A conspiracy is brewing in our nation and no one has the power to stop it. I am not talking about a deep political injustice that has to do with the military industrial complex or a foreign association of terrorists bent on the destruction of the United States.
I am talking about a conspiracy of much greater magnitude between the confections industries and the multi-million dollar weight loss business. Ever since Thanksgiving raised its ugly head with pumpkin and apple pies, chocolate covered lollipops in the shape of pilgrims, and those evil looking yellow peepers the sugar industry has inundated our lives with tons of holiday delights.
They were found everywhere. When one woke up in the morning they were next to our breakfast cereals in the form of clover shaped green marshmallows. Our coffee went from bitter black to sweet creamy brown. Driving to work little bags of crispy treats were found in the front seat of our cars and even the toll booth attendants gave out little foiled wrapped kisses to go along with their good morning greetings.
After one arrived at work everyone was carrying a sweet little this or a tart little that. The exchange of holiday cakes and candies continued right through lunch. At least what most of us used to think was lunch?
The midday meal used to consist of a plastic wrapped tuna salad sandwich stuffed under a two-month old apple or pear. If one were real lucky they would pull out a brown spotted yellow banana from a brown paper bag that was destined to be recycled throughout the rest of the year.
The holiday lunch consisted of jellied ham jammed in a fruit filled bun wrapped in a kind of plastic gift wrap with pictures of lions and tigers and bears. Underneath this sugar-filled sandwich lay Christmas cakes, walnut laden chocolate brownies covered with layers of powdered sugar to the point one would expect to see a small plastic man skiing down its slopes like one would do at Sunday River or Aspen. Continue Reading →