Grocery shopping is one of the only things I go ‘out’ to do these days. Where am I headed, you ask? Trader Joe’s.
Some people describe a trip to Trader Joe’s as an unparalleled experience; a state of nirvana. For the most part I agree. There is one thing that constantly rubs me the wrong way, though: ‘reduced guilt’ food labels.
The first time I saw a ‘reduced guilt’ label was in the freezer aisle, on a box of mac and cheese. I almost laughed, thought it was a joke, then looked around. It was not a joke, and I would come to realize these labels were posted on various items throughout the whole store.
On my drive home from the store, and on many drives home since, I’ve reflected on what this means to me. I am a recovering anorexic, and although I have several years of strong recovery under my belt, I have to recognize the impact these marketing ploys have on me. The existence of a ‘reduced guilt’ food label implies that there is also food with ‘increased guilt’, that there are certain foods we should feel more or less guilty about. If it weren’t for my own self awareness and my understanding of diet culture, I would be the perfect victim to the ‘reduced guilt’ scheme.
Hear me out: maybe we should be allowed to grocery shop and simply nourish our bodies in whatever way we choose, without constantly having to consider what others consider ‘good’ or ‘bad’?
This is also by no means a problem specific to a singular grocery store. Reminders of diet culture are already being drilled into our heads in every other area of our lives (social media, TV and movies, commercials, magazines in waiting rooms..). Aside from hibernation or seclusion in a cabin off the grid, few lifestyles spare us from this constant deluge.
I’m not sure who this is directed to (the food marketing gods?) but do better. There is no more room for shaming and guilting people in environments that are stressful enough as is.
Let me eat my mac and cheese, guilt free.