This is a guest post from Vani Hari (a.k.a. The Food Babe) and New York Times Best Selling author. You can read more about her take on the food industry in her second book, Feeding You Lies!
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Long before I became the Food Babe I used to be addicted to Chick-fil-A. I remember the first time I tasted it – it was at the mall when I was very little and they used to have the free samples. There was a lady walking around outside of the store with hot, fresh pieces of newly fried chicken on little toothpicks. It was free so of course, my parents let me try it.
The smell alone was intoxicating, not to mention the taste. What continued for many years was countless meals of Chick-fil-A during my childhood followed by almost daily consumption in college. Thinking about it now, even though I haven't had it in what seems like a decade...I still know what a Chick-fil-A sandwich smells and tastes like.
This is why I chose the mall to begin my latest food investigation. A lot of people who generally don't eat fast food still eat Chick-fil-A. A lot of people say "I only take my kids to Chick-fil-A once in a while." Countless moms and dads take their kids to Chick-fil-A, thinking it's better than other fast food places.
When I first wrote the post Chick-Fil-A or Chemical-Fil-A? last summer, so many of my closest friends and family members were downright shocked at the list and type of ingredients Chick-fil-A uses - which are similar to big chains like McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.
Back in the day, restaurants were not required to list ingredients, there was no google, and we were all pretty much kept in the dark about what was in our food. Now that times are different, and most of the information is readily available at our fingertips and in most stores themselves, I wanted to know how many parents have actually looked at the ingredients in Chick-fil-A. So I asked.
I started off the questioning with “Why did you bring your family to Chick-fil-A today?" I interviewed 30 families in total between a mall based Chick-fil-A and a popular standalone store.
These were the top three (food related) answers.
1. “My kids asked for it.” The information I am about to share may make you think twice about giving in to their requests.
One of the main ingredients of Chick-Fil-A's nuggets (regular and the new grilled ones) which is listed twice is Monosodium Glutamate, a.k.a. MSG. The amount of MSG that food companies can put in your food is not regulated. MSG is an excitotoxin that can excite brain cells to death. MSG can cause adverse reactions in some people including "skin rashes, itching, hives, nausea, vomiting, migraine headaches, asthma, heart irregularities, depression and even seizures."
As a follow up question, it was natural for me to ask the parents who first introduced their child to Chick-fil-A. The answer was always pointed back at them. The parents introduced Chick-fil-A to their children.
Which reminds of me of one of Lisa's older posts - Kids eat processed food because parents give it them. I couldn't agree more with Lisa's thoughts here. “Young children have to rely on their parents to provide good food for them.” You have to admit, parents have a lot of control over what their children eat whether they take on this responsibility or not.
2. “It's better quality and tastes fresh.” It may taste good, but I have to question whether adding MSG to meat from conventional chickens that are sometimes given antibiotics is quality? If you look at a typical Chick-fil-A sandwich to see what keeps it “fresh” you’ll find close to 100 ingredients, 18 of them being different types of preservatives.
I wonder if these preservatives could keep a Chick-fil-A sandwich pretty much intact the same way it kept a Big Mac intact for 30 days exposed to air, illustrated by Morgan Spurlock's experiment with McDonald's during the movie Super Size Me?
The FDA allows food companies to add these preservatives in limited quantities. However, they do not prohibit combining different food items together.
For example, let’s take TBHQ which stands for “Tertiary Butylhydroquinone.” TBHQ is a chemical made from butane and can only be used at a rate of 0.02 percent of the total oil in a product. This ingredient is listed twice, once in the chicken and once in the bun. It’s easy to see how the typical American diet can result in one big whopping dose of preservatives in a given day.
Chick-fil-A abides by the required FDA limits, but limiting TBHQ to a certain percentage is the same logic the FDA used when allowing a product to still contain 0.5 grams of transfat and be labeled “transfat free.” Fresh, as you can see, can be a chemically derived illusion.
