We’ve had the pleasure of hearing from two of our panel experts, Dr. Mark Fusco and Marina Delio, their thoughts on the above image. Our final participant on our panel is Robyn McCord O’Brien.
Robyn is a former food industry analyst and the author of The Unhealthy Truth, a critical examination of the American food system. She’s also the founder of the Allergy Kids Foundation and a mother of four children.
- What is your initial reaction when you see this image?
Wow, money and food. Talk about loaded topics. Food is never just food. Food is family, love, political, financial, economics, social, religious and so much more. And slapping labels and price tags on it does not make it any less so. And diet is very much like religion – it is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. Is this trying to preach something at me? That makes me want to shut down. But does it have a lesson in it? And as I took a look, I understood the point of the image – cheap food doesn’t always have to be junk food, but as I looked a little closer, I then wondered: Is it trying to get me to go meat-free? Gluten-free? Is there a subtle statement in here about beef? Junk food? Portion control?
- Is this an accurate comparison?
If this image gets people to think about their food choice, to begin a dialogue, to perhaps try something new, then it is a good thing. But if it causes people to shut down, get defensive or simply want to throw their hands up in despair, due to the rates of obesity, diabetes, cancer, autism, allergies and so much more that we are seeing in the health of our loved ones, then it hasn’t done anyone any favors.
- What would you want people to take away from this image?
Over the course of the years of my work with the food industry, with consumers, doctors, farmers, moms and members of Congress, I have learned that what we really need to create the changes we want to see in the health of our families and the health of our food system is kindness, compassion and a shot of forgiveness and to be reminded that we really matter, so that together, we can create the changes we want to see in the health of our country.
Thank you, Robyn, for your insight on this image. We appreciate you taking the time to talk with us.
We hope our readers have enjoyed this blog series and again, thank you to Dr. Fusco, Marina Delio and Robyn McCord O’Brien for sharing their messages. Now we would like to hear from you.
What is your initial reaction when you see this image?
Is it an accurate comparison?
What would you want people to take away from this image?
