Dear Doc,
Recently, I took my kids to visit you for their annual wellness checkup and I was given some information that disturbed me. While we waited for you to meet with us and in an effort to calm down my kids, I began to read aloud your medical group’s handout on suggested food items. I thought this would be a good moment to educate my kids and share with them what your office believed to be a list of good and bad food suggestions. Boy, was I wrong? The list was divided into three parts; Go Foods, Slow Foods and WHOA Foods. GO Foods were items that were suggested we eat often, Slow Foods sometimes, and WHOA Foods, rarely. Houston, we have a problem. As I read said items, I began to feel my blood pressure rise. Why is this dated list of boxed crap being distributed? People are being steered down a very dangerous path. I can’t accept this list as something I see as accurate or beneficial to anyone’s health. Health issues, such as obesity and chronic illness, are the norm in this country and only getting worse. You are suggesting fat-free options of processed food items be consumed on a regular basis. I believe in my heart of hearts the very items you are suggesting as good food choices on this “Family Healthy Diet Sheet” are the reason so many people are sick. I have made it a point in my life, a job per se, to educate myself on the subject of food. I am worried for people who aren’t educated on this matter and instead rely on you to give them sound information. Help me understand.
This is similar to what was handed to me at the doc’s office.
I broke out some of the suggested food items in the various food categories that catapulted me into orbit. Our physicians are suggesting diet soda be a GO FOOD people! Deep breathing in a brown bag over here. This is a crime. I’m so disgusted.
GO Foods
-fat-free or low-fat milk
-fat-free cheese
-tuna canned in water
-fat-free creamy salad dressings, fat-free mayonnaise, fat-free sour cream
-diet soda, diet iced tea, and lemonade
Slow Foods
-All vegetables with added fat and sauces
-100% fruit juice
-2% low-fat milk, processed cheese spread
-chicken and turkey with skin, nuts, whole eggs
-low-fat or fat-free frozen yogurt, ginger snaps, low-fat popcorn.
-olive oil, oil-based salad dressing, soft margarine, low-fat creamy may, low-fat sour cream
WHOA Foods
-crackers made with trans fats
-fruits canned in heavy syrup
-whole milk, full-fat American cheese
-stick margarine, butter, sour cream, cream cheese dips
-whole milk, regular soda and fruit drinks with anything less than 100% fruit juice
The suggestion that nuts and olive oil be in the Slow Foods list bothered me a great deal, but what bothered me more was there being processed food items on this list at all. When I challenged you on this matter you suggested I write a letter to the medical board. You also suggested this list was geared toward a wide demographic. Were you suggesting this list must consist of more “affordable” food items because many families need to have access to lesser expensive options? I am asking you to review this list in its entirety. It is simple. Whole foods are GO foods. Everything else in moderation.
Wow. This makes my head want to explode. Diet soda is to be consumed regularly, while whole eggs, olive oil and nuts are in the SLOW category?? Is this pamphlet sponsored by Coca-Cola? Ridiculous. I had a meeting yesterday with someone from the American Heart Association who informed me that 0% of American children are eating what the AHA would deem a “healthy diet”. ZERO PERCENT. Maybe it’s because their pediatricians are giving them horrible advice like, “Hey, make sure you slow up on the olive oil, but feel free to crack open another Diet Coke.” WOW. All I can say is wow.
Scary isn’t it? I learned other people are receiving this same food list at schools. It is really friggin wrong.
Fat free , sugar free – think chemical shitstorm
Shit storm all right. Diabetes and obesity. What the fuck man!
Holy shit… time for a new doc?
Yes it is.
Ridiculous!! I just read about this same list on another blog too…
http://homemademothering.com/2015/03/apple-day.html
This is just so crazy to me!
Thank you for sharing this link Katy. I am horrified at the the thought that my experience was not unique.
I can’t stop thinking about this. It enrages me! Like steam coming out of my ears just remembering it exists. I honestly don’t get how a conscious health care professional can even hand you that and think it’s ok?
It is pretty friggin appalling isn’t it? It is real and systemic. Ya should have seen the steam coming out of my ears when I read it and then proceeded to challenge the doc on the matter.
I have to take a nutrition course for my nursing degree this summer, and I’m deathly afraid it’s going to consist of this same crap. They won’t let me test out, even though I’ve read more nutrition books, articles and studies than you can shake a stick at. Doctors on the whole likely receive a single nutrition class in the course of their entire education, and in my opinion have no ground to sit and share nutritional advice. Sadly it’s not just doctors, it goes all the way to top — the boards that constitute what’s “healthy” are just as corrupt and mistaken. Until we simplify our diets to whole, grown foods we’ll never escape the myriad of health deficits that plague our country.
I could not agree with you more regarding doctors giving nutritional advice. I think I would prefer not receiving anything at all. Unfortunately, we live in a world or country rather, where we MUST be advocates of own health or else we will get taken down a very dangerous path. Thanks so much for commenting on the blog.