3. (Many versions of...) “If I turn in the toy from the kid's meal I can get an ice cream cone that my kid loves and I don't have to deal with all these annoying toys everywhere in my house.” Having less toys may sound better, but check out what's in Chick-fil-A's “Icedream.”
This little treat has all sorts of processed sugar, transfat, caramel coloring, and artificial food coloring x 2. Since when did you need to color vanilla ice cream white? I couldn't find out exactly what kind of caramel colors Chick-fil-A sources, but the caramel colors that some fast food chains use in soda is linked to cancer.
California recently added caramel coloring to a list of carcinogens that caused soda manufacturers to reformulate their ingredients to avoid a cancer warning label on their product.
After speaking to these families, I ended each conversation with one last question. I asked “Have you ever reviewed the ingredients listed in the Chick-fil-A nutrition guide?" No one had. Not even one family out of the 30 that I interviewed. I tried to hand out as many guides as possible but only a handful of families accepted them.
How many of these families would think eating MSG, TBHQ, artificial colors, and caramel coloring is just fine? I made it a point to approach each family with an open heart and kindness, but when I was done for the day, the whole exercise left me sad, depleted and reminded me that we have a lot more work to do in this country to educate people about REAL FOOD.
I want to leave you with something you can make the next time you have a craving or your kid "asks". Here is a REAL FOOD organic recipe that tastes like Chick-fil-A so you can truly provide fresh to your family. Enjoy :)
Comments have been closed on this article, which was written by Vani Hari. If you have a question or comment you can reach her at http://FoodBabe.com.
nancy says
I never thought that Chick-Fil-A was the healthiest choice, but I suppose I felt that if I ate there instead of McDonald's I was doing better nutritionally. I think this just goes to show that cooking at home with the unprocessed ingredients is the way to go. It isn't the easiest choice, but the best choice. What do we do for people who don't have access to good nutritional information or even to stores or markets where they can buy real food?
Jacki says
wow, that's horrible! I know mcD's gets the bad rap all the time, but this takes the cake! We don't go to chik-fil-a for a bunch of other reasons, plus we're vegan, but I cannot believe people are being fed this crap and have been thinking it's healthy all along! I hope the word gets out!
Loreena says
They are opening a our first Chick-Fil-A soon. And I am so excited to have a recipe for a cleaner version to give my kids when they open and they start begging to go. Thank You for all you do to keep us educated and healthy.
nicole says
I LOVE foodbabe. The amount of research she does saves me so much time & she always presents matter in a easy way to digest. THANK YOU!!!
Sheril says
Actually, artificial coloring in pickles is very common. Many years ago when I started my journey towards better foods with a membership in the Feingold Association, I was shocked to find that there was no brand available at my favorite grocery store that did not include coloring. And that is part of the tragedy of the state of food in our culture. Marketing experts and plant hybridizers, strive to make food look more like food as often as they strive to make it eye-poppingly standout. they play to what they think will be the most appealing to people sometimes just for the sake of that principle and sometimes for the sake of making up for a deficiency in a product that isn't what it should be for whatever reason. And it has been going on for so long and has increased so much and yet so gradually over the years that a majority of people are just completely out of touch with what real food looks, feels, smells and tastes like. I did the best I could for years to find pickles in the stores that weren't colored and now, for an altogether different reason, I am learning to make my own pickles.
Diane says
I live in the Chicago area, and my sister who lived in the South for a year, raved about Chick Fil-A forever. We finally got the franchises up here last year, and I am completely clueless as to what the appeal is. To me it's just another chicken place that really doesn't stand out.
bianca says
This is so coincidental _ I bought a Chick-fil-A sandwich last week for my husband but he was asleep by the time I got home so I put it in the fridge and it stayed there for several days. I finally decided to eat it (and I was a bit surprised that it looked exactly the same as the day I bought it); I heated it up in the microwave to have it for dinner and I can say that within 30 minutes of ingesting it I felt a little sick. Like most of the people you interviewed I have been under the impression that Chick-fil-A is one of the "better for you" options of fast food (if there is even such a thing!)! Thank you for this article, although it saddens me to reconsider them, I'm even more saddened that American is hooked on preservatives and fake food.
erin says
why do they color the pickles?!?!? jeeze
Tracey says
Thanks for not specifically addressing the evils of a Chick-fil-A milkshake....their cookies and cream flavor is one of my favorite sweet treats! ;)
Actually, I do appreciate your efforts to educate people about what ingredients are in the foods they choose to eat. I like the transparency that more restaurants and food companies are being required to display in disclosing all that goes into their products.
