Guilt Free Food?

I've noticed that more and more food and recipes are being sold and promoted as "guilt free". What does this mean? There is an assumption that we will do something wrong if we eat something not labeled "guilt free". That somehow we should feel shame, we should self-flagellate, confess, apologize, promise we wont do it again.

Guilt is is a painful emotion for many. It sits within us churning away with a lack or resolve, a feeling of distaste or disgust. Guilt suggests it needs to be absolved. I can't help thinking this is an unnecessary added burden in our already complex inner world of how we think of our selves. We are overwhelmed with guilt on so many levels about never being quite good enough, achieving enough, being the perfect wife, mother, husband, lover, employee, or friend let alone having the ideal body weight or making the right food choice every time we eat.

Guilt can be occasionally helpful if it is used to help make a right in a moral dilemma like if you have committed a crime or hurt somebody. It sometimes guides us to know when we have acted outside of an ethical framework that we live our life by.

However I am not sure it plays a helpful role when thinking about eating and food.

The only time I feel guilty about food is that half the world is starving. For this I feel a great sense of despair and shame. But as for "guilt free deserts" "guilt free treats" I believe this is just fuelling the already confusing and messy messages about eating and health. All choosing "guilt free" products does in my opinion is make you feel guilty if you don't choose one. And there we have it… more guilt. I wonder if I am fighting a loosing battle