Don't call me 'Skinny'

So, it's break time and my insatiable desire for caffeine after one of my favourite lessons with some year 10s has kicked in; I'm waiting for the microwave to come free. I'm feeling a little envious of the soup one of my colleagues pulls out before I bung my mug of milk in to heat up... in around 2 minutes.

Don't under estimate how much can go on in 2 minutes!

As I'm minding my own business, beside the microwave, someone shouts across the room to a new member of the team: "Oh! You're not like Zoe, are you?"

Well. Now I'm intrigued. What am I like? Funny? Colourful? Insightful?

"I have never seen Zoe have a slice of cake. Even if it's someone's birthday. I don't know how she does it," said the voice.

Is that it? I'm thinking.

But it goes on, "She manages to walk past every biscuit, every iced bun, every box of chocolates, every flapjack, every cookie, every cupcake, every muffin, every..."

It went on, like a train with many carriages chugging over a road crossing. Other people then piped up, adding to the endless list of sugary items. It was like being caught up in a memory game from the 1970s.

It was also quite entertaining. And true! But not really what my ego was expecting. Just then the cherry on top of the proverbial well-iced cake came...

"You're so skinny, Zoe!"

Does this comment assume that I don't eat these things because I'm vain? Do I come across as someone who goes to such lengths to keep my weight down? Oh my Gosh! Has everyone been watching me?

What if, I just don't like them? I know this is bonkers to some. And really annoying to others. But, it's true.

Given this scenario, my feelings are clear: I don't call people fat, so don't call me skinny.

Maybe these synonyms for 'skinny' underlie why it annoys me. Nobody wants to be described as: angular, bony, gaunt, lanky, scrawny, emaciated, malnourished, skeletal or twiggy.

Ummm. No thanks! But if that's what you think, please keep it to yourself.

And if you want to say something nice to me about the way I look, try something akin to: "You look great, Zoe."

That always works!

Don't call me skinny just because I don't like cake, biscuits, iced buns, chocolates, flapjacks, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, meringue, ice cream, scones, jelly, sweets (except milk bottles), tarts, Swiss rolls, Battenburg, jam sponge (I'll take the custard), shortbread, fudge, ice lollies, Danish pastries, doughnuts (unless custardy),wafers, Florentines, eclairs, lollies...

It's annoying.

PS. I LOVE cheesecake! I would have eaten that.

Food is glorious... if you don't listen

"I agree about lifestyle choices. But, although it’s easier to grab something pre-made, it may not be helpful to demonise grab-and-go.

I suggest the food industry’s use of labels: processed or ultra-processed, healthy or unhealthy, are problematic. Social insecurities are bombarded with what is right/wrong - we are confused, guilt-riddled and accuse each other of being responsible for related health issues.

A recent post described fruit from a blender as processed. This means, anything I cook is processed since its natural state has been altered - I'm feeding my family deadly processed ready-meals! Surely, this is rubbish. And I don’t think calling food that's packaged and stored in the supermarket refrigerated section, as UPFs, helps.

There's a difference between a ready-meal, or sandwich, with real ingredients and others that have food substitutes and numbers.

If our primary needs are carbs, proteins and fats for energy to function, then labelling is nonsense. We could take tablets and maintain our weight. But a coated tablet would be considered ultra-processed, right?

We are addicted to information about food! Information from places we believe to have more knowledge about ourselves than we do."

I wrote this in response to a post on LinkedIn.

I wasn't happy with a scientist slating all ready-meals as ultra-processed food.

Actually, just looking back at the original post... he wasn't even a scientist. Tsch!!

Don't ever come between me and a ready-made ham & mushroom tagliatelle.

It annoys me!

Newsy Radio Hype

Have you noticed how a headline on the radio in the morning turns into a riot by the afternoon?

It begins with slightly loaded comments from presenters about one of the daily headlines. To encourage interaction from listeners, I guess.

The headline is then linked into phone-ins, showcasing the country's engagement. So by mid-morning the newsreader's script is already edited to something more provocative, on the grounds that collective opinion has now become near fact.

But not quite...

Further newsy discussions pursue, with more somewhat one-sided opinions, as further script editing ensues and, the fear in human psychology to call out anything different, drowns out any opposition to the edited version of the original headline.

By the afternoon, perhaps different listeners have gathered. So, only hearing the fully edited headline that has now switched to an emphatic factual statement, people are suddenly enraged.

The radio is then awash with very angry people!

And I find myself caught up in it all...

A headline doesn't need to morph into an SEO frenzy, optimised to heighten agitation.

It's annoying!