A gentle framework for trendy foods
A taste of each, please.
A few days ago, my friend asked me for my take on Magic Spoon. It’s a new cereal brand that promises the same satisfaction of nostalgic childhood cereals but is made to be low-carb, high-protein, and keto-friendly.
I jotted down my thoughts in a text and sent along what looked like a novella. Without realizing it, I had documented my personal framework for navigating trendy foods. Here it is:
#1 Food does not hold inherent value.
No food is bad or good. If something looks interesting or fun to try, go for it. Anything we eat as part of an abundant and varied diet is positive for our overall well-being — physically, psychologically, and socially.
#2: Recognize diet culture at work.
Diet culture is a system of beliefs that, among other things, "Demonizes certain ways of eating while elevating others, which means you’re forced to be hyper-vigilant about your eating, ashamed of making certain food choices, and distracted from your pleasure, your purpose, and your power" (read Christy Harrington's post for my favorite working definition).
I think Magic Spoon raises a red flag as a diet food, perpetuating the notion that eating low carb, high-protein, and low sugar is better and more virtuous than other ways of eating. Reminder: unless someone is diabetic or has another specific health condition that means they need to be mindful of their carbohydrate intake under medical guidance, we don't really need to be worried about things like "net carbs" or "alternative sugar sources."
#3 What does science say? What does common sense say?
This one can be tricky, because finding reputable sources of nutritional science online is hard, and the idea of common sense seems somehow outdated. But come with me for a moment.
Science: One alternative to sugar that Magic Spoon uses to sweeten their cereal is allulose. It's considered a "rare" sugar and reportedly has a low glycemic index. From a cursory but informed search online, it seems that allulose... just hasn't been studied that much in humans. Red flag.
Common sense: Magic Spoon is positioning itself against conventional cereals from our childhood: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruit Loops, Cocoa Puffs, etc. When comparing the ingredients in Magic Spoon to Fruit Loops, I certainly notice fewer overall ingredients in Magic Spoon. But funnily enough, many of the conventional cereals from our childhoods are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin D, Potassium, and Calcium, while Magic Spoon isn’t. I think this adds an interesting complication to the notion of “clean” foods with “few ingredients.” The use of common sense here tells me not that Fruit Loops is therefore better than Magic Spoon or vice versa, but rather that there’s always more to the story.
#4: What do I know about myself?
The most important step of them all. This involves taking a minute to check in with yourself: your body, your cravings, what satisfies you and what doesn't satisfy you. Here's what that looks like for me:
I've experienced gastrointestinal discomfort (read: gas and bloating) from eating monk fruit in the past. Seeing monk fruit listed as one of the sweeteners in Magic Spoon tells me that I might not enjoy the total experience.
I like to eat different things for breakfast and typically rotate between a few go-to’s—I get bored and sick of any food I eat too many days in a row. Knowing this about myself, I can presume that I likely wouldn’t eat Magic Spoon or any single type of cereal every single day, because I get more pleasure from switching it up. In that case, if I’m craving a sweet cereal, I’d likely go for the Fruit Loops themselves. I could see myself feeling comforted and nostalgic eating Fruit Loops on a Sunday morning, maybe watching TV on the couch. If Fruit Loops can nourish my soul in that way, it makes sense for me to buy the food that I’m truly craving, not a substitute, because that substitute might not do the trick.
The next time you come across an innovative food product or brand that piques your interest, I encourage you to give it a try. And if it’s helpful, think through this framework while you do.