That being said, I will still choose to occasionally feed my family Chick-fil-A and eat it myself. Yes, it's a choice - one for which I accept responsibility, for myself and for my children. I hope that the same gracious spirit I extend to others who make different choices than mine in other areas is extended to me in this case.
Sheril says
oh and Jason's Deli is in 28 states I believe. So for all of us that are not 100% avoiding eating out at chain restaurants, I do recommend it as being at least less problematic as others. Maybe our food babe will investigate and tell us if certain menu items ought to be avoided. ;p
Concerned says
Ron,
I'm concerned that you don't understand the importance of real food. Educate yourself, then comment.
Chip davis says
I love chick fil a
Nancy says
Thank you for this post. I actually never looked at the ingredients. I just take my kids there becaus it seemed so family friendly. Not doing that again.
Sheril says
This made me so sad. I know it is somewhat silly of me, but it was easy for me to recognize and even presume unhealthy stuff at most fast food places. I liked Chik-fil-a. From the enjoyment of the food to the love of the funny cow campaign, it was a perfect place for me and my family until I had to face up to the unhealthiness of it. I haven't been in a long time now, essentially since I gave up gluten a few years ago. the gluten thing was what gave me the push to quit eating at that one last fast food place without really investigating their ingredients.
But in the meantime, we have eaten out less, eaten out for better quality more, and generally really firmed up our resolve and our ideals about trying to stick to a mostly whole foods diet.
And for those who have asked about if there are any places left you can go to.... I love the Jason's deli near me. I can't promise that they are completely free of undesirable ingredients. But they are the best I've found in my area and we love to go there. If I'm remembering rights about all the good ideas they have: no MSG, no high fructose corn syprup, no artifical colors and no artificial trans fats in anything they serve. And they do offer gluten free options, although, of course, they can't make any guarantee about cross contamination.
danyelle says
A box of whole wheat pasta a block of cheddar and a bag if frozen broccoli and onions go along way and much healthier than hot dogs etc. Creativity is huge and flexibility. I agree ppl are sensitive. My kids may be teased sometimes but in fifteen years they will be healthy and that is the bottom line. Eating real doesn't mean you are missing out. We eat cookies and cake etc but it is real ingredients.
Wendy says
I'm going to have to disagree with you there.
Pack of hotdogs: $2 (that's on the high end)
Pack of buns: $2 (even whole wheat)
Total: $4
Box of pasta: $2 (whole wheat)
Block of cheddar: $3 (MINIMUM)
frozen brocoli: $2
Total: $7
Now $3 isn't a lot, but when you're on a tight budget it adds up. Plus hot dogs/buns are always on sale. I could have bought both last week for like $3 total. It is not always cheaper to buy healthy, it can take a lot of planning/money/time. Which a lot of people don't have.
Just saying
Nick says
Box of whole wheat pasta - $2.50 (also on sale)
block of cheddar - $3.00 (and that's on sale @ half off)
bag of frozen broccoli ($0.70, from Kroger on sale)
Total price $6.20 before tax.
1 package 8 hotdogs (cheap, but not on sale) - $0.79
1 package hotdog buns (cheap store brand) - $0.79
1 box cheap macaroni and cheese - $0.40
Total price before tax $1.98
Your solution was over 3 times as much. Perhaps you haven't ever been in a hard squeeze for cash and just happy to be feeding your children. It's hard to justify spending 3 times as much on that kinda food when you are more worried about feeding your family.
