The steaming crock of poo that is the “Progresso Soup Diet.”

It’s no mystery that losing weight is something that consumes the minds of most American women.  It’s a no mystery that advertisers have and will continue to exploit women’s preoccupation with weight and diet.

So what is it I find so particularly grating about the “Progresso Soup Diet” commercials?  I find it difficult to pinpoint.  It could be the woman who “squawks like a chicken” in the dressing room when someone tells her she looks great.  It could be the fact that Progresso is trying to act like their canned soup is this great secret diet that a bunch of women are on and have stupid parties over and giggle shit like, “navy bean!” “clam chowder!” “chicken noodle!”  It could be the fact that I have difficulty believing that mass-produced canned soup, which tends to be notoriously high in sodium, among other not-so-great-things, is really healthy for you (and not at all depressing) to eat on a daily basis.  It could be the fact that I hate Progresso’s naked ambition to prey on women’s difficult relationship with food and their bodies. 

Or, of course, some combination of all of the above. 

- Posted by Tanya