Getting Dinner Delivered is Not a Moral Failing
But being fatphobic sure is! Some thoughts on blaming systems, not people.
On Tuesday, I wrote about that NYT body positivity influencer video — the one that went viral last week because it’s a fat person saying she doesn’t want to be fat anymore.
In other words, it’s a video published by a newspaper where absolutely nothing newsworthy happens — because every fat person has wanted, at least in some moments, to stop being fat. That’s what happens when you live in a world at war with your body.
Gabriella Lascano’s take did spark a valuable conversation about what it means to be a body positivity influencer —someone who makes a living selling messages about loving yourself but also, many, many beauty products, clothes, and other consumer goods— and a fat rights activist. Now I’d argue that you can be both, because bopo influencer is a job, and fat rights is a value system. But Lascano is not both and doesn’t appear to have ever been both, and it’s useful for us all to get clearer on the distinctions.
Meanwhile on the podcast, Corinne and I are talking about groceries. They are crazy expensive right now! But also, is it normal for a family of five to spend almost $700 on a week’s worth of food?
We also get into our thoughts on meal delivery culture and I dig into my dependency on it and the (baby steps) I’m taking towards cooking at home more. There is a lot of Discourse happening around this topic right now — here’s Corinne’s excellent essay on the case for making some things harder, and here’s Laura Fenton with practical tips for cooking more if you want to divest from meal delivery culture.
But I do want to say, clearly, that it’s not a moral failing to rely on delivery or to spend a lot of money on groceries. Disabled folks, stressed out parents, folks navigating eating disorder recovery or food allergies… there are lots of us who need extra support feeding ourselves and our people. And that’s because we’re lacking larger structural supports (thank you capitalism and an all-too-porous social safety net) and often, the kind of community support that would otherwise fill in these gaps. So yes, it’s worth looking at our budgets and our entanglements with bad systems. But it’s a privilege to opt out of those systems, too. And fed is still best!
PS. Probably tacky to give you an affiliate link after that conversation but I do still use and love the reusable grocery bags pictured above, so do with that what you will!
One Good Thing
Because I am now trying to cook at home more and rely on UberEats less, here is one super delicious and fast dinner we made on Tuesday, and liked it so much we made it again last night. (When I say “we,” I do not include children but your mileage may vary!) As evidenced by my Tuesday essay (above), the NYT is getting an awful lot wrong right now but this recipe for sticky miso salmon bowls, they got right. (Gift link!)