Danyelle says
That would be TWO meals though. Also Walmarat box of whole wheat pasta is 1.27
Block of cheddar at Walmart or on sale recently at HT or Target is 2.27 for Cabot
2 Tbs butter, 1/4 cup of flour
Chicken stock (which you can buy a whole chicken and make several meals plus stock out of it for future use) and 1 cup of milk.
Bag of broccoli cuts at WM is 1.27.
For us this would make enough for dinner in addition to lunch, you can also add in more veggies and it is more filling and healthier.
By the way, I feed a family of SIX on 150 a week. That includes a 16 yr old boy, 12 yr old girl, 9 yr old girl and 2 year old plus 2 adults.
Nick says
2.27 for a lb of cheese, I doubt that, but if it's true I may have to go buy some and freeze it.
I feed 2 adults, and two young boys (3 and 1.5) for $150 a month. We eat a lot of beans, rice, pasta, potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage and whatever other vegetable is in season and therefore cheaper. In the summer we get a bit of food from the garden, and we can some that get us some variety through the winter months.
We also eat ramen, hotdogs and mac and cheese, but they are not as filling as the beans and rice and such, probably because of the lack of fiber. The added variety is nice though.
Add a little bit of meat, usually chicken or what ever fish is the cheapest to add some protein into the diet. Buying the meat when it's on sale and freezing it helps.
We don't always have alot of variety, but we don't go hungry either.
Danyelle says
That is 8oz but at WM you can buy cheese for less than 2/8oz which would be 4 but a pound of cheese would make sandwiches, eggs w/cheese, mac n cheese and cheese and crackers.
Caitlin says
I can use left overs for days if I make something homemade. I made chili then I can use it with spaghetti noddles a couple days later. If I make a chicken meal I can transform it into tacos or a soup. A pound of potatoes makes mashed potatoes, potato soup, and other various dishes. I only have a family of four, five when we have my step-daughter but I can feed my family on $400 the entire month with all homemade meals. It is healthier and cheaper. It might change with my daughter's allergies but at least it will still be healthier and I will know what my kids are eating
Tom says
I'm not saying the food is healthy, but check your facts.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
danyelle says
But why eat msg if there isn't proof if healthy? I have very real reactions to it same with my kids.....
Nick says
That's fine then, don't eat it. However just because you are allergic to it doesn't mean that I shouldn't be able to eat. There are all sorts of people out there allergic to peanuts, but I am still going to eat them.
Sheril says
There is so much conflicting information out there on MSG that is can be difficult to process it all and come to any kind of a satisfactory conclusion. Sometimes the conflicting info arises all from one source that can't make up its mind such as the FDA or the mayo clinic. Presumably there is political pressure at the root of all this confusion among so-called experts.
Eventually each person has to make up their own mind for themselves, and for their own children. the best way for us as "end users", if you will, of the term to view this is that we can consider a case or a fact about msg proven, not in the sense of absolute scientific proof like we have for the existence of gravity, but in the same sense as we use the word proof in a court of law. We have made up our minds based on sound thinking, research, etc. And that is plenty of proof for people to discuss the matter and share their thoughts and ideas.
And I'm all to happy to tell what I think I know about MSG in hopes of helping and encouraging others as they try to make changes in their diet whilst sifting through all the conflicting info that the experts have been putting out.
MSG acts on our nervous systems. One of the most obvious ways in which it does it is to trick our taste buds into thinking we are eating meat, (or more meat, or better quality meat). Many people claim to be affected by it and some I have seen the obvious difference in their lives after the start of their efforts to avoid it.
MSG was added to the food supply at a time when society as a whole seemed to turn away from making homemade soup stock in favor of fast cheap and easy MSG. There are myriad health benefits attributed to real soup stock that cannot be obtained from the cans and powder packets that replaced it through the deception MSG perpetrates on our taste buds.
