My Interesting Book Of The Week: 'Salt Sugar Fat'

I'm back from spring break and I have started reading a new book that my father recommended.  The book is called Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss and the apparent premise immediately hooked me.

Ever wondered why you crave certain foods over others or why these kinds of foods are so convenient? This book is about how the giant food companies, which include General Foods, Coca Cola, Nestle, Pepsi and General Mills, have used food engineers and top-draw advertisers to try and addict you to such cult classics as Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini-Wheats and other sugary but lovable treats. The book explores whether most cereals are candy or hearty breakfast food. It looks at why we enjoy sugar so much. I admit: I've read only half the book, but it's a page turner. As we speak, I am resisting my urge to walk to a Rite Aid and buy a Hostess brand rip-off creamy pastry or some Sour Patch Kids because I realize how hopelessly addicted (or as they say in the book, "heavily using") I am to these sugary treats. They are everywhere as the book so cleverly points out, in our cereal, in our "health" bars and on every TV channel that we turn to. This book has a nostalgic effect for readers who might remember commercials we may have seen while watching Saturday morning cartoons like I did. This is an interesting insight from the companies point of view in the current obesity epidemic which although is being fought has not yet managed to put a dent in business. One last thing before I finish here: diet soda is not better for you than regular soda, it makes you hungrier. Also, tea is just as sugary. Go check out Salt Sugar Fat by Micheal Moss. I guarantee a good read and there's the possibility we can all live healthier as well.