Rant: No More "Guilty Pleasures"

Over the weekend, during a conversation about favorite foods, I was asked by a friend about my guilty pleasures. As I pondered the question, I recalled my prior thoughts on this matter. I don't have any "guilty pleasures," but only because I don't feel guilty about anything I eat. And no one should feel guilt either. 

According to the Merriam Webster online dictionary, a guilty pleasure is defined as "something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt." Guilt is defined as "feeling bad because you have done something bad or wrong." You shouldn't feel guilty, even a little bit, for enjoying any type of food, especially if it brings you pleasure. 

If something tastes good, if it brings you comfort and pleasure, then you should feel good about eating those foods. Just because other people might not agree with you, that should not be a sufficient reason for you to feel guilty. Just because the dishes might not be the healthiest, that too is not a sufficient reason to feel guilty. Just because the dishes might be inexpensive, that is also not a reason to feel guilty. Don't let the opinions of others indicate which foods are acceptable and which should cause guilt.

Guilty pleasure foods seem to most often revolve around simpler dishes, comfort foods that may be inexpensive, and may even be foods that others often disdain. From McDonald's french fries to pop tarts, a hot fudge sundae to a street-cart sausage & onions, Kraft macaroni & cheese to hot dogs. Why should you feel guilty if you enjoy those foods so much?

You should never feel guilty for enjoying a specific dish if it brings you pleasure. We should freely share those foods which give us pleasure, without any taint of guilt or shame. In this case, guilt is a negative emotion which needs to be eliminated. The next time someone asks you which foods are your guilty pleasures, tell them you don't feel guilty about anything you eat.