Ravenous

Ravenous by Henry Dimbleby (He/Him) explores the food systems that we are all part of and are probably not aware of. Whilst this might seem out of place compared to my prior writing, I assure you that it has far more to do with well-being and mental health than it appears.

Henry Dimbleby has had a busy life which has always seemed to be focused on food, starting as a chef in a kitchen, moving to writing about food for newspapers and radio, and eventually campaigning for improvements to school meals. It is no surprise that this all eventually led to Henry Dimbleby being the lead writer for the United Kingdom's National Food Strategy.

So why should you read a book about the food system? A big part of therapy is exploring and understanding the influences that make us feel the way we feel. Once we understand these influences, we can begin to change them or change our relationship with them. This is where Ravenous comes in, understanding how we are caught up in a system that is playing with our health and well-being for profit is important. As Henry Dimbleby points out, it is not just a case of eating healthier because what is sold as healthy often isn't.

What I gained from reading Ravenous is more than just an understanding of the food system and what influences it. I gained a better understanding of how our physical and mental health is suffering, not because of a bad diet but because we are caught up in a bad system designed to make us seek out bad food, and develop bad food habits. Having this insight allows us to begin changing aspects of our lives.

Whilst the book gives a lot of information regarding the food systems and their impacts, I feel that the book could have explored the impact on mental health more, as this is a huge area of research with a lot of complex factors that could have benefited from Henry Dimbleby's writing style. Although I do feel that I have to forgive the book in this regard as I feel that this is not its intended impact or subject, a little bit more would have felt good.

With all that being said, Henry Dimbleby does go into detail about how these systems have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable in society and how healthy eating simply isn't an option for many. So what it comes down to is knowledge is power, that is either power to make changes in your own life, or power to change your opinion of how others live theirs.