experiencelifemag.com Print › | Back › Fork in the Road Wake up and smell the statistics. America's eating has gone bonkers, and it's up to us to stop the madness.     By Pilar Gerasimo December 2005 Update 2005: The buzz about the obesity epidemic has only become more intense since this article, authored by Experience Life’s editor in chief, originally appeared in Experience Life a few summers ago (July/August 2003). Not long after we published this piece, Morgan Spurlock’s highly successful fast-food documentary, Super Size Me (2004), hit theaters. The film (learn more about it at www.supersizeme.com) sparked impassioned debate about American eating habits and helped inspire a good deal of public education about the potential impact of our personal and collective eating decisions. In this article, we examine the forces that have conspired to make the United States such a chubby (and increasingly ill) nation, and the alternative choices and perspectives that individuals can bring to bear in determining their own health destiny. The final sidebar supplies helpful tips in a single-page, fridge-friendly format. Click here for the full version of this story. To learn more about the factors that drive healthy and unhealthy eating, and that have helped shape our nation’s food supply, check out the following articles: "The Lure, the Lie” (March 2004) “Shopping Cart Makeover” (September 2004) “Food Fright” (October 2004) “Coming Home to Your Foodshed” (September/October 2002)

Fork in the Road

Wake up and smell the statistics. America's eating has gone bonkers, and it's up to us to stop the madness.    

Update 2005: The buzz about the obesity epidemic has only become more intense since this article, authored by Experience Life’s editor in chief, originally appeared in Experience Life a few summers ago (July/August 2003).

Not long after we published this piece, Morgan Spurlock’s highly successful fast-food documentary, Super Size Me (2004), hit theaters. The film (learn more about it at www.supersizeme.com) sparked impassioned debate about American eating habits and helped inspire a good deal of public education about the potential impact of our personal and collective eating decisions. In this article, we examine the forces that have conspired to make the United States such a chubby (and increasingly ill) nation, and the alternative choices and perspectives that individuals can bring to bear in determining their own health destiny. The final sidebar supplies helpful tips in a single-page, fridge-friendly format.

Click here for the full version of this story. To learn more about the factors that drive healthy and unhealthy eating, and that have helped shape our nation’s food supply, check out the following articles:

• "The Lure, the Lie” (March 2004)

• “Shopping Cart Makeover” (September 2004)
• “Food Fright” (October 2004)
• “Coming Home to Your Foodshed” (September/October 2002)

Print | Email | Comment | Subscribe | Give a Gift