It's time to get real about food

Certainly most are feeling the sorry effects of this shared popped bubble,(Burst Bubble Means Doing More at Home), but my response is to quietly applaud Froma Harrop's rarely seen wisdom and to consider some positive aspects.

As children, when we overinflated a balloon we were surprised and dismayed when it popped. We soon learned that if we didn't set limits our plaything would be worthless.

Today we are now reaping and hopefully learning some unplanned consequences of the thoughtless actions of many. Take heart - there can be a real positive payback to dealing with life in a more realistic way. I'm referring to our relationship with food.

People have always marked occasions, both glad and sad with food; but in recent years we seem to have more celebrations with more and more food. That food is seldom healthful. Our fantasy bubble that it doesn't matter what we eat is leaking, big time. Only our wallets got slimmer as we overindulged; we, unfortunately, have not.

The chronic health conditions directly related to weight issues are well known. Rather than simply designing 'gourmet' kitchens, perhaps we should use them, especially in this time of re-centering our off-balance lives.

Neither restaurant foods nor processed foods are known to be health promoting and shouldn't have a prominent place in our lives.

For the relatively small investment of our time we can save not only a significant amount of money but more importantly our lives and the quality of those lives.

When we live longer, more active lives not only will there be a positive impact on our soaring national health-care costs, but there will simply be more of us willing and able to indulge our interests at the local mall.

Just some food for thought.

Audrey Beauvais

Arlington Heights