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Is Healthy #FoodPorn Ruining Your New Year's Resolution?

With the beginning of a New Year upon us once again we are met with an annual influx of dieting apps and New Year's resolution humour.

We've seen a rise in "healthy" #FoodPorn on our social media accounts recently. But is it actually helping us stick to our resolutions, or is it ruining the way we eat altogether?


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#FoodPorn is one of the most used hashtags on Instagram, the phenomenon of "eating & tweeting" is seen all of the time, but I'm starting to think this trend could be more damaging than we think.

When #FoodPorn began it was "cool" to upload the biggest, baddest burgers, the gooiest cheese balls and the most calorific, Godzilla sized meals that you have ever seen. Of course, this wasn't good. But it wasn't making people feel crap for eating crap. If anything, it was saying it's okay to indulge every once in a while.

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By the end of 2015 (the year of the avocado) and now more than ever, we are seeing "healthy" food porn everywhere. Since midnight struck on January 1st 2016, I have seen enough lentil burgers and glorified fruit salads to last me a life time.

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Perhaps vulnerable, young minds on social media could be persuaded by these photos to see deliciousness in healthy meals? It might also help people find variety in healthy eating and be tempted to give it a go. Which is all great! Right?

So what's my concern?

Social media is now surrounding us with constant reminders that we probably should be eating green salads and power bars, instead of an innocent sandwich for lunch. People who don't want to/need to diet are feeling bad for not eating only the healthiest food, 24/7.

"Attractive people" upload photos of "attractive/healthy food" and are deemed better looking, for eating healthy and "taking care of themselves" better than the rest of us. "Here is my great body and here is how I got it," is basically what they're saying and it's not true. Did they post a sweaty photo of their 3 hour workout? Probably not. 


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Using loaded terms like "CleanFood" and "CleanEating" implies that the rest of us who don't eat avocado on toast for breakfast are eating dirty? What does that even mean?

What's worse is, a lot of these so called "healthy" recipes aren't even that healthy. If you see "gluten-free," that doesn't mean healthy. It means it has no gluten in it. If you suffer from coeliac disease, that's great. But if you haven't got a diagnosed allergy to wheat and gluten, you're probably cutting it out unnecessarily and consequently missing some vital whole grains.

Besides, just because something has no gluten in, doesn't mean it isn't packed with sugar or fat. 

There is no harm in thinking about what you put in your body, but I do have concerns about this as a social media trend.

The sexualisation of food and what not, is fun! 

Making people look at something as basic as food/energy through an edited lens and treating it like a fashion trend, is not. It could encourage obsessive behaviour about food which we all know can be a dangerous and rocky road to embark on.

Don't be fooled into thinking that a prawn salad with a lemon tea got that Instagram model her figure. A rigorous exercise routine did. You're more than welcome to take inspiration from accounts like this but it's more important you eat what you need and when your body requires it. Social media doesn't know how your individual body works, only you do. 




Megan Herdson

Megan is a country girl who moved to the city with some big dreams. She is studying her MA in Creative Writing whilst also managing an American Football Team.  She loves her blog and wants nothing more than to have her words read. That and to win the Championship, obviously. Follow her @MeganAtSMF

 
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Is Healthy #FoodPorn Ruining Your New Year's Resolution? Reviewed by Unknown on Thursday, January 14, 2016 Rating: 5
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