Tina says
I appreciate the information that you have shared. I do believe that we should all know what we are putting into our bodies and the bodies' of our children. Having said that, as a mother of 5, I am trying my best to feed my family the best possible options. It is very difficult to always avoid every single thing that could be bad for us. I refuse to turn this switch to real food into something that is going to make my kids, and husband for that matter, feel like they are being punished. I will continue to do the best that I can for myself and my family. It would be appreciated if your tone would be a little less condescending and judgmental. Sometimes we have to pick our battles, so that we can win the war. I feel like I am making progress, and then I read a post like this, and I have to fight the feelings of failure. I hope you will consider this point of view. Thank you again for your research and information.
Also, just so I'm not misunderstood, we rarely eat out because our budget is very tight. I'm doing my very best to buy and serve real food on a tiny budget. Trust me, a cheap pack of hot dogs, buns, and non-brand chips would feed our family for a lot cheaper than real food. I struggle with this sort of thing every week. I am doing it, but it's not easy and adds a lot of extra work for one very stretched mommy! :)
Sheril says
It can be very hard. I completely understand. There are ways to do it that are cheaper than others and I hope you find some good blogs to give you ongoing help you in that department.
Beyond that, I'd also say that I have to keep a firm hold on my inner cheapskate and remind myself that this lifestyle is not more expensive than my mother's two year struggle with cancer was. It is far less expensive. And that I have had over 300 prayer requests for cancer in families of people I know over the last few years. And I don't meant to throw cancer out there to scare you or to sound extreme, it is just that cancer and several other real and potential health problems that have been on the rise in our country are truly motivating to me and they truly do cost so much more in money, time and emotional pain as compared to what I go through making changes to my family's diet.
Why are there now 1 in 54 boys born this year expected to be diagnosed with autism? Why are there several different auto-immune disorders that used to be as rare as autism was 50 years ago that I now know multiple people diagnosed with? Why do I have 10 times more family, friends and acquaintances with diabetes than I did 15 or 20 years ago?
I don't think that food is the whole answer. But I do think that food is one of the answers. And food is one that I can control to enough of a certainty to know that I am helping give my family better odds.
I hope and pray your journey with food goes as well as mine has and gets you there faster than mine got me to where I am.
Chip davis says
Mmm.chick fil...I will go right now. Stop preaching at me.
FoodieMom says
Perhaps you should stop reading food blogs if this is "preaching" to you.
Michelle says
Thanks for the info, we haven't eaten at Chick-fil-a in years mainly due to the cost, those meals are not cheap, I definitely won't be going there in the future. (We very rarely eat fast at all only in a pinch, fix 99% of our meals at home.)
Michelle T says
Can I just say how sad I am to read this :( I looove chick-fil-a! I also love my kids and am trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. Time to cross this one off my food list... even if it's just on rare occasions... and come up with a better homemade version.
Truett Cathy says
This is blasphemy. I weep for for your children and the merciless taunting they surely endure from their classmates.
Caitlin says
Some families, such as my own, cannot feed their kids these foods. My daughter gets sick from eating foods with msg, wheat, and dairy products in them. How fair is to her to feed her something that will make her eczema flair up and give her a very upset belly? I would hope (if you are a parent) that you teach your children respect for children like mine who may be a little different but have feelings that can get hurt. My goal is to make more home cooked meals for my family because my kids LOVE a home cooked meal and my husband loves I can cook.
Ron White says
All you guys are food nerds! Your eyes are being damaged reading this and your getting carpal tunnel typing your comments. What can you eat without it having a few things that are not ideal? I guess that everybodys life expectancy keeps getting shorter. Oh wait, this just in.....the average life expectancy is no longer 54 years old....Tatesalad
michelle says
Wow- I should have known. I thought it was better also. I only eat this stuff when my nephews are around - my brother and sis in law feed it to them regularly. If only they would become more educated. I will share this with them. Fingers crossed.
FoodBabe says
Ooooo.. Good Luck Michelle! Keep us posted on how it goes!
SFM says
I love Chick-Fil-A iced tea . . . but I notice that food makes me feel sick, as does most fast food.
