Food colors and stomach shares

The kitchen in my apartment is not as colorful as I would like. The appliances are white, the kind of white that gleams with every smudge, ding and failed attempt at cooking. The cabinets and table are reminiscent of drift wood on a New York beach, clouds hanging low and ominous overhead. I am saddened to realize that recently the food in my kitchen has been as drab as the landscape. There have been more than our fair share of tuna sandwiches, eggs with toast and tamales. Not too mention cereal. The pops of color are few and far between, unfortunately; a couple of watermelon, some broccolini or asparagus and a clamshell of blueberries. It was sobering to see. Adding color (aka vital nutrients) to one's diet is not that difficult. I know because in the past my diet was filled with color. I would seek out new brilliantly colored foods at farmer's markets and even ate only blue foods (well mostly) for a week. So how is it that my diet took such a turn?

The answer is simple and sad. Time. Like many people (not just Americans), there is too much to do and not enough time to do any of it mindfully. So cooking comes from a package, if there is cooking to be done at all. And this is what processed, packaged food companies are banking on. Literally. At a secret meeting nearly 20 years ago, big food companies like General Mills, Pillsbury, Coca-Cola, Nabisco, etc, got together to discuss the growing rate of obesity which was due in large part to consuming their products. Turns out that they had all been in cahoots; divvying up consumers into "stomach shares". Some companies pumped out sweets, some peddled chips and salty things, some served up bread and cereal products. All the while convincing people that this was a reasonable (and sometimes healthy) alternative to drive thrus and even home cooked meals. Many who struggle to maintain balance while working and having a family were hungry for something to ease the weight on their shoulders. Unfortunately, this weight ended up around their middles. Convenience foods are jam packed with useless fillers and sugars and special seasonings that keep us wanting more. One glance at the ingredient list should be enough to make us turn away but often we don't have the time for leisurely reading. This is to our detriment. And it is time we took back our health and the health of our families by adding a little color. A deep green (pre-packaged) salad alongside that frozen pizza is a good start. Or even a handful of berries in that cold cereal. Think of it as interior designing for your stomach. Because really, who doesn't like a little color?