I can eat a meal like the one pictured above, and I'm not convinced it's bad for me. I don't have meals like that every day, for sure. I make sure to eat fruits and vegetables every day, so my colon is fine. They don't have to come in the same meal.

Yeah, whole foods (not the grocery chain) are the key, I think. I eat mostly food I make, not much restaurant or take-out food. Very little snack food. Snack food is empty calories.

I never struggled with my weight, and I'm not sure why. I think I have a subconscious calorie counter built in. If I eat too much today, I'll eat less tomorrow. Several years ago, I decided I was 10 pounds overweight. I stopped snacking altogether but I ate more at meals. I ate high calorie foods. I figured it would be OK because all of my food was nutritious. It worked, and it worked a bit too well. I lost 25 lbs. My family told me I was too thin, so I gained 15 pounds back.

So if I'm hungry between meals, I won't eat cookies or chips. I'll have some fruit or a sandwich.

But WHO is the intended audience for these guidelines? Individuals? That won't work. Dieticians? Is there some way we can get the junk food mostly off the market? No, that would impinge on liberties, but it would improve our health. And what about the fact that the food we ought to eat is too expensive or not available? Supply is too small, and there are Cheetos and chips and cookies everywhere. And marketing and advertising is everywhere too, with a huge influence on people.