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Re:Ask HN: What is the biggest untapped opportunity for star... by icebraining on Monday February 06, 2017 @04:08AM (#13577788)
Can't say I'm an expert, but I don't think hobbies or other such activities can replace eating too much and/or shitty food. I mean, the typical stereotypes show the opposite: playing console with friends, going out to the movies or to a party, even programming (solitary or "hackathons"), often involve the consumption of loads of sugary soda and other crap. BBQs and similar social meals are often the same.

Hobbies involving exercise may be an exception, but when you're already overweight, these often aren't so much "hobbies" as ordeals, and unlikely to function as any kind of reward.

As someone in the market, it'd help quite a bit if there were healthier and tasty alternatives. Unfortunately, the current offers seem to be expensive and hard to get (if you have to order a whole box over the 'net, forget it).

Re:Ask HN: What is the biggest untapped opportunity for star... by infinite8s on Monday February 06, 2017 @06:03AM (#13578393)
The problem is tasty is a conditioning effect. The reason healthy food is not as tasty as junk food is that it has a lot less of the substances that used to be much rarer, like fats, salt, sugar. It makes sense that those are so tasty because they used to be rare.

To be able to eat healthier requires weaning yourself off high salt/sugar foods to get reacclimitized to food that has those substances in proportions that we've evolved to handle.

Re:Ask HN: What is the biggest untapped opportunity for star... by icebraining on Monday February 06, 2017 @06:26AM (#13578488)
While I don't disagree, at least around here (I live in a Western European country) the problem is deeper: there simply aren't healthier alternatives easily available at reasonable prices. For example, most nuts you find at groceries are loaded with salt. Finding unsalted versions requires a trip to a megastore or specialised shop.
Re:Ask HN: What is the biggest untapped opportunity for star... by jpindar on Monday February 06, 2017 @10:09AM (#13580051)
It's the same with dried fruit. You can't find any that isn't soaked in sugar.