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A review by llynn66
Stuffed: An Insider's Look at Who's (Really) Making America Fat by Doug Garr, Hank Cardello
3.0
I hovered between 2 stars and 3 for this title. It was obvious that the author was not a writer, but had expertise in other areas and some valuable information to put out there. Some of the material became repetitive and I was not sure this was a style device (to underscore points and sum up material at the end of chapters) or if it was mainly a way to stretch the content into a book. In my estimation, Hank Cardello had a little too much to say to limit himself to an article but not quite enough material for a full length book. However, I am glad he did choose to go with a book format because I am convinced the average American needs to get their head around certain systemic problems with the way we grow, package, transport, market and consume food in this country. We are a grossly dysfunctional food culture (despite the abundance of taste tingling treats we enjoy on a daily basis). It is making feel like crap, look like hell and it is killing us.
As someone who has become more and more interested in food quality, nutrition and cookery, I have read more than my share of articles or, more accurately, diatribes about the state of the American diet. Many of these Cassandras, who are urgently trying to warn us that we are eating ourselves to death, do not represent the average person in terms of palate, food ethics and level of nutritional knowledge. Thus, they come off as shrill or extremist. They propose lifestyle changes that are too dramatic for the time deprived and junk food addicted Joe or Jane Sixpack.
Cardello recognizes this and I believe this understanding of the real world needs and behavior patterns of consumers is the strength of his arguments. Cardello also has an insider's view of the world of Big Food. These companies have been around for decades, if not a century. They did not transform themselves into multinational cash cows by ignoring the desires of their customers. They historically cateri to the the 'wants' more than the nutritional "needs" of the folks who buy their products. Ditto with the fast food industry, the world of family-centric franchise restaurants and the like.
So, along with the usual warnings about how serious our obesity health crisis is, Cardello offers the reader some ideas about how restaurants, food corporations and government agencies can all make realistic and incremental changes that would result in food businesses continuing to make a profit while offering their customers healthier products.
The eyes of the reader who is less versed in the realities of what we eat in America will be especially opened by some of the points about how foods are marketed to us in grocery stores and how the enormous portion sizes we take for granted as "normal" are actually grossly abnormal and far more than anyone should be eating at one meal.
Stuffed is a less "radical" read than Fast Food Nation, or other titles from the Supersize Me school. It might be a good rational starting point for the reader who is not yet ready to fully embrace a more "radical" eating style...one that is actually more moderate and sane than the way we are presently consuming food.
As someone who has become more and more interested in food quality, nutrition and cookery, I have read more than my share of articles or, more accurately, diatribes about the state of the American diet. Many of these Cassandras, who are urgently trying to warn us that we are eating ourselves to death, do not represent the average person in terms of palate, food ethics and level of nutritional knowledge. Thus, they come off as shrill or extremist. They propose lifestyle changes that are too dramatic for the time deprived and junk food addicted Joe or Jane Sixpack.
Cardello recognizes this and I believe this understanding of the real world needs and behavior patterns of consumers is the strength of his arguments. Cardello also has an insider's view of the world of Big Food. These companies have been around for decades, if not a century. They did not transform themselves into multinational cash cows by ignoring the desires of their customers. They historically cateri to the the 'wants' more than the nutritional "needs" of the folks who buy their products. Ditto with the fast food industry, the world of family-centric franchise restaurants and the like.
So, along with the usual warnings about how serious our obesity health crisis is, Cardello offers the reader some ideas about how restaurants, food corporations and government agencies can all make realistic and incremental changes that would result in food businesses continuing to make a profit while offering their customers healthier products.
The eyes of the reader who is less versed in the realities of what we eat in America will be especially opened by some of the points about how foods are marketed to us in grocery stores and how the enormous portion sizes we take for granted as "normal" are actually grossly abnormal and far more than anyone should be eating at one meal.
Stuffed is a less "radical" read than Fast Food Nation, or other titles from the Supersize Me school. It might be a good rational starting point for the reader who is not yet ready to fully embrace a more "radical" eating style...one that is actually more moderate and sane than the way we are presently consuming food.