“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all his has.” (Proverbs 21:20, NIV)
The struggle for food has been a defining characteristic of human life since the beginning of time. Ancient people lived in a perilous state of near starvation, with only a very few at the top of the economic hierarchy able to indulge in gluttonous eating. Periodically, of course, there was enough food, but nearly every world culture developed in recognition that caloric abundance was likely to be temporary, and hard and hungry times were just around the corner. When they had it, people were happy and felt blessed. As a result, cultural traditions developed to where food was the centerpiece of almost all celebrations.
America’s Thanksgiving provides the perfect example of the impact of this near-starvation condition on culture. In recognition of God’s support to their survival, the Pilgrims, who were usually against man-made holidays, enjoyed a three-day celebration in 1621, giving thanks, yes, but also enjoying the results of a bountiful harvest, hunt, and catch. The focus was on God first, but then the food, as is evident in Governor William Bradford’s contemporary account, “Of Plymouth Plantation" (Bradford, Paget, 2012). In documenting the event, he focuses on the restoration of the Pilgrim’s health after a long period of deprivation by citing all that they now had including fish, fowl, livestock, and corn – “about a peck a meal a week to a person.” They were truly blessed.
For the vast majority living today, however, hunger is no longer a threat to survival. In the western world, very few suffer any hunger at all – unless self-inflicted – and a robust social safety net virtually guarantees that no one will ever die from starvation. Even the poorest among us have access to an array of foods that would have thrilled most past generations, rich and poor alike. Food scarcity no longer serves as a control to our appetites.
Our culture does not reflect this change. We still celebrate with food, and not only at Thanksgiving. Families celebrate their routine togetherness around the table, couples “go out to dinner” to celebrate their relationship, businesspeople do the same. We need to change this focus now that food is so abundant. Our failure to do so is literally killing some of us, and for society in general results in a massive waste of resources and a negative impact on the planet.
For illustration, let’s return to Thanksgiving. The tradition was promoted by all the United States Congresses and by Presidents beginning with Washington. FDR set the official date for the national holiday in 1941. All their declarations, acts, and proclamations focused on celebrating our blessings and giving thanks to God. What a wonderful thing.
But what is the focus now?
Today Thanksgiving is about food. Some even call it (horrendously) “Turkey Day.” We prepare giant meals, and then we eat them. To many, that is the whole holiday – a giant feast. The average American consumes 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day (The Fact File, 2021). Compare that to an estimate of the first Thanksgiving meal, with its paltry 1,013 calories and 20g of fat (Newman, 2021).
I would hesitate to guess a percentage, but I suspect that most Americans, while enjoying their 4,500 calories, take little time out of the meal (and football) to give thanks. Some might offer a 15 second prayer, maybe go around the table and “say what you’re thankful for.” That probably takes another three to five minutes. Then its back to the mashed potatoes and the Giant’s game.
Thanksgiving is, however, just one example. We live in a world of abundance, and too many of us celebrate that abundance with Thanksgiving-level calories at almost every meal. A trip to any grocery store shows the abundance that has become routine.
I use a fitness app that tracks my calories, nutrition, and macros as compared to my exercise, and gives me estimates of my needed intake. On average, the app advises me to take about 2,000 calories a day – twice the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving meal. You can hit that level with one trip to McDonalds (Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Large Fries, Chocolate Shake equals 1,750 calories and 79g of fat.) Prefer a Domino’s pizza? That’s 2,370 calories and 98 grams of fat. You want to be healthier? How about a steak? If you get the ribeye at Outback, that’s only 710 calories. But add the Bloomin’ onion? Now you are at 2,400 calories and 160 grams of fat, not counting your butter-soaked vegetables and honey-butter bread, or your large Coke (160 calories) and probably desert. Love beer, well that just makes it worse.
We are very blessed in America. We have abundance, and that is a great thing. Unfortunately, however, many of us are having the equivalent of two Pilgrim Thanksgiving meals at every sitting, every day, seven days a week. This must change.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) obesity is now present in over 42% of the population, having increased from approximately 30% in just 1999. There is not a state in the US with a rate of obesity under 25%. Severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2% in that same timeframe. This preventable condition contributes to medical conditions that are “among the leading causes of preventable, premature death,” and the annual cost of medical care directly attributed to obesity is over $150b per year and growing. Amazingly, obesity is not just a problem among the rich. Low-income people experience some of its highest rates.
These numbers are quite shocking, but even they do not reflect the total and societal cost of overeating. As individuals we suffer from a lack of fitness, limits to mobility, stress on our joints, backpain, skin issues, and many other related ailments that do not show up in the obesity medical cost numbers. As a society, we lose productivity and spend far too much of our resources producing, marketing, and delivering this cornucopia daily. While we have become much more efficient at producing food, we still spend a lot of time and money doing it, not to mention land and other natural resources. If we would all just calm down a bit, those resources could be invested elsewhere.
We no longer live in times of food scarcity, yet we are still acting as if we did, partying like Thanksgiving every meal, and double-so on actual holidays. We cannot have Thanksgiving every meal and expect to live our best lives. The culture of scarcity is gone, and we must replace it if we want to live. To do that, we must all commit to a change in personal behavior, and public policy should support that change.
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” (Proverbs 23:20-21, NIV).
Next week – Part II: A discussion of why we choose to be so overweight.
References:
Bradford, & Paget, H. (2012). Of Plymouth Plantation. Dover Publications.
The Fact File, Sep 30, 2021, 59 Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving. The Fact File, https://thefactfile.org/facts-about-thanksgiving/
Newman, Daniel (2021). The first Thanksgiving…maybe. St. Louis Post Dispatch, November 20, 2021, https://www.limaohio.com/features/recipes/486333/the-first-thanksgiving-menu-maybe#:~:text=Per%20serving%3A%2094%20calories%3B%206%20g%20fat%3B%204,g%20fiber%3B%20298%20mg%20sodium%3B%2034%20mg%20calcium
Rereading this article to confirm my feelings about preparing meals now compared meals years ago. As I get older and family size at home decreases our diet has drastically changed and all for the better. Cutting out sugars and carbs are key. Saving a bigger meal for Sunday supper, special occasion or holiday is great. It becomes that more special and appreciated.