Suing food companies for making you fat!!

isn't that the problem with our societies on general? Everyone has rights but no one has responsabilites. It's 'I'm fat and unhappy' so it has to be someone elses fault. I fear that on this side of the Atlantic we aren't too far behind you.

Having a member from Maryland posting this is very encouraging.
Maryland is the pioneering State in organic food.

I read this too, I though of posting it here but I am fed up playing the mean all the time.

I expect action here! I expect the Liberals of this country to REACT to the humiliation of the courts of Law.

Courts of Law are a victory of citizens, the only real proof that democracy exists in a country, the only thing that destinguishes two feet animals from 4 feet animals.

The self responsibility is the cornerstone in a Democracy.

Judges, Lawyers , Priests, Politicians are not to decide on our behalf.

I'd better stop here before I type what I think about fat people.

Thank you for stopping. You know I hate overgeneralizations of any group, even lawyers. Be aware that I have restrained nearly all my impulses for an extremely sarcastic and flaming response.

Deep breath.

Back to topic. catciao, are you saying that someone is actually suing the food companies for making delicious food? I was afraid that someday that would happen. I agree that people simply don't want to take responsibility for their own choices and actions anymore.

If I smoke, I know there are certain risks. If I drink, I know about those risks too. If I indulge in too much food, well, gosh, there are some risks there too.

I would appreciate it if someone has a link to this article.

Nancy, the point is not what I think. Courts of Law, judge based on generalisations.And if they start condemning Food Companies they will judge based on generalisations.

I knew that I would upset many people and I did't do it to amuse myself.
I am just fed up be governed by the irresponsibles of the Universe. I am fed up with the flattery of the weakness.

Anyway. This is not point.

Today trying to compose something, I must have read 100 of articles on organic food. I will find the article and I will post it. here. I am searching right now.

I would also appreciate a link, if there is one.

As far as the overgeneralizations go- I agree. I have definite opinions on people who say "Oh, I know, I need to lose weight" while cramming twinkies and ding dongs in between each word. I know a few, and that attitude translates over to every area of their life- not just health, diet and weight.

Then there are those who have valid medical problems. My sister-in-law is epileptic and has been on various medications for it since she was in her teens. These drugs made her balloon up, and she isn't able to exercise the way she wants to because she would put herself in danger (exercising brings on seizures for her). She eats well and does what she can- but I bet most people, just looking at her, think "sheesh, what a lazy cow, why doesn't she do something about her weight?"

It's supremely important not to ever, ever, ever, jump to conclusions. No one knows the "real" story, and we often mistakenly assume things about others that aren't true.

Remember, when you assume, it makes an ***** out of "u" and "me". :)

Back to the topic (and off my soapbox now)- I think it will be very very difficult for anyone to sue a food company for their weight and/or health problems. Simply because how on earth could you pinpoint one food manufacturer as the source? You're looking as an incredible number of food processors, farmers who use pesticides, dairy farmers, etc. etc. etc. I would doubt that anyone could pinpoint the cause of their health problem and trace it back to XYZ company that they bought food from, and say "It's THEIR fault!" At least not enough to stand up to scrutiny in a court of law. At least with tobacco, it's pretty obvious to tell what the health problems come from there!

And then, there is the matter of self-control. People have only now begun to win settlements against tobacco because of the tobacco companies' massive advertising campains that people claim "drew them in", so to speak. Usually as kids (so they say). Then they became addicted. Until recently, juries tossed back verdicts in favor of the tobacco companies, usually with the essential statement- "you knew it was bad for you, and no one forced it on you, so live with the consequences".

I am betting that if any of these food cases ever get to court (instead of being laughed out of the courtroom), that is what the judgement will be.

And then there's one other MAJOR factor- there are a million "experts" out there, with degrees, and studies, and research, to show that their opinion on diet and health is the right one. Conventional wisdom on what is good for you and what is not seems to change at least once a year or so. Butter is better than margarine. No wait, it's the other way around. Saturated fats and cholesterol are baaaad for you. No wait, some are actually good for you and will help you! Etc. etc. etc.

It makes me angry that people will go to such lengths to absolve themselves of any responsibility in their choices, but I truly honestly don't think this particular type of lawsuit will amount to much (I hope).

