Photo by Vanessa Pike-Russell (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilcrabbygal/4846350)49/
Found yet another story that adds weight to the fact that the law is powerless to change us… but instead it engenders the opposite. In a Reuters article, Thinking about eating healthy can fool brain into choosing fat: new study, the writer says:
“In a series of experiments, researchers found that people were substantially more likely to choose the least-healthy option on a menu, such as a cheese burger or ice cream, when the menu included a single more virtuous option, such as a veggie burger or fruit.“
The conclusion of the researchers from Duke is that the tofu burgers trigger what they call “vicarious goal fulfillment” and so we feel like we’ve already done the right thing. Therefore, this allows us to go ahead and do what we really want to do anyway. Yet the good apostle would beg to differ. He said, “But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead.” (Rom. 7:8). It seems particularly stark that when people in the study were offered “diet” Oreos (I didn’t know that there was such a thing), alongside regular Oreos, chocolate covered Oreos,and golden Oreos, guess which ones more people inevitably picked? You’re absolutely right. The 1000 calorie chocolate covered Oreos of course!
So where does this leave us? Who will deliver me from my obese “body of death”? Anybody for a Big ‘N Tasty upsized meal? Just make sure you get the diet Coke.
COMMENTS
8 responses to “Right Observations…Wrong Conclusions.”
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I loved this. I am going to be kept happy for at least a year knowing that Diet Oreos are out there.
You’re the best, JW.
Great post, Jon! I loved the last line.
I love it when science corroborates the Gospel. (Am I the only one who thinks that the food in those pictures looks awesome?)
When I got to a restaurant, I actually feel angry at the salad section. Because I know I “should” eat a salad. And then I order a bacon cheeseburger.
Thank goodness for Pittsburgh salads, then! The healthy alternative to unhealthy eating in response to actually healthy alternatives.
I can has cheeseburger?
Why do all salads (in places I can afford) in Pittsburg have french fries on top? Even Greek salads in hole-in-the-walls where the owner speaks Greek! And I thought the South was the king of unhealthy eating.
Well, Michael, the South is the brown food (ie. fried) capitol of the world. When the PB comes to visit next month, they’ve already informed her that she WILL be served fried oysters, and I hope they give her fried mullet and cheesse grits as her two sides!
But I must say I’ve never had french fries on a salad down here. As a matter of fact, I may have to try that. It might go well with that burger in the picture.