She was only 12 years old when her insecurities first began to show. However, it wasn't until she was 15 that her doubts exploded into anorexia. The monsters under her bed had crawled into her head, and they whispered toxic lies that struck her like daggers. As she fell deeper and deeper into darkness, she appeared more and more pale, tired, and defeated - becoming merely a skeleton of the bright girl she used to be. She became so weak that her voice shook whenever she spoke, as if saying one word could suck the life out of her. She showed me her stomach, peeling and red from all the times she had scratched at herself, in hopes that the infinitesimal bit of fat would somehow fall off. And although she always wore her fuzzy sweater and furry boots, she shivered even on the hottest summer days.
My best friend knew she was essentially killing herself, but through tears she begged me not to tell her parents. I was confused and lost, and so, like any typical teenager would do, I sought the internet for help. I read countless articles regarding calories, carbohydrates, fats, and so on. Finally after much debating and convincing, she agreed to attempt to follow an eating regime that I had created. Although she knew she needed to recover, her body would not cooperate, and she would often unintentionally vomit what little food she had consumed. We progressed slowly, taking as much time as she needed. I structured her diet to consist of only healthy foods, such as wheat bread and chicken salads, until she decided she was ready to approach her "fear foods". After nearly two years of relapses and panic attacks, she declared that she no longer wanted to avoid what used to be her favorite snacks - vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Slowly but surely, she proudly conquered anorexia. Her cheeks once again bloomed into roses, and a sparkle found its way back into her eyes. No longer did she allow her illness to control her; rather, she took control of her illness.
While I obsessively researched food two years ago, not only did I help my friend, but I also discovered a passion for food science. Witnessing someone so close to me lose her basic human ability to eat made me realize how vastly food affects every aspect of our lives - from our physical abilities to our mental stability. This realization ignited my goal to change food's unhealthy aspects. Having a healthy diet can prevent hundreds of diseases and cure many others. Unfortunately, there is a general consensus that healthy food is synonymous with unappetizing food. I hope to change that prejudice by creating a variety of food that is not only easily accessible and mouthwatering, but also high in nutritional value and made with quality ingredients, so that people can be satisfied in every sense without feeling guilty. Food is meant to be enjoyed, but how can we fully enjoy it when we live in a society that perceives eating less as more? My dream is for people to be able to savor all kinds of food without having to worry about the consequences. I want to be a positive influence that promotes happy and healthy eating to society as a whole.
My best friend knew she was essentially killing herself, but through tears she begged me not to tell her parents. I was confused and lost, and so, like any typical teenager would do, I sought the internet for help. I read countless articles regarding calories, carbohydrates, fats, and so on. Finally after much debating and convincing, she agreed to attempt to follow an eating regime that I had created. Although she knew she needed to recover, her body would not cooperate, and she would often unintentionally vomit what little food she had consumed. We progressed slowly, taking as much time as she needed. I structured her diet to consist of only healthy foods, such as wheat bread and chicken salads, until she decided she was ready to approach her "fear foods". After nearly two years of relapses and panic attacks, she declared that she no longer wanted to avoid what used to be her favorite snacks - vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Slowly but surely, she proudly conquered anorexia. Her cheeks once again bloomed into roses, and a sparkle found its way back into her eyes. No longer did she allow her illness to control her; rather, she took control of her illness.
While I obsessively researched food two years ago, not only did I help my friend, but I also discovered a passion for food science. Witnessing someone so close to me lose her basic human ability to eat made me realize how vastly food affects every aspect of our lives - from our physical abilities to our mental stability. This realization ignited my goal to change food's unhealthy aspects. Having a healthy diet can prevent hundreds of diseases and cure many others. Unfortunately, there is a general consensus that healthy food is synonymous with unappetizing food. I hope to change that prejudice by creating a variety of food that is not only easily accessible and mouthwatering, but also high in nutritional value and made with quality ingredients, so that people can be satisfied in every sense without feeling guilty. Food is meant to be enjoyed, but how can we fully enjoy it when we live in a society that perceives eating less as more? My dream is for people to be able to savor all kinds of food without having to worry about the consequences. I want to be a positive influence that promotes happy and healthy eating to society as a whole.
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