Anyone who finds the plaintiff's argument logical needs to spend some time with a shrink. I have nothing against fat people, but if an insatiable appetite made them that way, then they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Blame It On Yourselves

COME ON Y'ALL. Fat flavors food. Cardiovascular disease was not prevalent in America until the predominance of automobiles. We are fat due to lack of activity more than excessive intake. Why else does America have the highest rate of diabetes in the world? Did we forget about exercise?

I'm not talking mall walking for sweat and vigor, either. Pass the whopper, please.:mad: :mad: :mad:

The article can be found at:

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/abc/200...e020122_1.html


There are not currently any lawsuits pending dealing with obesity and the entities that produce high fat/low-nutrient content foods. People are looking into whether such lawsuits are realistic.

The average overweight individual is not the one that is looking into such suits

A large number of those looking into these cases are lodging protests "on behalf of someone else"

1)on behalf of those who cannot afford to buy healthier foods. (Is it cheaper to go to McDonalds and buy 2 cheese burgers or buy the ingredients for a veggie stir fry?)

2)on behalf of the children that are bombarded with ads for junk food during prime kid-tv watching hours - such as Sat morning cartoons

3)that the food industry itself does not spend enough $$ on promoting healthy foods, fresh fruit and veggies -- a bulk of it goes into to convenience foods, junk foods, etc.

And yes, we should be responsible in eating the right combinations of foods in moderation and exercising appropriately.
For a myriad of reasons, health, will power, lack of knowledge, lack of resources, lack of motivation, health problems, medications, and addiction -- it doesn't always happen --

SOAPBOX TIME
Unfortunately - we live in a litigious society -- not to generalize, but there are those out there looking for someone else to blame - rather than taking responsibility and using even a modicum of common sense. EG: You take a walk through a mall food court and everything now comes with a warning :

--liquid in this cup may be scalding hot...
--drinking this beverage may cause birth defects
--this plastic bag is not meant for young children to play with
--this toy contains small parts, my be inappropriate for children under the age of...
--do not allow children to play with burst balloons, pieces may cause suffocation...
--raw shellfish can cause...
--state law prohibits us from selling hamburgers cooked to less than...


and as we've proven -

Sensationalism sells -- it's all in what a headline does, or does not say...

This is a burning issue for me. I belong to those romantic or idiots that strongly belive in Human and in the active and not passive personal responsibility.

I have wild fantasies about societies without laws and court rooms, societies where people will be EDUCATED and mature enough to control themseves so they wouldn't need any laws.

A society where government would exist only to take care of the truly weak citizens and not of the stupid citizens.

I have the right to dream. Is for free. Right? Or at least to hope that things will improove even slightly.

Improovement cannot come from Greece, or Portugal or Israel or China. Improovement may occur from where democracy functions for the interest of the citizen. USA is the only country I personally know that functions that way.

The sues against tobacco industries has ridiculed the democratic system already.

I tell you seriously. If some poeple sue Food Companies, they will win the case easily .Piece of cake!

BUT you know what will be next? Healthy slim people will start suing the fat ones. You know of course on what basis. For countries spending millions on curing the effects of obessity,instead of devoting this money to find treatments for cancer, aids, diabetes.
And you know something. In their turn they will win the case.Easily! peace of cake!

All I want ot say is that problems are not solved in the court rooms but in classrooms.

Education is our ultimate weapon in any case. Fight obesity with education.


I apologize for the comment above. I realize now that I was stupidly expressed.
I should have found a better way to express my thought.

Kokopuffs - I so agree with you! I think of my grandparents, and my husband's grandparents, both of whom were farmers; for breakfast, they had fried eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns or grits, biscuits or toast, and butter and jelly, all washed down with a couple of glasses of milk and coffee. Lunch or 'dinner' was fried chicken or ham with gravy, mashed or fried potatoes, macaroni salad, and more biscuits or bread. Supper was usually a 'lighter' meal of leftovers. Salads as we know them were almost unheard of - maybe some cucumbers and onions in vinegar, or sliced tomatoes.

BUT ----they were up at 4 a.m., to feed the livestock, then to breakfast, then out to the fields to plow the fields, tend the livestock, pick the produce, cut and hang the tobacco, do the equipment repairs that needed to be done - you get the picture!

I go to an Amish market that's nearby - their food is incredibly fat/calorie/carb laden - yet, when you look at the merchants, they're all so unbelieveably healthy looking! Even the teens - rosy cheeks, no acne!

