Food Thoughts: Our Mindless Time and Attention Thief

Approx. Reading Time: 4 minutes The food we eat plays an integral part in our lives. We require it to live. Much of the “food” currently consumed in America is sugar- and chemical-laden and subsequently very addictive. Additionally, advertisers bombard us with virtually non-stop food messaging. As a result, food thoughts flood our mind throughout the day. Fortunately, with carnivore, I’ve gained back my time and attention.

Food Thoughts – Head Space Hog

Think about the last time you tried to lose weight. In the past, while dieting, I noticed that my mind focused more on our next cheat or treat than on the food I consumed following the plan.

Food Thoughts Throughout the Day

Many of us spend hours thinking about what we want for lunch or dinner as if any of the options will satisfy some profound un-fulfilled deficiency. Often, this results in disappointment and perpetually cycles to the next meal.

Perhaps, you experience a seemingly consistent desire to eat or daydream about all of the delicious foods you saw throughout the day. Maybe a coworker makes or buys tasty treats often. Or your foodie friend tells you about their latest meal. Let’s not forget eating related to both dating and other social activities. Food thoughts and talk trigger cravings, cheating, and closet eating. Until you take a moment to pay attention, you may not be aware of just how much head space food thoughts take up.

Advertisements Manifest Food Thoughts

To some extent, we are victims of the consumeristic environment we live in today. Over the past few decades, exposure to advertisements in general increased exponentially. Additionally, we watch more television than ever.

From almost subliminal product placement to full-blown commercials to images of consumption, food fills plenty of airtime.  Next time you are watching TV, especially with commercials, pay attention to how many different food items you are shown. On average, junk food makes up between 60-70% of all food advertisements. When the target market is kids, the percentage of junk food ads leans toward the higher side. If it is allowed on TV, it must be healthy and safe, right? Not to mention, billboards, chain restaurants, flyers, take-out menus, coupons, and even radio commercials impact what you think about throughout the day.

Short On Time

Americans work a lot of hours and maintain busier lives than most of the world. As a general rule, we agree that we could use more free time. According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we spend 68-77 minutes per day eating and drinking on average. But what about, shopping (or growing or travel to pick up/sit down at a restaurant), prepping, planning, advertisement exposure, and the previously mentioned self-imposed mental torture, doesn’t that count for anything? Time is undeniably valuable. More and more, individuals and families rely on fast, ready to eat, and inexpensive processed foods for a substantial portion of their diet. Those vast advertising budgets do not go to waste; they give the illusion that their products save time and money.  I argue that the opposite is true.

Addictive Modified Food

Since Ancel Keys’ questionable work in the 1950s, food producers removed fats and added sugars and chemicals to their already popular and new products. The anti-fat revolution continues while our waistlines continue to expand and our doctor’s bills continue to rise. The food doesn’t nourish or fuel as well, but the flavor pops and the gut bacteria like what’s coming down the pipe. Ultimately, we don’t know how all of these foods affect us. And, to be fair, the results vary between consumers. However, the trends show increases in dis-ease like cancer and obesity. Should we at least consider that these modifications could be hurting us? I think so. Between limited time, large advertising budgets, and addictive food, it is no wonder how unhealthy people have become.

Simplified My Way of Eating

Since starting carnivore, I’ve realized how much time and attention I gave to food thoughts over the years. At past jobs, I remember food discussions taking up good portions of the day throughout my team. Or watching television, I would instantly crave any carb filled treat I previously consumed when I saw an ad for it. Cravings would trigger for foods I hadn’t had in years. Now, most junk foods completely gross me out. On the Standard American Diet, it seems as though you are always looking for something satisfying. It feels like your mind is on a constant hunt for something tasty to satisfy your gut gremlins.

For me, the carnivore way of eating did the trick. Each day, I know what I will be eating so I spend virtually zero time wondering about what I would like. Meal prep consists of opening a package and if anything extra it would be turning ground beef into patties. Cooking times vary by the recipe but often doesn’t require much effort. I feel nourished and healthy with no sugars or chemicals to provoke my subconscious food addictions. And most importantly, every meal satisfies me, so I am not even looking for a treat.  Each week, I provide an update on my carnivore journey and information relevant to those curious. Subscribe to our email list for notifications on the latest articles. We’d love to hear some of our reader’s tips and tricks on how to save money eating carnivore or keto. Share with us in the comments below or email us at emails@dirtywindshield.com.

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