Right friends. I am in a bad mood today. I just read this article in the Guardian about these people who lost a ton of weight during lockdown. They discovered exercise ! They discovered vegetables ! They discovered no commute ! They discovered free time ! Good on them. I’m glad people got healthier and fitter. But it made me mad. You know why ? Because during lockdown I put on weight ( Big Fat Rain. ) Yes I know what you’re thinking. It’s your own fault for eating Doritos. Yes I agree. I should have had the discipline and the better judgment. Consider me suitably chastised. I have given up the Dorito habit. Ok happy ? No more Doritos for me. Now look. I know I have everything to be grateful for. I am in good health, I have a job, I have family and friends. All I can say in response to all these blessings is thank god. But during lockdown there was no downtime ( Alone time for an introvert; Parenting). There was no quiet. There was no space. My lack of commute meant that I worked longer or that I dealt with the kids. I also became a full time teacher, cook and housekeeper ( Robot McRobotface). Whatever. This is my privilege as a mother. But what I feel put out by is the constant advertising of junk food. I mean we don’t stand a chance. I walk by a supermarket every morning on the school run and I am bombarded by images of Doritos and chocolate. I can smell the pumpkin spice lattes from the coffee shops. I see flaky pastries. We are only human. Our teeny tiny little brains can’t withstand the onslaught of advertising geniuses who pray on our weaknesses. I love vegetables ( Aubergine; Roast cauliflower, feta and harissa tray bake; Healthy and easy grapefruit salad recipe). I love lentils. Why don’t the supermarkets have those front and center of the shops? When you’re having a bad day you’re not going to reach for a head of cauliflower or a bag of brussels sprouts to munch. We have to change these habits. But how ? Sugar is bad. we all know it. Now how to live it? How do we undo a lifetime of advertising aimed at reducing us to sugar fiends ?
