“From scratch” is the most beautiful phrase that shouldn’t be needed.

If you are eating the SAD, this, or something like it, is your menu unveiled.

Breakfast:

Mcdonald’s Mocha Frappe Coffee drink, Dannon Light and Fit Blueberry yogurt, Private Selection honey wheat toast

Translation:

Coffee drink: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Corn Syrup, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, or Less: Mono-And Diglycerides, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Beta Carotene (Color), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E) to Protect Flavor. Whipping Propellant (Nitrous Oxide).   Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Water, Sugar, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Modified Food Starch, Nonfat Milk, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Salt, Gellan Gum, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor (Vanillin).Ingredients: Water, Cream, Sugar, Milk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Coffee Extract, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Mono and Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Potassium Citrate, Disodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Carob Bean Gum, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1.

Yogurt: Non-fat milk, water, blueberry puree, fructose, modified corn starch, natural flavor, carmine, sucralose, malic acid, potassium sorbate, acesulfame potassium, sodium citrate

Bread: whole wheat flour, water, sugar, vital wheat gluten, yeast,  soybean oil, molasses, wheat bran, crushed wheat, salt, honey, soy flour, soy lecithin, sodium stearoyl lactylate, calcium propionate (preservative), datem, calcium sulfate, monocalcium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, guar gum, ascorbic acid, enzymes.

Lunch:

Chick Fil A original chicken sandwich and fries with a pop

Translation:

Sandwich: chicken (whole breast filet, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached wheat flour {with malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, nonfat milk, egg], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil, with Dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foam agent added]), bun (enriched wheat flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], water, sugar, yeast, soybean oil, wheat gluten,  salt, cultured wheat flour, vinegar, calcium sulfate, monoglycerides, DATEM, calcium propionate, ascorbic/citric acid, enzymes), bun oil (soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, natural flavor, beta carotene), pickle (cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, alum, potassium sorbate [preservatives], natural flavors, polysorbate 80, yellow 5, blue 1).

Fries: Potatoes (vegetable oil [canola oil, palm oil], disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate [to promote color retention], dextrose), fully refined high oleic canola oil (citric acid added to preserve freshness and Dimethylopolysiloxane added as an anti-foaming agent).

Pop: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar, water, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, caffeine, sodium benzoate (preservative) and dimethylpolysiloxane.

Snack:

Cheetos and Diet pop

Translation:

Cheetos: enriched corn meal (corn meal, ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower) Cheese seasoning (whey, cheddar cheese [milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], canola oil, maltodextrin [made from corn], salt, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, natural and artificial flavors, lactic acid, citric acid, artificial color [yellow 6]) Salt

Diet pop: carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate (to protect taste), natural flavors, citric acid,caffeine.

Dinner:  

Hamburger Helper, canned green beans, oreos

Translation:

Hamburger Helper: ground beef (ground cow and preservatives) enriched pasta (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), corn starch, maltodextrin, salt, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) hydrolized vegetable protein (soy, corn, wheat), onion powder, monosodium glutamate, colors (caramel color, yellow 5 lake, yellow 5), partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, spice, natural flavor, monoglycerides, sugar, beef stock, yeast extract, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, sulfiting agents, egg, nonfat milk

Canned beans:  green beans, water, salt and whatever BPA has leeched into them from the can liner.

Oreos: Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine, mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, palm and/or canola oil, cocoa with alkali, high fructose corn syrup, leavening (baking soda and/ or calcium phosphate), corn starch, salt, soy lecithin, vanillin, chocolate

Unfortunately, for most people, this doesn’t bring them any closer to knowing what they are eating.  

There are many steps on the road that brought us here.  There is no single villain in the story of the SAD.

There is a way back but it involves informed consumers making better decisions and forcing the hand of government and the market it manipulates.

Specialization stops being beneficial when it kills.

Welcome to the SAD, pick up your metabolic syndrome with your lunch.