. Calling that concept oppressive food hierarchy does not change that fact.