Author: Greta Jarvis, MS, MPH (she/her)
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My Chia Seed Pudding Tastes Like Privilege
How often do nutrition experts sing the praises of kale, quinoa, and chia seed pudding? Rhetoric encircling our nation’s health declares that the chronic conditions ailing us today are chiefly preventable, bolstering the paradigm of personal choice. You can take control of your health, we hear. Just channel that inner discipline, and eat your vegetables. Sitting… Read more
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Eating Isn’t Cheating
“She called it a cheat meal, I just called it eating.” The caption’s accompanying image showed his wife lifting a glistening slice of pepperoni pizza from the table, the classic strand of gooey cheese trailing behind. From social media nutrition gurus to your next-door neighbor to this Instagrammer’s wife, so many of us – especially as… Read more
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You Are Not a Before Photo
Before and after photos readily collect likes, approval, and undisputed praise. A social media darling, they most often display a melancholy figure juxtaposed with a smaller, happier version of him or herself. The passionate caption accompanying the image tells of a life revitalized and of health restored. The underlying message is clear: You, as you are… Read more
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When Chocolate Cake Tastes Like Guilt
Our culture has added a bitter new ingredient to chocolate cake’s traditional flour, sugar, butter, and salt. As if whisked into the batter and baked at 350 degrees, guilt can divert satisfaction and enjoyment from every bite. When was the last time you attended a celebratory event without overhearing contrite declarations of prolonged workouts, pledges… Read more
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Dieting’s Liability Waiver
What do yoga classes, horseback riding, and even community service have in common? Liability waivers. From warning that the activity “requires physical exertion” to noting that the company “assumes no responsibility for injury or loss of personal property,” liability waivers inform participants of possible risks and damages while absolving businesses from legal action against them.… Read more
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Refusing to Participate in Body Talk is a Courageous and Healing Act
Negative food and body talk have become a normalized, socially acceptable form of camaraderie among women in our culture, perhaps especially in the worlds of sport and fitness. You’d be hard-pressed to go even a day without overhearing, reading, or participating in conversations surrounding bodies, exercise regimens, and restrictive diets – both of others and our own. These criticisms,… Read more