Are You Brainwashed?

Of course you are. I know I am. People are brainwashed everyday by the marketing industry. You HAVE to buy these shoes. You HAVE to have this car. Your HAVE to live in this neighborhood. I recently fell for this when I bought an overpriced pair of fabulous suede black boots. I thought I HAD to have them for my winter wardrobe. After getting home and re-thinking the situation, I realized that I in fact did NOT need the overpriced boots, and I could use the money elsewhere in my budget. They are in my return pile as of yesterday. Just like the fashion industry, the food industry has brainwashed us as well - some in different ways then others.

We can thank the fast food industry for this particular scheme, and its been working since 1921, when White Castle was founded. (I realized there's arguments about this particular beginning of fast food, but stay focused - that is not what this is about). Think about it - there are social cues everywhere luring people into the sodium infested goodness of fast food. Think about your ride home from work....how many fast food establishments do you pass on the way home?

There was a study done about American children's recognition of the McDonalds' golden arches - I don't remember the specifics, but you can imagine the findings. Basically, kids can recognize the fast food symbols before they can read...meaning, our kids are growing up not only dumb, but fat too. Super.

This brainwashing doesn't stop at fast food though - the other half - those of you that think they are the "better half" are being brainwashed too. Organic, Natural, Fat-Free, No Pesticides, High in Anti-Oxidants, High in Protein, Carb Free, New Look - Same Great Taste, Garden Fresh, Slim, Light, and on and on and on and on and on. The yuppies fall for it too. In order to be a "good parent" you have to feed your kids a hormone free, dairy free, pesticide free diet.

We all fall for it in one way or another! You'd like to think that you have control over your own life, or at least your own food, but you don't! We all fall for social media and social cues every day! When you are hungry and driving home after a long day and you see cute little Wendy with her red hair and pigtails, your brain is programmed to do one thing......crave a bacon melt, whatever the hell they serve these days.

BE ABOVE IT. You CAN make it home and cook whatever you had planned. I promise, you're not going to die if you don't have 800 Calories of beef lard for dinner. Same with you crazed parents out there. You aren't a bad parent if you feed your children non-organic milk. You are still a healthy eater if you eat carbohydrates. You don't have to buy the brown eggs. Half of the BS they are selling you at the health store you shop at is just the same stuff you buy at Walmart, but in pleasant, earth tones packaging. You have to be able to wave through all the crap and actually decide what it is you find important and what is going to fit into your budget.

BE YOUR OWN PERSON! Don't do what Suzy Jones is doing next door just because its the thing to do. Don't stop at the Arby's on impulse because that little cowboy hat seems to calling your name. Stand up to the marketing industry. Do your research, and you will find that you CAN un-brainwash yourself. Re-join us out in the real world! Can't wait to see you here!

Don't Let this.....

be you.