Caitlin says
Thank you for writing this. We just found out our daughter has a high intolerance to MSG and dairy products and a low intolerance to wheat. We have to change her whole diet and with my husband in school and working and me working full time finding time to get good nutritional meals can be tough. After reading this I am going to be making sure we keep away from fast food (of any kind) and stick to good ol' home cooking.
Muriel says
You are very brave to have approached that many strangers armed only with nutrition information they probably didn't want to hear. Food is as political as religion and in some cases even more personal. I am proud of you for being so brave - you are inspiring me to get out of my comfort zone!
FoodBabe says
Muriel - Thank you. You just made my day. To be honest, I was very nervous driving to the mall before my experiment. I feel really fortunate to encounter such kind people who didn't shoe me away.
Kelly says
Check out the lawsuit that Chick-fil-a has against a small Vermont T-shirt company, "Eat More Kale". Chick-fil-a claims they own the term "eat more chicken" and Eat More Kale is too similar. Shame on them
FoodBabe says
Thanks Kelly! I wrote about this too. Regardless of whether the law uploads their side of the story - I find that it is a "Lawsuit Against Health" Check this out - http://foodbabe.com/2011/12/05/eatmorekale/
Danyelle says
I LOVE THIS!! THANK YOU.
Allison says
*Sigh* This is so terribly frustrating! I was speaking of a smiliar topic that other day at work and one co-workers response was "I think our bodies NEED junk food" - REALLY? And yesterday after reading the article about a dairy cow showing positive for Mad Cow, I mentioned it at work and everyone literally just brushed it off like it was no big deal. Sad....sad sad sad......
Patricia says
NEED junk food? That's crazy, and was obviously spoken by someone who isn't ready to be healthy.
The mad cow case had no risk to humans. Nearly all foods can be contaminated, whether organic or real or not, so it's more a decision about knowing where your food comes from and proper food handling to protect your family as much as possible.
Nicole says
I was told the other day, that maybe a girl wouldn't need to be embalmed because of all the preservatives she gets in her fast food, and that it would be cutting her cost in the long run. I was dumbfounded.
Eva says
The key has always been how many times one takes our kids to eat fast food.
If we go thru all fast chain, small restruants ect, we would not eat at all.
The worse overall is what kids are fed at schools, that is for those people that have children in public schools.
We can go to a grocery store and find the same issues we can not keep up with all that is out there. You might cause well this is your job and you have the time to research and you get paid for it. Passing on info without all the info is just as bad as what they do.
Did you ask how offten they eat at Chick-fil-A? Did you give Chick-fil-A chance to answer your concerns? I don't take my kids well now grandkids out to eat all the time...that is maybe once a month. It is personal responsiblity and yes companies are to blame too. But as you know it is the all American way MONEY make more and who care what goes into the food. Everyone does this even Mom and Pop stores.
Elisabeth says
I had no idea!!! I went to Chick-Fil-A with my family for the same reasons (well, maybe not the first one, I would ask the kids if they wanted to go there) Makes me want to cry! I would have taken a pamphlet though ;) Makes me not so sad that we don't have a chick-fil-a out here in the Northwest. Thanks for opening my eyes yet again!
Rositsa says
Has anyone actually found a real-food-restaurant that at least some of the meals are proper...? And does anyone know of such restaurants in UK? In general I don't go out dining anymore, because it makes me feel guilty that I may consume horrible chemicals, but this is also a huge social restriction.
Karyn says
Ask around. In general, small local restaurants are more likely to cook from scratch than "chain" restaurants, but do a bit of homework on them. Here in Minneapolis we have a number of small cafes and such that emphasize sustainable, whole foods sourcing and cooking. Places like this are more likely to be able to provide an ingredient list upon request, as well as to customize preparation to meet dietary needs such as gluten-free or no dairy.
Rositsa Neame says
Thank you Karyn :)
Jennifer says
Gracious - cut folks some slack! Everyone has to start somewhere. Taking a "how could you" approach/tone isn't helpful at all, whether in life or in the "comments" section of a blog post.
