Have you noticed how many people munch their way down the High Street? I was struck yesterday on one of my rare shopping expeditions in Birmingham town centre by the number of people clutching sandwich wrappers, pasty bags and cardboard trays of hot food whilst walking along shopping. These same greasy fingers would shortly be fingering merchandise on racks and rails possibly leaving stains on garments. No wonder more and more shops have to display “No eating in here” signs. It’s a disgusting habit! When I was growing up it was frowned upon ever to be seen eating in the street - with the possible exception of eating an ice cream whilst walking along the promenade on holiday. The idea that shops had to ask people not to eat in them was unthinkable. In the same way that people wander along eating without thinking, they will all too often, once the “meal” has been eaten, unthinkingly chuck the wrapper on the pavement.
As well as being bad manners and causing litter, this type of eating is largely unconscious. It’s the quick snack that can add several hundred calories to a daily total. This type of snack, however, is often forgotten when totting up calorie totals for the day as it was eaten on the move without any thought.
Eating should be a pleasurable activity. Food should be thought about consciously and savoured when eaten. Even so called “diet food” these days is designed to be flavoursome and tasty as well as nutritious and filling. Just try the Weight to Go range and you will see what I mean. So please, don’t eat whilst you’re doing something else and encourage your children not to feed themselves whilst walking through the shopping mall. Now, having got that piece of eating advice off my chest what can we do about chewing gum spattered streets?
Dr David Ashton
1st June 2011
