From e-cigarettes to Coke Zero, people see ‘light’ alternatives as healthier – based not on the ingredients, but on everything from packaging colours to product labels. But if it’s simply a matter of perception, is a ‘healthy high’ truly achievable?

More calories were consumed in snacks during the 2015 Super Bowl than at Thanksgiving dinner in 2014. Snacking in the US is at an all-time high, with 91% doing it daily. So why is the 'little and often' habit replacing traditional meals? And what does the average American really want from a snack?

Frozen meals have fallen out of favour. But Hungry-Man – one of the oldest and least healthy brands in the category – has experienced a surge in popularity. With 1,500 calorie, 'XXL' portions, could Hungry-Man's big food be seeing success by dealing in the business of indulgence?

Burger fads and 1,000-calorie ready meals hardly fit in with a society that’s increasingly obsessed with healthy eating. But while these polarising trends paint a schizophrenic food landscape, they show how indulgent foods express our freedoms. After all, no one likes to be told what to eat.