Something to be said about total lifestyle and what we eat!

And that is why there are sometime ridiculous warnings in instruction books. Companies have to protect themselves from people who love to sue for ridiculous reason.


It didn't say in the book I could not dry clothes in the microwave..... Give me a break! :mad:

ACTIVITY

I have bragging rights, here. I run 3 miles daily except on Sundays; also, I take a modern jazz dance course weekly. Furthermore, in spite of being insulin dependent, I eat healthily but whatever I want and that means Hagen Daas about every 3 months and refired beans made with real lard and bacon rind. My cholesterol and blood fats are all low as evidenced by recent blood tests - all due to exercise. Otherwise lassitude would transform me into a slug.

HUMANS ARE BETTER OFF BY BEING HEALTHY INSTEAD OF SKINNY. We should never have gotten off of the family farm. Have any of you ever noticed that women who grew up on either a ranch or farm are big-boned? No osteoporosis there.

Rule of thumb: calcium will deposit in an area of stress, think of biomechanical vs hemodynamic stress. I.E. big-boned women vs hardened heart valves. Choose your type of stress: physical or mental. Think about it.

The activity level of the current generation of young people is something to be truly pitied. Ever noticed what happened to weekend baseball at the park?

You won't believe it Isa , but my husband was telling me about someone who tried to dry her socks in the microwave oven, she set the house on fire and afterwards she wanted to sue the company...

I'm starting to go a bit off topic, but I'll hopefully circle back 'round.
In the town where my mom works, a woman bought some soup from a grocery store. She continued to do her shopping, and at some point, the hot soup was jostled enough to spill through the basket. Now, unfortunately, this woman had placed her baby in the underside of the basket, rather than in the section specially designed to hold children. The baby was burned, the store was sued. I do not know how it progrssed, but I believe there was an out of court settlement.
The issue at hand is that people, by nature, are stupid creatures. We have the capacity to learn, but the effort is often seen as taking too much work. Rather than simplifying difficult tasks, which is what machines are usually designed to do, we have created a culture raised on dependancies. Cashiers press iconic button rather than dollar amounts. Change is counted and rolled for us by machines. We've got perfectly mobile people riding escalators in 2-story malls. This has two disadvantages- one, it perpetuates the inborn ingorance; two, it makes peple mentally and physically lazy. I believe these are the two main causes of obesity (and many social problems, but this is not the place for that). You'll notice that it crosses genders and races, but it does tend to stop at international borders. Why is this? Because education and legal systems change once you cross these boundaries.
I sincerely doubt that any such litigation against food companies will come to much of anything. While many companies would rather settle out of court than proceed with a trial, the legal system in America is currently just competent enough to prevent the perpatuation of such blame-laying.
Oh, and the media! Yeah, them's a culprit in this, too! ;)
-Andrew

And that is why manufacturers try to think of every stupid thing someone might do with their appliances because if it's in the instruction book you can't be sue for it.

Yeah- check out the "just for laughs" thread in the late night cafe- I just put up some really ridiculous things that manufacturers put on labels- I mean, you have to think, they wouldn't print this stuff if someone hadn't actually done these things!!! :eek:

Well, I'm going to dissent with the main voice here, and say that I'm all for it.

I believe that the corporate-pusher mentality surrounding food in this country (by which I mean North America in general; I don't think Canada enjoys any advantage here) is unhealthy in the extreme.

And I DO think it makes it very, very difficult for the average person to "just eat less and exercise more." Every second advertisement, in print, radio, billboard, TV, is aimed at making you EAT EAT EAT with all the not-inconsiderable skill that the best in advertising can muster. Have a look on any street. Every second retail business, if not more, is flogging some sort of food, and most of that bad for you. Every outing, every get-together, is incomplete unless it involves food, preferably purchased from some mega-corporation.

There is NO concern for consumer health here. Oh, sometimes there's a feigned concern. The latest research will be grabbed, and just enough of it added to some otherwise nutritionally-devoid item that it can be loudly trumpeted in advertising -- and let's face it, what average person is doing enough reading into nutrition and health to make an informed decision? We're bombarded with messages, most of them meaningless without context, from all sides, and very, very few people, unless they're overwhelmingly concerned or obsessed, have the leisure or energy actually to go into the real meaning of the latest "Oat Bran and Chocolate Shown to Improve Cholesterol!" headlines.

