This probably seems like an odd choice of topic for a philosopher who is known for being a tad obsessive about good nutrition, on a website where you can browse and buy half a dozen different nutrition, performance and healthy habits plans.

Over the pandemic period, food has played prominently in our thoughts and deeds. That’s understandable, when there's not much else to do. On Chocolate is the first in a consumption-themed set of four Philosopher-In-Residence blogs, which will take a look at how our relationship with food is changing, and what agency we have in that agenda for change.

When It Was All So Simple

It's human nature to view the past through somewhat translucent rose-tinted spectacles, and this Philosopher-In-Residence was doing just that recently. I feel sure that when I was growing up in the Eighties, although diets and fitness were certainly "a thing", there wasn't the class divide, or existential guilt that buying and eating chocolate is associated with in modern times. The excitement of popping to the local shop with my grandparents was real. Now the worries about plastic packaging, empty calories, unethical marketing are real. More important, less carefree.

Smashing It

I wanted to raise some genuine questions about how we normalise our habits and behaviour in this series. How frequently do we confess a binge or break from healthy eating with a sense of faux achievement/gaining peer support? "I smashed a whole bar of chocolate in one go," that kind of thing. We are well aware that the more we gorge on something sugary, the worse we'll feel, physically and mentally. But it's become a badge of honour, or something that's ok as long as we have banter about it with our mates. If someone told you they smoked a whole pack of cigarettes in one go, you'd be pretty worried about their behaviour. So why is it something to chuckle about when someone eats a day's worth of calories in chocolate in one go?

Chocs Away

With much of life being lived online of late, this Philosopher-In-Residence's blood has been boiling rather more than usual as I encounter what can only be described as absolutely appalling adverts, promoting chocolate and all manner of sugary junk. This is the next fake news issue of our time, folks, and your biggest defence is always reading the label. I have lost count of the times that things being marketed as healthy choices have hidden sugar, or comprise so much refined flour they may as well be pure sugar, not to mention "pretend portions" where the calories/nutrients per portion look acceptable but then you realise there are 4 "pretend portions" in what looks like a small snack for elevenses. Sugar taxes are regressive and hit the poorest in society the hardest - advertising ethics and regulation needs to play a stronger role in making sure people truly understand the consequences of eating chocolate breakfast cereal every day, grabbing a share-size bar that's on special offer, having chocolate for the sake of it and not to fill a need.

Next fortnight, the culinary-themed mini-series continues for those of you who may be reflecting on the lockdown effect on waistlines and energy levels. On 1st April (not a Fool, I promise!) I’ll be musing On Butter.

Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning