Definitely, since starting my blog my food choices have totally evolved. I’m eating chia seeds, nutritional powders, raw chocolate, nut butter in abundance, coconut based products and other foods that I would have never dreamed of eating a few years ago. Also, I have a much more rounded approach to my fitness and how I’m fuelling my body – I really think I’ve found my balance over the past few years. Balance is key for me and although this may not work for everyone, it works perfectly for me. I need cake in my life, let’s face it, a life without cake would be boring!
Personally, I think that nothing but positive things can be derived from societies plea for healthier eating and the mission to combat obesity. However, what I have noticed and this is something that really pisses me off, is that a small minority of us are now beginning to become morally obsessed with our food choices, particularly with the rise of the ‘clean eating brigade’.
Ever been faced with a dilemma in the morning over what to eat for breakfast? You have a taste for toast topped with Nutella, but your conscience is screaming that a green smoothie loaded with greens and much more nutritional value would be a far better choice – who is to say which choice is more inferior? Each has to be taken in context. OK, so Nutella isn’t the healthiest of choices, but as part of a wholesome and balanced diet there is no harm to be had here. I for one love Nutella or Biscoff spread and will never cut it out of my diet. It doesn’t have an everyday presence in my life, but every now and again I do like a spoonful straight from the jar.
It’s quite worrying that we seem to swing from one extreme to the other. On one hand, there is the encouragement to help others eat better and then there is the habit of demonizing somebody’s food choices just because it doesn’t sit well with another’s personal preferences. Honestly, and I hold my hands up here I am guilty of this myself, often tagging my green smoothies on Instagram as ‘starting the day the right way…‘ and polishing my healthy living halo afterward. There is a lot of this in the blogging world and so many of us fall into a comparison trap as a result. Those who are not exclusive enough to be a member of the priestly camp of the organic, low carb and ethically sourced food can often feel inferior as a result of their own food choices. Healthy eating should not be considered to be so one-directional when in fact, it is multi-directional, personal and unique to every person.
Surrounding yourself with people who share the same food ethos as you is great, but it’s also important to respect other people’s choices that are contrary to your own. Fair enough there are a plethora of moral issues that surround food, like supplies to third world countries, but this shouldn’t attach itself to lifestyle choices. We should be supportive and encouraging (as long as no psychological or physical harm is a result) of people’s choices and lend a hand when they are asking for help or feel like they need an extra push. At the end of the day, we’re all individuals with our own lives and ideas of what healthy should be. The focus should lie with leading a happy and balanced life and not belittle someone’s food choices simply because it’s dissimilar to your own.
I think at some point we all get judged about the food choices we make, people do not understand or see the point, or think it is a phase etc. I think only you can be happy with your choices as it is going into your body.
I’m vegetarian and this means lots of people question me about my food choices or at least making comments. I don’t understand why making comments about how I look aren’t ok, but personal questions about what I eat are perfectly normal. Well, I try not to be bothered, even if the comments aren’t nice or just plain impolite. The same thing happens with food in general. I don’t like Nutella and I would never eat it. A few years ago, before starting to make healthier choices, I would have it, but now I can’t eat loads of stuff I use to, they are too sweet and I don’t like them. At the same time… I could eat a big cake by myself, one that I baked with the amount of sugar/sweetener and flavours that I like.
Love this post, being that I do have a vegetarian lifestyle, sometimes I do like to indulge in the ‘bad side’ as it may be looked upon as but who’s to say it’s bad if it’s just once a week, it’s not all day, everyday. You hear when people have a cheat day and it doesn’t mean all day is eating high calorie, fatty food, it’s just they may eat that half of pizza or nutella on their toast. Balance is key for happiness I believe, if you limit yourself and feel unhappy then you’re doing more damage than good I feel.
I’ve definitely felt judged over the years – and worse it’s driven my eating to a secretive thing. You have to do what’s right for YOU.
I love this post – it is so hard to try and live up to the expectations around us sometimes and I don’t get why some people think looking down on others is OK. x
All the time, especially as a vegan. I feel criticized for not being fully raw or for eating bread. The ‘frugivore’ brigade making me feel crap for not spending a fortune on a shedload of fruit. Does my head in.
Completely agree with this. The expectations to eat super healthy all the time is unrealistic.I stick with the everything in moderation. Just a little bit of what you fancy won’t do you any harm x
I definitely feel like I’ve been judged for what I eat a few times – both for healthy and unhealthy options, on different occasions!
I have learnt not to worry about society anymore, I know what is healthy and I know what is not. I do try to eat healthilly but at times I just have to have that unhealthy option. If people have an opinion that is their opinion.
I hear you. People are shamed for what they do and do not eat, I think that foods in moderation makes a healthy, balanced diet.
I’ve honestly never thought about one persons food choices being superior to another. I would judge people’s food choices when I was stuck in an eating disorder but that’s because I was sick. Food for thought, literally!