Why is it possible to buy a box of Kraft Dinner for less money than an apple? Because mega-corporations, buying in bulk and dominating the market (and, incidentally, fiddling with food regulations -- for which see all the various, supposedly impartial organisations such as the Dairy Council, the pork and beef and chicken and egg councils, and all the rest) in order to maximize profits and minimize loss. Why does hardly anyone know how to cook a meal without using at least one box or can any more? Because we've been told, from earliest childhood, that it's "easier" that way -- which is often just plain not true, and rarely as good for one.

Even if litigation fails, a serious investigation into the methods and madness of the food industry (there's a nasty phrase right there -- what nourishes us should not be an "industry") is long overdue.

Adjust your compass, Rose. Why concentrate on fighting corporations when all one needs to do is turn off the tv, relinquish the remote control, and get some exeicise? Go fight your own fat problem. It's your problem, not society's.:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Then why is it OUR society that has a problem? And why does the problem spread like cancer as soon as OUR corporations and marketers get their slimy tentacles into formerly-healthy cultures?

If it's that easy, why are people struggling so hard? Because to do so, you need to fight, not just your own inclinations, BUT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE THING ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN OUR CULTURE TAKES FOR GRANTED.

I know. I live it every day.

FYI, I have adjusted my fat problem. That was when I started noticing what I'd been oblivious to in the past, that food is shoved at the average person 24-7, and it's almost impossible for that same average person even to IMAGINE life without pre-prepared junk, let alone make a 180° lifestyle change and eliminate it. It's revolting, is what it is.

FYI 2: I do not, nor have I ever, had cable. I have a TV; it is hooked to a VCR and used mostly for watching literary costume dramas and odd things from the alternative movie store.

Rose, while I agree that the food industry needs to totally re-vamp itself, I don't think more rules and regulations are the answer. Or ligitagion.

It's simple. Supply and demand. If people are smart enough to turn off the advertisements (or simple don't pay attention to them) and make a conscious decision to buy food that is good for them- in healthy amounts- then the food companies will start to restructure to meet the new demand. There simply isn't enough of a demand yet for them to even want to change.

You may say- what about the poor? They can't afford to eat healthy? Partly true, partly no. It's true that much of the processed food is cheaper to buy than other, healthier items. But as the masses of people change their eating habits, those healthier things will become more readily available, and cheaper too- because the bulk of the people will demand it. The poor will benefit as well, even if it's not right at the beginning.

If a person complains that they don't have time to exersize, or don 't have time to cook healthy stuff, then they seriously need to either take a look at their priorities and rearrange a few things, or they're just making lame excuses (I'm guilty on this score- I've done it). Honestly, people, how difficult is it to squeeze fifteen minutes of exersize into your day? Moms with little kids? Buy an aerobics tape and do it in your living room! Jump rope in the dining room! Get up a few minutes early and do some crunches. Not enough time to make a healthy meal? It really doesn't take any more time or preparation to make a healthy, tasty stir-fry than it does to make a box of macaroni and cheese.

But (and this is probably the hardest thing) then you have to think about your kids. Most of them would probably scream if we offered them stir-fry instead of mac and cheese. Or salad instead of fries. But you know, if you're serious about losing weight, or just getting healthier in general, you need to knuckle down and just say "This is the way it's going to be". You're the parent. You're in charge, not your kids. We need to set good examples and be firm, instead of caving into their demands, especially when those demands are unhealthy.

What if you're a single parent who works two jobs just to support him/herself and the kids? Well, you may not have time to prepare much in the way of meals. But try. Spaghetti is easy- and it's minimally processed, even when you buy sauce in a jar. Etc. etc. etc.

There are a million things we can do, if we really think about it and try. I'm telling you, when people stop buying certain items, the food industry will change.

Only problem is, it won't change fast enough for me!!


Oh, I thought about it for a minute more- really, I think the most difficult thing is knowing what really is healthy and what isn't. Some things are obvious, and some things aren't. My personal take is that the less it's been processed and stuffed with chemicals and preservatives, the better it will be for you. Do your own research. But be wary of "studies". Take them all with a grain of salt. A study this year will not yield the same results as a study done the next year. I find that most of them are not comprehensive enough to yield even semi-reliable data, yet they are touted as the latest and greatest in medicine or health. So user beware.

