There is a new banana pie at MacDonalds in Singapore now. I wonder if it is real banana being used.

The same goes for strawberry ice cream.. is it made with strawberries??

What about the lime flavored isotonic drinks that was my favourite a month ago?

I can swear that lime juice is not bright green!

Aha! That’s what I meant by eating lies.

What is the reason for food and drinks maker to produce product that lie to us?

More importantly, we like to eat those lies! I mean, when I buy a bag of potato chip that is barbecue flavoured, I know they don’t roast each and every piece of chip over charcoal for that smoky flavour. But that is still my favourite flavour. I buy those lies because I love it. Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies….

I enjoyed it.  But wait a minute.

Is there wisdom in this, from the maker and consumer point of view? The plain answer would be no from a buddhist perspective. Because any actions arising from craving, non truth is built upon ignorance. If there is ignorance then wisdom is absent.

So what are the consequences?

Well, we know that these food lies, (flavour, color, smell, texture) are achieved through chemicals. Chemicals to trick our mind and senses into believing what we experienced is real.

So basically we are buying chemicals to intoxicate our senses.

I believe consuming too much of these chemicals is harmful to us, even though there are assurance from health science authorities that they are safe.

Is it possible to avoid all of them?

I think a lot of effort is required in this current world. So a Buddhist would again employ mindfulness. We have to make a conscious choice about our food.

Taking a middle path, we have to live life practically. At the same time, I guess it is always good not overdose on these chemicals. Which leads to the most difficult part.

Try to avoid craving for them.  But I just love all those enhanced flavourings! It makes eating so much more enjoyable (personal craving of the senses)

Viewed from this perspective as deceptions and lies, it seems something is amiss when we are the ones who crave for it in the first place.

I guess it is always good to pull back our senses and learn how to enjoy food in its most organic form. Stripped of artificial flavourings and enhancement. I guess  we can call then Zen and wisdom in eating.