Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, a columnist for The Guardian, on the value of reconnecting with your inner kid. She remembers being labeled in the 1990s as a “weird lunchbox kid.” For her mother, eating healthy was everything—taking care of one’s body came first. She would put together interesting meals, sometimes veggie curry, sometimes falafel, or what she called a “deconstructed sandwich.” Her strange lunches quickly became the butt of her classmates’ jokes. As they donned their palates on far more colorful, exciting, processed foods, they called her out.
Like any good food activist, Cosslett’s mother was obviously ahead of her time, thinking the problems around food were deeply rooted and needed deep-rooted solutions. She did a lot of shopping at health food stores, and would even drive long distances to get cheaper meat. This commitment to nutritious eating instilled in Cosslett a sense of appreciation for homemade meals, albeit with a tinge of guilt about being different from her classmates.
Growing up, Cosslett felt pressure to conform, often hiding packets of Super Noodles like contraband. She wished she could eat the fun foods her peers were eating but was rather urged to accept healthy versions of those foods. Her mom was a stickler for home-cooked meals. This devotion led to meals prepared with love, such as hearty slices of home-baked bread stuffed with inventive toppings that turned routine lunchbox options upside down.
It’s no surprise then that the conversations around UPFs are all the rage. Cosslett had a sense of vindication, as did all of those who were once ridiculed for their positions. Recent revelations about the detrimental health outcomes associated with consuming UPFs have sparked conversations about dietary choices and their broader implications.
Cosslett recognizes the stigma that surrounds these conversations, especially for women. Anita Sinha makes the case that discussions around UPFs often ignore the class and economic intersectionality. Many families might not have the access to these healthier alternatives or the time and money needed to make home-cooked meals a top priority.
As Cosslett looks back on her childhood, she describes a twinge of guilt within her. That last comment, she remembers, was an early precursor to being called a “weird-lunchbox kid.” One thing should be clear: now, as an adult, she understands that her mother’s relationship with food was based in wisdom.
“I told you so,” – Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
Today, Cosslett is on a journey of discovering her culinary tastes as an adult. She’s gone from concealing packets of Super Noodles to creating proper ramen meals built completely from scratch! She prepares gravy from the meat juices too, a talent she learned from her mother and grandmother. These practices open the door to a richer understanding of food that goes beyond just filling our stomachs. It’s about culture, medicine and society.
Cosslett’s observations are a helpful reminder of how individual food choices are tied into much larger systems. They further develop the argument for tackling the systemic factors that shape all diets—no matter your healthcare access, across all income levels.