by Mike Critelli, 

Although it is not the primary cause of obesity, the differences between what and why we consume sweet treats during holidays and at other celebratory events is symptomatic of a much deeper societal issue.

Our lives would not be the same without birthday cakes, Thanksgiving pies, Christmas cookies, or chocolates shared with loved ones on Valentine’s Day or as a treat shared when we eat a chocolate Easter bunny. What would weddings be like if the bride and groom did not cut the wedding cake and serve it to guests? How do we rethink what we do for all these special occasions?

The link between sweet treats and holiday celebrations dates back far before our country’s founding and appears in many countries and cultures. Getting rid of unhealthy sweet treats on these special occasions is not realistic or even desirable.

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by Mike Critelli, 

For a sizable part of the global population that has enough money to buy healthy foods and beverages, but chooses to eat unhealthy foods and beverages, one motivation is the way we have been wired to link unhealthy foods and beverages with positive emotions.

We will explore one of them today: “comfort.” Next week, we will explore the link between foods and celebratory occasions.

The Comfort Response

When we are stressed out, we often are induced to eat unhealthy and junky food which either we or a person offering it to us calls “comfort food.”

This is not a new phenomenon and it actually was not linked to food a few generations ago. Our parents and grandparents often pursued comfort and calm through an alcoholic beverage before, during or after dinner every day. In many households in the 1950’s and 1960’s, supposedly the golden age of American life, adults felt a need to drink an alcoholic beverage to calm their nerves after what routinely was a stressful work environment or, in the case of stay-at-home moms, a stressful day at home.

Some took tranquilizers or pain killers to deal with the physiological effects of stress. A scan of 1950’s advertising shows that even cigarettes were marketed as stress relievers and that some doctors were heavy tobacco users.

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by Mike Critelli, 

Information Alone Is Not Enough

One of the challenges that has been top of mind to us as we build this browser-based AI-driven product is how to make it as effective as possible as it provides information and advice to users.

The mistake public health officials, the media, employers, educators, and many other leaders have repeatedly made is to assume that their job ends when they convey information about how we should act to maximize health.

We know from our personal and social experiences that even when family, friends, and other social influences are urging us to do the right thing, we fail to do so.

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by Mike Critelli, 

A Shift in Focus: From Additives to AI

Over the last few blogs, we have talked about unhealthy food additives and preservatives, excessive food consumption because some of these additives, like added sugar, sodium and fats, are designed to be addictive and succeed in doing so.

We are going to take what, at first glance, will seem to be a detour, but is a powerful opportunity to use AI as a thought partner in helping manage our eating and drinking habits.

The Social Side of Eating

Although all of us intuitively would understand this, research scientists Dr. Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler published a book whose theme is described in its title: Connections: The Surprising Power of Social Networks and How They Change Our Lives in 2010.

They summarized and analyzed extensive research on the social influences on our health, particularly what and how much we eat. People who are overweight or obese will tend to associate with others who are also overweight or obese.

They patronize the same restaurants or cafes, shop in the same parts of stores, are mostly likely to go to movie theaters and consume the biggest popcorn bucket or 40-ounce sugary soda.

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by Mike Critelli, 

As Americans, we are in a never-ending battle with those who try to make us dependent on and addicted to unhealthy foods and beverages. Last week, we discussed a small step to gain better control over our dietary habits: cutting back on unhealthy toppings, sauces, and dressings.

Today, we propose a completely different small step to help reduce unhealthy food and beverage consumption at the margins.

Ubiquity of Unhealthy Options

Unhealthy foods and beverages are more ubiquitous than ever. They are now available in places that didn’t carry them just a few decades ago—sporting goods stores, office supply stores, retail clothing stores, and even public libraries.

Fast food outlets like Starbucks have also realized their biggest unrealized revenue opportunity is to expand their drive-through and takeout services. That shift surprised me, particularly because Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ founder, modeled his stores on Italian cafes that served as “third places” for people to socialize, work, and engage in reading and writing.

Over the last 25 years, Starbucks—like many fast food outlets—became a quick stop, often a place where food and beverages are picked up en route to work, rather than a “third place” where customers linger for an hour or more.

Replacing Habits with Enjoyable Activities

What this means is that we need to build enjoyable and sustainable routines that wean us from unhealthy foods and beverages. We are most likely to eat when:

• Driving
  

• Sitting at a table or office desk
  

• Lounging at home
  

• Attending long, boring meetings with snacks provided
  

Everyone has a favorite activity that can replace sitting and eating. In my case, it’s listening to audiobooks. For others, it might be listening to music while walking, visiting a museum or art gallery, or hiking with a friend.

The Role of Social Influence

Social activity can either help or hurt our efforts to move away from unhealthy eating and drinking. One of the most important steps in redesigning daily routines is to assess how friends and family influence our habits.

My mom used to send us outside to play, especially since we lived next to a playground until I was 10 years old. At our summer cottage, we had a badminton net on the front lawn, which we used extensively.

When raising our own children, we lived in a private 20-home association where they could play safely outside. We’re grateful to our former next-door neighbors, whose daughter played highly competitive games of croquet with our children.

In contrast, some of my cousins lived in homes where their moms were constantly preparing food and putting it out between meals. When we entered their homes, eating felt inevitable—we felt we had to participate.

Choosing the Right Company (and Activities)

Some of our friends encourage physical activities that keep us away from food—pickleball, tennis, golf, long walks with dogs, impromptu hikes, and museum visits. Participating in charity sporting events, environmental cleanups, or helping someone who can't get out to run errands are all meaningful ways to stay active and engaged without snacking.

But we all have friends who steer us toward more sedentary, food-centered activities. My wife, for example, has friends who love to play bridge for 3–4 hours a day (my personal limit is one hour). Others invite us to buffets at their clubs, where the temptation to overeat is difficult to resist.

Making the Shift

To replace an unhealthy process with a healthy one, we almost always need to assess two things:

1. How we allocate our time
   

2. With whom we spend our social time
   

With awareness and intention, we can choose to gradually phase out mindless eating habits and replace them with healthier, more fulfilling alternatives.