Cavities (a poem)

I remember the day I learned sugar can cause cavities
I was one of those kids who used to sneak tastes of raw sugar out of the pantry
I would eat glue-covered sugar cubes from igloo models
I loved sweets

When I learned about cavities
I was disturbed
My first deeper understanding of consequences
And harmful choices
Sugar has never tasted the same

These days I look around at all our conveniences
All the shiny treats and toys
That delight and distract
When I was a young adult, these filled my aspirations
Along with so many other things that are no longer meaningful to the person I have become

There is a familiar feeling growing
A distaste for the fleeting nothings that have come to dominate life
There is a consequence for every choice
Some positive
Some negative

But at the end of the day
I still eat donuts when I’m hungry
Even though I am more aware
What else do I have in my pantry?