When Did a Cookie Become a Meal? (And Other Signs We’ve Lost Our Minds About Food)
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a cookie shouldn’t require a fork and a five-minute break halfway through. Do NOT ask me how I know.
Yet, here we are.
We live in a time where food is getting bigger, sweeter, and, frankly, a LOT ridiculous. The days of a normal-sized cookie or a reasonably portioned meal are long gone. Instead, we’ve got Crumbl, which is roughly the size of a hubcap and loaded with enough sugar to make a toddler levitate.
Look, I’m all for a good treat and I have consumed my fair share of Crumbl Cookies. But somewhere along the way, we’ve mistaken excess for enjoyment. It’s not just cookies—it’s everything. Restaurant dishes look like they’re meant for a family of four. Coffee cups are large enough to take a swim in. And don’t even get me started on fast food sodas that could hydrate an entire soccer team. I am 100% guilty of dirty Dr. Peppers from 7-11, holla Big Gulps.
At what point did we decide that bigger automatically means better? I’d speculate, it started in the 80’s with Wendy’s Where’s the Beef campaign. Because I’d argue that, actually, bigger just means more. More calories, more mindless eating, more sugar crashes, and—if we are being 100% honest — so much regret.
The Crumbl Cookie Conundrum: Do We Actually Like These, or Are We Just Impressed?
I’ll admit it: Crumbl Cookies are fun and so delicious (pink sugar cookie, anyone – Bueller?). They’re colorful, they’ve got wild flavors and slicing them into quarters for a taste test has practically become a weekly ritual for some people. But here’s the thing—are we actually enjoying them, or are we just caught up in the spectacle? Raising hand, cause color me guilty!
A single Crumbl cookie can have anywhere from 600 to 1,000 calories. That’s more than some full meals! But instead of thinking, Wow, this is a bit much, we’ve decided that it’s totally reasonable to grab a four-pack (or a six-pack, if we’re feeling particularly ambitious – AHEM…).
Meanwhile, we wonder why portion control feels impossible. It’s not that we lack willpower—it’s that our perception of "normal" has been hijacked by marketing and social media trends.
More Is Not More (It’s Just More)
Somewhere along the line, we stopped believing that less can be enough. A single slice of cake used to satisfy a craving. Now, if it’s not three layers tall with extra frosting and a side of caramel drizzle, it’s “boring.”
But here’s a wild idea: what if we actually just enjoyed things in moderation?
I know, I know. Radical concept. But hear me out.
A small cookie can be satisfying. Really.
A regular-sized coffee still has caffeine in it. Promise.
You don’t have to finish everything in one sitting. I swear, the leftover police won’t show up.
We’ve been conditioned to think that if something is good, then more of it must be even better—but that’s just not how it works. More often than not, “more” just makes us feel sluggish, bloated, and slightly regretful. With being on Zepbound, I cannot indulge in a whole cookie anymore. I will not have the room and let’s not even talk about the sick feeling from all the sugar. I DO know what I am talking about... Remember, guilty!
How Do We Get Back to Normal?
Let’s be real: no one is going to single-handedly take down the food industry’s obsession with excess. But we can take control of our own choices. Here’s how:
Stop falling for the “bigger is better” trap. It’s marketing, not truth.
Share your treats. Yes, even the last bite.
Slow down and actually taste your food. You might find that a little is all you really need.
Eat like a person, not a social media trend. Just because it’s viral doesn’t mean it’s right.
At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves: are we eating for enjoyment, or are we just eating because we’re told to? Because if food is supposed to bring joy, maybe we should focus less on size and more on savoring it.
I am as guilty as the next person. I tried my hand at replicating a sugar-free version of Crumbl. At the end of the day, it was not what I hoped it would be. It was STILL a mass of calories, fat and carbs that did not serve me at all. And if that means enjoying one cookie instead of a cookie the size of my head—well, that’s a trade-off I’m willing to make.