We do our very best to eat "real food" but have stopped following so many blogs and sites because the condescending attitude of "real foodies" is annoying and offensive. Ignorance is bliss? Yep. It is - from politics to food to everything in life.
You attract more flies with honey than vinegar... and it matters not whether the honey is local, organic and unfiltered or good ol' (bad ol') Sue Bee from the conventional grocery store. Rather than insulting people for their ignorance, why not make the case for whole foods in an attractive, winsome way?
Chi Chi says
Jennifer, I agree with you in this regard. I try to ignore the tone of some "real foodies" and only extract the very useful knowledge they are passing on but that is not always the easiest thing to do. It's frustrating and alienating to a lot of folks who are at least trying to do better.
That being said, this is a great bit of info and I hope it will be shared and passed along as much as possible and to as many people as possible.
Nick says
Jennifer have you thought, perhaps people shouldn't be so easily offended. In fact if you are so easily offended it's probably because you think you are doing something wrong.
Most people will happily remain ignorant and I don't think that is something that should be help in high regard. I personally don't have as much of a problem as most people reading this site with chemicals. I think moderation is something that is very much overlooked in these types of communities. Eating a brain altering Chick-Fil-A sandwich once a month or once a week isn't going to allow the build up it would take for those chemicals to "cause cancer". I don't much care for the fear mongering aspect of the post, but I do think people should be educated on what they eat.
I like vinegar by-the-way ;) and honey.
Rebecca says
Jennifer, AMEN!
While I'm grateful for the info, and it reflects the efforts I take to feed my family safely, the tone does come off as super condescending. The "how dare they poison their children" attitude isn't gonna win over anyone who wasn't already trying to make changes.
Patricia says
Well said, Jennifer. Attempting to educate others by belittling their lifestyle isn't very effective. Present the facts and easy alternatives and you'll see much more of a difference than analyzing every food purchase and criticizing parenting skills. Eating real food isn't an us vs. them situation; it's something we need to work together on.
Sheril says
I've been there at that place where you are making changes but having a hard time with certain aspects. I'm sure there are people who can help you get there with more encouragement and less of what sounds like attitude. Try to remember that we all do have things in life that we are totally convinced of and holding to very strictly where we get frustrated that others don't see it. She isn't frustrated with you specifically. She is just frustrated in general with the whole situation. But when we get like that it comes out as it comes out, just as all venting does.
Some day you too will be frustrated with someone who is years behind you in their journey and may show it to them in a way that offends them. Much as I try not to, I'm sure I've been guilty at times.
Nowadays, I mostly just get what I can from all of these good sources and suffer very little frustration with them. I'm just thankful they are there and I am tired of and avoiding those sources that were catering to my need to slow down at times by giving me easier advice that was actually bad for me.
Em says
I have to agree with Jennifer on this one. I almost stopped reading the post after the first paragraph or so for the same reason I don't read the comments section on news sites anymore and why I stopped Facebook all together: I just don't have time in my life for ire anymore. I recognize that it can be annoying and frustrating when people choose not to live the life we have chosen for ourselves and our families, even if we consider the alternatives to be damaging to our health in some way. The facts presented in this blog are very useful and I agree that the food is certainly not "real" food or healthy. That being said, let us learn to celebrate the changes that people DO make, even if it doesn't fully align with the changes we have made. Present the facts and leave the annoyance and anger at the door. It does nothing but essentially preach to the choir and turn off people who might otherwise consider what is presented. Or, maybe they'll read it and decide that they are fine with it. You know what, that's ok too. It really, truly is. Maybe someone still takes their kids to get one of those sandwiches once a year or once a month... but maybe they've been making the switch over to whole wheat flour in their home or cutting back on foods with artificial dyes. Isn't that something to be joyful about instead of huffing and puffing over a fast food sandwich, no matter how in the right you may be?
