One more reason to be proud of working in the IT field, where, even if your soul is being leached of any vestige of humanity by the nine millionth iteration of, “Windows needs to reboot to finish doing this,” at least it’s a decent-paying gig — you can afford to eat better. We’re not relegated to the Ramen-based subsistence of college or bagging groceries anymore (well, okay, I sometimes still get a craving for Picante Beef; fie on them for saying that one package is two servings). Yes, even after buying the Collectors’ Edition of every WoW release and that swank dual-monitor setup.
The University of Washington recently released a study examining the relationship between income and nutrition. They found, behind the door to the Department of the Obvious, that participants with a higher education and income level ate better, healthier stuff.
Higher quality diets were defined as those that provided relatively more nutrients than calories. By contrast, lower quality diets were those that provided more calories and fewer nutrients per gram. Previous studies had described such diets as being energy rich but nutrient poor. In their study, Monsivais and Drewnowski found that higher dietary energy density was associated with more total fat and saturated fat and with less dietary fiber, potassium and vitamins A and C. As in past studies, energy dense diets provided the most empty calories for the least money.
Overall, healthiest diets were enjoyed by those participants who had the most education and the highest incomes. A closer look at the diets of men and women showed that women had higher quality diets than did men, and that women’s diet quality improved sharply for every additional dollar spent.
On the flip side, higher food spending among men did not always lead to diets that were lower in fat or saturated fat. The researchers speculate that women wishing to improve diet quality select fresh vegetables and fruit, whereas men may be happy with steak.
If there’s one place where spoiling yourself a little bit is actually good for you, it’s at the grocery store. Go ahead and get the Organic veggies or the better cut of fish. In much the same way that paying a little extra for the +1 Dagger is better for you in the long run, so is eating just a little bit nicer quality of trail rations.
As one of the eminent sages of our time, Ferris Bueller pointed out, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
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