Diet culture is everywhere. On the radio, social media, our healthcare system, and in our everyday conversations. Let's dismantle it together!Quoted From: http://jennabeenutrition.com/dismantling-diet-culture/
"Diet culture is everywhere. Recently, while driving, I heard a commercial on the radio for I Can"t Believe It"s Not Butter. It involved two women discussing their lunches at work and went a little something like this
"No! I can"t have butter this is punishment kale so I can eat whatever I want for dinner!"
"Don"t worry, this isn"t butter, it"s guilt-free I Can"t Believe It"s Not Butter!"
I cringed with every word and was quickly reminded of the pervasiveness of diet culture (sometimes I forget as I live in my own bubble).
what is diet culture?
You might be scratching your chin, wondering what the hell I"m even talking talk. For the longest time, I was unfamiliar with the term "diet culture". It can be hard to identify because it creeps into nearly every aspect of our lives.
DEFINITION OF CULTURE (NOUN):
THE CUSTOMARY BELIEFS, SOCIAL FORMS, AND MATERIAL TRAITS OF A RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, OR SOCIAL GROUP.
With this definition in mind, I define diet culture as:
the beliefs that a "healthy" weight is morally superior to being "overweight" or "obese"
the constant fixation on calories, body image, weight loss, portion control, fad diets, fitness programs, clothing size, etc.
categorization of foods as "good", "bad", "clean", etc.
*Side note: using "clean" to describe food especially peeves me! Did you spray it with lysol? Did you wash it after dropping it on the floor?*
where does it show up?
IN EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS
"I ate sooo bad today, I really should work out even though I"m tired."
"I"ll just skip dinner to make up for this huge lunch."
"My New Year"s resolution is to lose 20 pounds by spring break and finally wear that bikini."
"Okay, I"ll be good. I"ll have the salad, please."
IN RECIPE TITLES
"Guilt-free Cauliflower Mash"
"7 Skinny Dinners Under 299 Calories"
"Clean Eating Chicken Fried Rice"
"3 Soups that Magically Make you Lose Weight""
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