The one thing I really liked about the movie "Food, Inc." and Michael Pollan's books is that he is never snarky, condescending or rude. He never makes statements that equal: "Oh really? Well, let me tell YOU something..." Never. He presents the facts, encourages us to make the changes we can and are willing to do. That's why he is so popular and why many people who may never have considered doing anything to change their habits have decided to take steps to do so. If his books were written and presented like the blog post above, I doubt he'd be as popular. He would still have been right as rain, but the audience he would have managed to reach would have been much smaller. Keep that in mind the next time you watch him take a bite out of that huge not-so-healthy burger he eats at the beginning of "Food, Inc". :)
Tracey says
Em, I think you are spot on with this comment. I never realized why I enjoyed Michael Pollan's perspective so much, but you've helped me to see that it's the way he presents the material. He's very informative, yet encouraging in his presentation, including helpful "rules" and positive changes. Thanks! :)
Sarah says
I am also going to agree with Jennifer. 99% of this post is condescending, saying how horrible people who eat at Chick-fil-a are, and only one small sentence with a recipe at the end that gives a practical solution. I would much rather see a balance. More practical solutions, more recipes, more ways that we can make positive changes. Educating people on real food is awesome, belittling people who aren't on board is just mean. I believe exercise is really important, but does that mean I should say "how could you?" or roll my eyes at people who take one night off and go to the movies instead? I don't see much of a difference between the two.
Shavon says
Great read. Thanks for pointing out that the responsiblity lies with parents to ensure their children eat healthier foods. So many times people want to pass the buck. It's hard to admit that our eating habits are generational and are passed down. It takes courage and hard work to change your eating habits. Maybe pack a snack next time you head to the mall instead of succumbing to the temptation of the food court.
FoodBabe says
Yes - it definitely takes courage to go against everything we have been taught. It's a struggle every single day! Thanks for your encouraging comment Shavon.
Mara says
Thank you for writing about this. I fall into the category of "not eating fast food" but will have Chick-fil-A sometimes. I have believed and said that it's better than McDonalds or Burger King. But after reading this, not so! And I'm even a huge label reader and eat very healthy. Time to say good-bye to Chick-fil-A.
FoodBabe says
But remember - you can always make my homemade version when you are having a craving :)
Karyn says
"We have a lot more work to do in this country to educate people about REAL FOOD" really says it all. I have personal objections to Chik-Fil-A corporate on several ethical points, but just from a nutritional standpoint this and any fast food should be avoided. I've learned that even things that LOOK like simple basic ingredients are anything but, with additives galore to preserve them and ensure uniformity wherever served.
FoodBabe says
Yes - Thanks Karyn, for pointing out the theme of the article. I really want people to know the truth, which for some is really hard to take.
Sayre Franke says
Thank you. After finishing our 100 day pledge, we have gradually gotten back to some convenience foods, including two visits so far to chick fil a. Now I am feeling a bit of a hypocrite, and hopefully I can resist the lure of the drive thru on one of those very busy and tiring days.
Joy R. says
I believe you asked some important questions. From prior experience at the mall, especially in the food court, I am not open to people approaching me. Usually, they want to sell me something. I do agree that many people do not want to know or believe that there is this unknown entity which is acting in their best interest. "Ignorance is bliss" rules in the food court.
FoodBabe says
Every single family responded to my questions nicely and politely...especially the Dads :) I was so surprised that people didn’t tell me to go away and not ask them questions. I really couldn’t believe how nice everyone was to me. This was just one of the reasons I was so sad – such nice people feeding their kids such horribly chemical filled food.
Alexis says
Of course the Dads wanted to speak with you...you are a babe ! My husband would so be giving you all his attention if you approached him with questions. Great post ! :)
Val @ Tips on Healthy Living says
Thanks for this -- you are asking some really important questions. Hopefully some of these people continued asking questions of themselves and they way they are feeding their kids.
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
Now I want to go to the mall and try out this experiment. I can't believe that most people wouldn't accept the ingredients list! They just don't want to know? Ignorance is bliss? SIGH.
FoodBabe says
Kate - I'd love to hear how it goes...