I definitely think everything in balance is a good way to live but I always feel guilty with my choices as I eat so unhealthily x
I must admit for me I class you and someone I could learn from when it comes to healthy eating but I also know you love your cake which is more reason for me to love the balance you create.
I eat what I like and I now go to the gym to work out to have some balance.
I think these are some good things to think about. Our behaviors and attitudes toward food are a big part of health too.
I think I’ve developed a thick skin around this- as others have said being vegetarian automatically seems to make people feel they can comment on what you eat- whereas I just think each to their own. Balance is what it is all about and there should not be guilt when eating- I hate it when people say things like “I’m trying to be good” as they resist a biscuit or something.
Everything in moderation is what I live by personally with my food choices. I don’t eat meat and always get judged for it x
This is a great post Jemma. I eat as healthily as I can but I do need to have a treat from time to time. It’s all about balance at the end of the day. Yes, life would be boring without cakes and I cannot say no to those! I rarely eat meat and I call myself flexitarian but people still look at me like I am from another planet when I mention this to them.
People at work always used to ask me why I would eat salads for lunch. “You’re slim anyway!” – but I just really like salads! It’s not because I’m trying to lose weight. I just like the variety of a salad – I can get in so much veg, it tastes nice and it takes ages to eat unlike a sandwich which would disappear in 5 minutes. I hate food judgement. I would never judge someone for eating a pizza for lunch or a McDonalds. What works for one person may not work for another and that’s just life!
It always makes me sad when people give clean eating a bad name. If only people looked into what clean eating was all about they would realise that it is a lifestyle of moderation and making the best food choices you can 80% of the time whilst enjoying life and all the food you like too. It’s definitely a great message to remind people to focus and be passionate about their own personal choices rather than belittling others choices no matter what they are.
I think it’s super important to eat what’s right for you xx
So true!
I never really give much thought to other people’s food choices, I suppose it could be because I love food in general and I’m very much an “everything in moderation” gal. I love this post 🙂
What an interesting article! I’m a bit overweight at the moment, so obviously overindulging, but find I’m worse the more I try to restrict my choices. I love nutella 🙂
Interesting post. My mummy never feels judged regarding her food choices because she doesn’t really notice or care about what people think. As soon as someone start a commentary on what she’s eating she’d think the worlds gone mad! There is more to life than food choices x
This is such a great post! I think social media can make people judgy about all sorts of things, the problem being that, of course, you are only seeing part of a picture as shared by the user. I like insta posts of green juices *and* cakes, for what it’s worth. 🙂
I really love this! It’s such a personal choice and I have been judged for every food choice I have made. Weather I am eating a burger or a salad, someone always has something to say about it.
As someone who’s been slightly overweight, but almost to target at Simming World now (yey me!) I’ve obviously made the wrong choices for too long. I have to say I’m slightly wary of the “clean eating brigade” you mentioned and have received “advice” from them on some of my Instagram posts.
I’m very much a live and let live type and absolutely love your opinion.
I love food, I’m overweight and could lose a few pounds, I suppose people would judge my body shape but I’m happy with it 🙂
I try not to worry or concentrate on what people think of my food choices. It really is none of their business.
YES! Food policing is the absolutely worst and commenting on other peoples choices is almost always not necessary at all.
Calories in vs calories out still hold true. To stay within a normal calorie range you are required to eat nutrient dense filling foods which will keep you healthy.
This is a really interesting read. I think you’re right that eating healthily has become a bit of a moral obsession for some. And that can make people think that they have to eat super-healthy all the time, when even eating a bit healthier is a step in the right direction. It’s about balance isn’t it?
I eat a range of foods as do my children and I don’t really take any notice of those that try to preach to me about what I should and shouldn’t eat. I think people judge too much and should be taught not to be so judgemental towards others.
I eat what I want to eat, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business. I think we all have healthy and not so healthy days.
Totally agree with this. I have a daily internal battle with find, the decision making process can be absolutely awful for me.
I think it’s great to surround yourself with people with a variety of food choices because you can all help each other try new things!
I think because I’m naturally slim I’ve never felt judged by my food choices. I wish I could say I work hard at my body but I’m one of those lucky ones. For a woman who is aware of her weight though I can imagine how soul destroying it must feel to pick something to eat and feel judged for it. Like you said everything is about balance and some days we will reach for foods that aren’t healthy and there’s nothing wrong with that.
So true! Eat what suit you best and just you know that. I tried low carb, but it did not affect on me. Then, I made a diet order for myself and it worked. Good posting!
My friend used to advice me to get some diet for vegetarian. She said it could help me keep fit, loose weight. Actually, I felt sick, tired all day. I know I should listen to my body not the others’ body.
This is so interesting post. I am rather fat. I eat anything what I like, so I do not think much about food choices
I admit that your title got my attention. It is true that you are the only one who know what is suitable for your diet.
I am a big fan of eating anything I love, just make sure do not eat too much junk food.
Totally agree with your mind, girl ! Someone always gives me strange look whenever i pick foods haha 😀 but me still keeping my own choice of food cause we all know what is the best for our body and our lifestyle, right ? 😀