Simple Complexity of Health

Before there were so many fattening choices, eating healthy used to be easy.

The concept was simple. Eat three meals a day and exercise.

Then things changed, we started learning more about trans fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat, carbs, sodium, calories, diabetes, blood pressure, heart attacks, protein and vitamins.

Suddenly things are a lot more complex than they used to be. What does "staying healthy" even mean? We have the South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and the infamous Atkins Diet which led the way for many years. Restaurants bought in.

Casual Dining chains instantly started introducing Weight Watcher Menus and Atkins Diet Menus to try and bring "healthy conscious" guests in to eat.

Now there isn't just diets, diseases and calories but there is organic food as well. We're of the belief that organic = healthy.....right? If something is "naturally raised" that means it's healthy? Or, made fresh daily? Does that mean because it's not processed in a lab that it's better for me?

This past week I have been blasted by two new trends I haven't seen before. Instead of restaurants responding to a diet or weight loss plan from an outside source, they are creating their own for their guests. Now the tables have turned -- the restaurants are the health consultants to the guests.

Dunkin Donuts has introduced the DD Smart Menu and First Watch has started new "Fresh Facts" emails which outlines what's healthy on their menu (of course they have hired a celebrity dietitian to make it more convincing).

I have no idea what's healthy and what's not. I suppose to be sure you have to do a little bit of everything.

One thing I do know is this: it's all words, marketing, and fake stories to make you feel good. If you want to believe that eating off of the DD Smart Menu will help you maintain your weight - good for you. Dunkin has done it's job in convincing you.