Listen "46: Food Judgement and Demonization is Holding Us Back"
Episode Synopsis
There’s literally nothing you can eat that is universally agreed upon to be good for you. Not even fruits and vegetables. You can build out the old food guide pyramid with the foods that people are judging, demonizing, and vilifying with every single category: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. So, what then are we supposed to eat?The basis of all fad diets is fear, avoidance, and demonization that is largely determined not by scientific evidence or superior results, rather, is based upon personal preference and rationalization/justification.In the United States we have a calories problem and there is no “superfooding”, or “nutrienting” our way out of it. Food judgement and demonization makes some foods untouchable and off-limits but then also limits the options that we have to reduce our calories through portion control and selective moderation.Each food is a tool, a means to an end. There are no “good” foods or “bad” foods. Some foods are nutrient dense and fulfill our nutrient needs while others are for pure pleasure.Some of the topics in today’s episode include: Food situations I have been judged for (0:50)Everything You Eat Will Kill You! (8:48)Clean eating perfectionist health nirvana utopia (11:03)Weight Loss: It’s Not (All) About the Food (12:48)Is It Better to Eat 5 or 15 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables? (14:15)I don’t really like eating fruits and vegetables (15:33)Everyone rationalizes and justifies what they eat (17:25)I really like clean eating, but they take it a step too far (21:12)When the benefit of clean eating wears off (22:27)I’m not a huge fan of cheat days (27:27)How Much Junk Food is Too Much Junk Food? (28:34)The basis of all fad diets: fear, avoidance, and demonization (30:33)Different purposes: there are no “good” or “bad” foods (35:05)
More episodes of the podcast The Nutrition Grouch
47: Food Addiction
05/11/2025
43: The 5 Universal Laws of Weight Loss
10/09/2025
40: Nutrition Rules and Decision Fatigue
07/05/2025
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