Yesterday, The Washington Post ran excerpts from an interview with former FDA commissioner, David Kessler, who spoke about America’s obesity crisis and the need for a complete restructuring of the way we approach the problem:

“…we have to change the way we look at food. Not how we look at fat people, not whether we want to be thin or not, but how we look at food. If you look at that lemon cake and say, ‘This is my friend,’ then there’s nothing I can do to stand between you and that lemon cake.”

I completely agree. But I have one minor problem.

Lemon cake is my friend.

When I passed this article along to colleagues this morning, I may have quoted that lemon cake bit and pointed out that Kessler’s assertions fall right into line with our mission at the healthy behaviors company: people have to learn how to think differently in order to make lasting behavior changes. Patted myself on the back. Good find.

Yet as soon as I pushed “send,” I quickly forwarded to two friends, adding, “PS. I will still be friends with lemon cake.”

I received an immediate response: “Lemon cake is my BFF.”

Now, I wouldn’t say that lemon cake is my BFF. I’d say we’re more peripheral friends (I mean, I’d probably comment on its Facebook page, but I can’t imagine talking to it on the phone); I’m closer to turtle brownies and chocolate chip cookies (and cinnamon scones, let’s not forget). But the sentiment is obviously the same.

As a general rule, I eat pretty healthfully. But let’s be completely honest: I am also addicted to sugar, I am an emotional eater (consuming an entire pint of ice cream in one’s bath robe is not a far-fetched remedy only found in Bridget-Jones-type romantic comedies, as I’ve discovered), and I play mind games with myself that go something like “cupcakes don’t count,” and “I deserve this.” When I see a blue package of Oreos, I don’t think about the preservatives or calories or the pounds they will pack on; instead I imagine myself slowly twisting one open to dunk it in my milk (across the table from my dad. Or my grandpa. Is it my fault I’ve always been a sucker for advertising?).

Fortunately for people like me, there is a growing trend in the health industry to acknowledge the major influences the environment has had on the way our culture perceives food (cheap, tasty food is the best! Oreos = family time!). Making this acknowledgement somewhat lessens my personal shame, encourages me to better educate myself, and allows for the cultivation of empathy for myself and for others.

When asked whether he thought Regina Benjamin’s size was a mark against her as nominee for surgeon general, Kessler replied that he believed Benjamin would be a great choice and added, “For roughly 15 percent of the population, food is not a very important part of their lives. They have no problems controlling their weight. They’re the ones that you don’t want as surgeon general because they don’t know what’s going on in America. She’s human, like the rest of us.”

Being very human myself, I don’t think I’m quite ready to say goodbye to lemon cake (or cookies, or cupcakes, or brownies…oh my). But being aware of this dependency is a great step in the right direction. Besides, lately I’ve been spending more time with my friends of the fruit and veggie variety, who somehow have a way of making me feel less needy, and who reward me for choosing them. Rather than sugary pals that leave me drained, they’re the kinds of friends that give me more energy, and that make me want to go take my puppy for a run rather than stay at home on my couch; they’re the kinds of friends who build me up and don’t leave me seeking the emotional support that I think I’m going to find at the bottom of that ice cream container.

So, lemon cake, this isn’t goodbye. Just want to give you fair warning that you may be seeing less of me.