I refuse to buy the idea that obesity is an epidemic. I don’t care if health organizations claim it is; it is not a viral or bacterial infection. It is not contractible

and contagious.

Sure, it is widespread in America, but this is not something medicine, government or corporations need to address. Obesity is both caused and cured by you and me: the consumer.

I have local evidence; I had originally planned to denounce DuSable Hall’s

hazardous snack menu, but DuSable actually has many healthy options. Vending

machines sell green tea and trail mix. The food counter sells peanut butter and jelly

sandwiches and vast arrays of vegetables, from salads to cauliflower.

Unfortunately, cauliflower containers accumulate on the shelf as fast as

processed danishes fly from it. It’s not supply that’s the problem; it’s demand.

The film “Supersize Me” portrayed McDonald’s as the culprit of America’s

obesity problem, but doesn’t the whole industry belong under scrutiny? Eating

a cheeseburger meal from Shelley’s isn’t so different in nutritional value from a

McDonald’s meal.

Even Pita Pete can’t save you if you eat a pita overflowing with red meat and mayonnaise. Of course, Burger King and Subway offer various veggie patties. Wendy’s has the classic baked potato. Shelley’s serves rice, and Pita Pete’s sells falafel.

But what if you don’t like falafel? What if the baked potato doesn’t appetize you?

Substitutes just don’t compare; where are our real consumer options?

American dining’s major flaw is that healthy food with a plethora of taste alternatives involves eating Thai or Chinese. But even then, many people are timid to the idea of curry chicken or a plate of bok choy.

Other countries are already hip to creative healthy eating. South America uses

avocado in salads and milkshakes. Japan and Portugal use seafood constantly. Greeks have beans or feta cheese as the center of many entrées.

The European omelet or frittata bulges with potatoes, tomatoes, and other colors and flavors. Many cultures savor flavor-filled wine instead of chugging cheap, tasteless beer. Bolivian snack stands sell popped quinoa, nuts or fresh fruit by the barrel.

Even McDonald’s has a different approach with foreign markets. Japan has green tea

milkshakes and shrimp nuggets. Australian children order pasta happy meals. India

has McAloo Tikki and vegan pizza pockets.

What if our menus had such variety? Here’s some low-cost ideas: a portabella

mushroom pizza burger. A peanut butter and banana sandwich topped with cinnamon. A side of homemade applesauce or garlic mashed potatoes instead of fries.

Mango salsa nachos instead of high-calorie, preservative-filled cheese goop that

solidifies at room temperature. Red peppers or over a dozen varieties of hummus or nuts.

Even fresh fruit at the hot dog stand would perfectly complement a polish sausage,

rather than eating another one.

But restaurants only offer what consumers want. The average American doesn’t fear

obesity or heart failure enough to demand real options. Instead we watch movies that

blame corporations while eating meat-lover pizza. We claim to be the nexus of the global market while consuming burgers and hot dogs at high volume.

We think vegetarian means a diet overhaul rather than an occasional choice.

We think eating healthy is restricting freedom, but as ex-smokers know, true

freedom is the ability to say no, to choose alternatives.

We need to get it out of our heads that healthy can only mean boring and plain, especially if we want to be fit as a nation. All it takes is flexibility and a little

creativity.