Unfortunately, I think rules and regulations ARE the answer, because corporations are inherently corrupt, and have far more money than any one entity should be permitted, and therefore, in our terms, well-nigh absolute power.

Roon, while your suggestions are sensible, they are predicated on the average person being sensible. I dare you to persuade ten people of your acquaintance to adopt any of them long enough for them to become a comfortable, happy part of their lives as opposed to a torturous, nasty "diet" thing temporarily done in the name of health and noble suffering.

Sadly, I am cynical. I do not think the average person is sensible, and our educational system is designed to numb the brain, not train it, on the whole. In short, most people are not bright, and they have been further conditioned to quell any random impulses to intelligent thought, because that makes them better wage slaves (and our educational system, like most other things, is controlled by money. Those in control are aiming to gain things that will make them more money: patient wage slaves and good little consumers.)

It astounds me that our so-called culture has survived this long. However, with any luck, we will, encouraged by advertising, eat our own legs off and die of blood loss.

:confused:

I'm getting ticked. This message is directed to noone in particular.

One of the main reasons I no longer practise as a doctor is because I'm fed up with patients. Often they come to me after the damage has been done - permanently. I can't fix what's beyond repair but won't hesitate to charge a fee customary for my services - namely you're taking MY TIME AND MY EXPERTISE.

That heart attack that occurred last week is a process that started way, way back in childhood. Remember that thirsty-two ouncer you drank daily with a side order of double beef whopper clocking in at over 500 fat calories? Did you remember to eat your celery?

Then there is my fee to consider. You want to negotiate my fee! *#*$ you. Oh, you smoke two packs daily which equals approx. $120 per month in tobacco expenses. No thanks, I won't subsidize YOUR unhealthy habits. Meanwhile back in reality, I have student loans - well into 6 figures - to service as well as at least $200 monthly in mandatory, life saving pharmaceutical purchases to deal with.

Get up aff of your arses, all of you whiney idiots, and metabolize. YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Forget the corporate mess.

This message is directed to noone in particular.

Well, compassrose, I have to agree with you- people are stupid. Or ignorant. Or both. And proud of it, too!!! They're also apathetic, lazy, and stubborn. Not everyone, of course, but the vast majority.

The biggest problem people have with "eating healthy" is that it bears a stigma of not tasting good. It's a fallacy, definitely, but there it is. When you talk about eating healthy, people assume they must throw out everything they're used to and start eating raw tofu, raw celery, with nothing to garnish and make it taste good. And usually, nothing you say will convince them otherwise. My father insists upon eating globs of margarine, firmly believing that it is better for him than butter. Of course, I believe the opposite. But nothing I can say (I even read to him the whole process of making margarine- from start to finish- and it grossed him out, but he keeps eating it!!) will get him to change.

People just don't get it. You can have your steak and eat it too. But instead of buying "Lazyman's" frozen dinner of steak and mashed potatoes with gravy, you can do it better. Buy a real steak. Buy some potatoes. Throw the steak on the stove with some pepper rubbed in, or a seasoning of your choice. Boil the potatoes. It's easy, you just toss them into a pot of boiling water. Then you mash them. Voila. Steak and potatoes. Toss a salad, and you have a nice meal. That wasn't too hard, was it?

But you're right. People just don't care. And this may sound cruel and uncaring, but I hope that the people who continue to abuse their bodies will die of the health problems they inflict upon themselves, leaving the world for those of us who care. They would deserve it.

Kokopuffs, I'm very sorry. You're the kind of doctor I would have loved to have- one that is concerned with stopping a problem before it starts, not trying to fix it once it's broke. :( If more doctors were like that, and if the health care organizations (don't even get me started with them!!:mad: ) focused on preventative care as a solution, rather than as an added, unneccesary expense, I think the world would be a lot healthier.

kokopuffs, I see your anger ("I feel your pain") and seems to me we're sharing some of the same kind of mad, standing on opposite sides of some fence I'm not quite sure of.

I mean, doesn't it seem even a little suspicious to you, PARTICULARLY if you're a doctor (all that reflex white-coat authority to start with, plus dealing with many people who have, if not looked Death in the eye, certainly stood near him in the same room)... as I was saying, before I went all parenthetical, doesn't it strike you even a little oddly that even you, even under those circumstances, can't persuade Joe Average and his wife Jane to make just a few simple little lifestyle changes THAT WILL SAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL BACONS, at least for a brief while longer?

Everybody asks me, "You lost all that weight and got so fit. What's your secret?" They never believe me when I reply that I eat a sensible diet (about half the size of theirs) and exercise, not particularly fanatically, five or six days a week. No-ho-ho, they want the Miracle, the Instant Quick Fix that will let them have my size 2s AND McDonald's every night too. They've been taught, Instant and Completely Painless is out there, the miracle drug, the wonder cure, the magic pill.

I don't think I'm making any particular sacrifice, and I rather prefer the way I live now (except for the low-lying buzz of annoyance I get as messages that previously slid under my radar make their presence annoyingly felt). But you should hear my co-workers and acquaintances, Joe and Jane: they can't BELIEVE the kinds of things I do, or imagine living that way.

Doesn't that give you a kind of a nasty, sinking feeling that "this thing's bigger than the both of us, podner?"

Mmmm..i dunno...legislating nutrition? If the government can't adequately handle gun control, healthcare, transportation infrastructure, welfare and other aspects of US life, what makes you think they can handle food any better? And isn't this the same government that decreed that ketchup should be considered a vegetable for school lunch purposes?
Secondly, this type of government intervention is another blow against capitalism. While I don't agree that any company should be able to sell anything to anyone, I do believe that the less our elected officials meddle in the foundations of our economic stability, the better.
Nutrition is something learned at your parents' kitchen and table. If parents don't care enough about their own health or their children's health to teach them proper nutrition, then big business will fill the vacuum. If you listen to the TV, radio, billboards and other adverts, then not only will you find yourself eating more junk, but you'll find yourself guzzling beer, driving the latest SUVs over cliffs, smoking several packs a day all while cavorting with supermodels. That can only lead to cancer or a heart attack of some kind.... but if you're too simple to ignore the long hand of the media, you're probably not adding much to society or the gene pool anyway.... Cruel and harsh, but so is life on this planet.
Cheers ;)
Andrew

METABOLIZE

I agree, Rose, that personal motivation plays a big factor in health maintenance and slimming down. I chose to replace my Wednesday night pool league with a modern jazz dance class - and I dearly love playing pool. Imagine the looks I got from other pool players upon hearing that change; some think that I sing soprano (I'm male and hetero, btw).

Now my pool playing is confined to early afternoons because when I return home to undress I need not peel off a layer of nicotine and secondary smoke. No longer do I wheeze after pool playing. I consume less alcohol, too.

Here I am 48 yrs old doing a dance class, unusual but it's great for stretching, rhythm enhancement and muscular coordination. Furthermore, I'm single, on the prowl, steamrolling for love and excitement! Jazz dancing seems to enhance my image to older, single women especially. No slug here.

How many people do you know in my age bracket who have a similar level of activity? Why don't they? Huh?

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

This is obviously a topic that has a lot of people's ire showing...

Do we have a responsibility as culinarians to show the world that there is a big world of healthy, vibrant and YES - TASTEFUL flavours out there? The vast majority of restaurants have very little out there that even gives a nod to the health conscous diner. When all that's on the menu is a grilled chicken breast with (supposedly) steamed veggies or a piece of rotisserie chicken -- it's boring! (especially when SO many places don't even cook it right!) How many times do you find a piece of well prepared fish not floating in a sea of beurre blanc? I'm not talking about a little nubbin of butter to round out or finish a sauce...


PLacing labels and calling each other names is not going to fix that problem. We are going to have to lead by example.

ITS A CHALLENGE: What are you going to put on your menu that gives someone a healthy, tasty and innovative dish to try?

I have no problem going to a restaurant to order a "traditional French" high fat dish, read rich in butter and cream - but once in a while. There's more to good eating than chicken fried steak and FF's.

I reiterate: it all relates to activity. If you are "properly" active, then it's okay to have a high fat meal occasionally. Yet most people aren't nearly as active as they should be and are overweight to say the least.

Koko--

you said it -

"Occasionally" -- but the average person eats out much more than once in a while. My dad hates it when he's on the road -- it's hard to get a good meal.

I'm not going to argue with you about activity levels and the need for increased ones -- nor am I saying I'm not guilty of not doing enough -- but I do not have the power to make my neighbor exercise -- I can show him that there are good tasting dishes that are good for you. It's something we all have the power to do. Thus, my question remains--

what can WE do, offer or share?