Following my early morning workouts, I can often be seen bringing breakfast to my Healthy New Albany office.
Photo by Wes Kroninger
I clear my desk so that I may convert it to a temporary eating quarter. One morning, a colleague peered through the glass door of my office and noticed my breakfast bag, which was from one of the largest fast food restaurant chains in the country. She approached my desk, looking aghast.
“Aren’t you embarrassed to order something from that restaurant?” she said.
“Do you know what I’m about to eat?” I responded.
“It doesn’t matter,” she retorted. “I feel you shouldn’t be bringing in greasy, high-calorie junk to this health facility.”
As she awaited my next reply, I stared at her momentarily, grinned and proceeded to pull out the container of hot oatmeal from its bag and empty the accompanying pouch of diced apples into this unsweetened cereal that was fortified with nutrients. I smiled and began to eat my cereal with full confidence that nothing more needed to be said.
“Oh,” she said.
As depicted in this photo, I am surrounded by reminders of the numerous food establishments that are a part of my immediate and nearby community. Some may offer more healthful choices than others. And even if some of the restaurants I visit are known as purveyors of healthful and nutritious foods, the fact remains that even in these restaurants, the food options available can be detrimental to my well-being.
Sure, I can order a veggie burger from a nearby restaurant that sources its foods locally and prides itself on its large selection of organic ingredients. But I can also order soaked-in-oil French fries as a side dish with a tall glass of highly sweetened soda with unlimited free refills.
I hope you read editor Sarah Sole’s article about an individual who had made a positive impact on his health via an experiment with food selection and exercise. My intention is not to endorse or critique any particular food establishment. Rather, one should not assume that healthful choices aren’t available in restaurants often criticized for their unhealthful offerings. Consider making healthful food selections based upon what and not where you choose to eat.
Healthfully,
Phil
