Food not ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ it’s the amount that matters
- col-bobbie-randall
- July 18, 2024
- 487
Every dietitian is often asked, “Which foods are good, and which are bad foods?” Every dietitian will respond, “There is no good nor bad food.” But every dietitian will stress that a food or liquid that contains poison or a foodborne virus or bacteria is a bad food and even deadly. That is a fact.
The terms “good and bad, better, best, and worse” are value judgments and emotions. When associated with food, these words can be different for everyone. People who ask which are the best foods or worst foods associate foods with how they feel, not how they affect their body.
Every food can fit into a balanced meal plan. Many people need continued correction that foods are neither bad nor good; it’s the amount that will get a person into trouble.
Consider foods as either healthy or unhealthy for the body. Don’t call them good or bad. Foods are neither good nor bad. These terms are reserved for opinions, feelings, values, ethics or morals. If a food or fluid is deemed unfit for human consumption because of spoilage, rotten or contaminated, only then can it be called bad.
Of course, people with food allergies or sensitivities are not able to tolerate certain foods. In many incidences, consuming a known or suspected food or fluid could lead to serious complications and even death. Those foods are bad foods for them.
In general it is the amount of food that is detrimental to a person’s health. A large hot fudge sundae is not a healthy choice, but a small dish of chocolaty goodness satisfies the sweet tooth. Even though sugar has been recognized as an inflammatory agent in the body, a small amount can be acceptable and tolerated by most people.
Vegetables are healthy snacks, but consuming fried vegetables like onion rings, French fries and battered mushrooms adds unwanted calories to an otherwise healthy body. Vegetables that require a dressing or dip can be made detrimental by the ingredients dripping from them. Simple vegetables are the healthiest.
The word moderation has no definite definition. What may be moderate in one person’s eyes may be large or small in another person’s opinion. Proudly announcing everything is eaten in moderation is a noncommittal way of saying, “I eat whatever I want.”
A farmers market can offer fresh, homegrown greens, peppers, okra, cabbage, kohlrabi, beets, corn, tomatoes, carrots and green beans, which are all healthy for the body. The aroma of fruit newly picked compares with few other scents. I encourage everyone to increase the intake of fresh local fare. Compared with canned, bottled or processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables are tastier and healthier for the body.
Good, bad, better, best and worse foods refer to individual preference. Excessive amounts of even the healthiest foods can be harmful to the body. Stop calling food good or bad. Those words are linked to feelings. Consume foods and fluids that are healthy and refrain from unhealthy amounts.
Bobbie Randall is a registered, licensed dietitian. Email her at bobbierandallrd@gmail.com.