Remember the scene in “The Matrix” where Neo has the choice of taking the red pill to open his eyes to the reality of what actually is, or taking the blue pill and remaining comfortable, but blind to the reality of things?
A similar choice occurs within The Processed Food Matrix we live in today.
We’re like “Neo” except instead of a one time decision, every eating decision of choosing the blue pill of processed food, or the red pill that is cleaner more whole foods eventually accumulates into getting out, or staying in, The Processed Food Matrix.
Take breakfast as an example of one of these eating choices. “Morpheus” extends two hands:
In one hand is plain oats. In the other “Cap’n crunch.”
It’s like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” of the eating variety that will influence later eating decisions for that day, week, month, etc. If the oats are chosen that morning, that sets up the rest of the day to encourage similar “clean” eating choices. A good day of eating will assist a good week of eating, and a good week of eating will encourage more of the same in the weeks ahead.
After healthier food has been chosen a good majority of the time for a good period of time (let’s say upwards of 70% healthier food choices practiced for a few months) it’s akin to a red horse pill being taken, and the palate starts to becomes more aware of these tricky treats food manufacturers use to disguise the true (tasteless) nature of the processed food being offered.
The veil is lifted and it’s realized the tricky treats are typically combinations of shared heavily processed ingredients like wheat, corn, soy, excess sugar, bad fats, and salt that lend the fake food a false sense of flavor, not to mention appearance with color additives like Blue #5, etc.
Once you go back to that processed food after having gone away from it for a while, you realize that it just doesn’t have the same taste satisfaction that it once did, and it’s much easier than it originally was to gravitate away from it.
Fun fact about “The Matrix” Movie:
Will Smith was originally cast as “Neo” but declined the role, opening it up for the guy from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”
Shape Shifters Fitness 
I so totally notice salt in processed foods because I typically don’t put any salt on the food I make.
I remember when I first started eating healthy I was amazed when I started craving salads. Now I notice right away my energy levels deplete when I eat processed food:(
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That’s good to have an awareness about salt like that. I was just hearing about how microwave foods are so overly salted (in addition to the other processed ingredients).
Salads can be so great with thw unlimited combinations! I know what you mean about getting addicted to those : )
Yeah trying to eat some of that processed food is crazy after going away for it for a few years and it makes you realize what a direct connection healthy food is and how much processed food can negatively affect it.
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For sure! Sometimes I think I’m kind of lucky to have food allergies as it definitely causes me to eat much healthier than most people. I try packaged foods sometimes, but mainly just to see what they’re like. It probably helps that I’m more of a snacker than a meal person too so cucumber slices with fake cream cheese on them counts as lunch to me
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No Doubt! I would think that’s got to be true. Food allergies seems like they’re much more common nowadays, and you wonder if there’s a connection what the processed food and all the stuff that’s didn’t exist even 50 years ago or so.
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Ya I often wonder if it’s changed food or if we just didn’t know about the allergies. I was sick until I was thirty as no one even thought of gluten and dairy allergies as the cause.
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Wow, that’s crazy, what a relief to figure it out.
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It was! Within two weeks i felt like a whole new person.
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So true about the return to junk/fake food after a healthy abstinence…haven’t had MacD breakfast in close to a decade, even longer with Mac D non-breakfast.
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That’s an impressive streak without the.McDonald’s! I’ve caved a few times with the fries or a breakfast sandwich, but I’ve always regretted it.
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Yep, it was that post-consumption regret that kept me away.
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Love the analogy! It is definitely to the point and sends a clear message. We have to realize a good nutrition decision is made daily and early. Got htis one saved. 🙂👍🏾
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Thanks kindly! Yuppers, I totally agree about the importance of breakfast setting up the rest of the day to be nutritious! Appreciate it!
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This made me think about when I first started eating clean about 6 years ago, after a lifetime of bad eating. After a couple of weeks I ate a piece of broccoli and thought, “Wow, THAT’S what broccoli taste like”! All my life it had tasted like butter, cheese and/or salt!
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Nice! I know exactly what you mean. I started eating clean about that many years ago too, and after ditching the processed crap, that’s exactly what was happening too!
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