Divulging the Eat Deets
Hi guys! Happy Friday <3 I’m a little late posting because due to horrendous traffic, we got into Orlando LATE last night!
(that’s Scamp, my aunt’s yorkie. I call him Scampi)
I’m awake and about now 🙂
Grabbed some Bizzle:
(Refresh tea)
Some of my favorite probiotics and coconut destined for macaroon glory:
And bagels for the Pilot and me 🙂
Good grains + hummus
We have no idea what we’re going to do today, but I’m begging to go to Harry Potter 😉 Lots of yoga is on the agenda fo sho 🙂
See ya later with shenanigans and a boot camp workout!
xoxo,
Gina
Something to talk about: Telling other people about how you choose to eat. I got this question in an email yesterday and it was very similar to quite a few I’ve received about this topic:
When you and "The Pilot" first started dating, was it weird to go out to eat and have to explain your healthy eating habits to him? How did you go about dealing with that, and what was his reaction?
I just never know what to do when I’m out with a guy and have to go into all that–I don’t want him to think I’m weird just because I don’t like to stuff my face with unhealthy stuff 🙂
In general, I think the blogging community eats a little differently than the Standard American Diet– which is a very good thing. Even though some of us might not be total health fanatics, I think that I can confidently say that most of us enjoy GOOD, real food more than the highly processed packaged stuff. The cool thing is that healthy eating is becoming more mainstream — people are making conscious decisions on how to fuel their proverbial tank, which can make us seem less weird for being choosy about our eats.
On my first date at PF Chang’s with the Pilot (when I thought he might secretly be a serial killer because he was too nice), he asked me what I was going to order and when I told him my choice (Buddha’s feast with tofu and brown rice), he asked if I didn’t eat meat or I just liked tofu. I explained that I ate white meat –at the time I was still eating chicken- and he just wanted to double check to see if I’d share the chicken lettuce wraps with him. (For the record: Lettuce wraps go right up there with spaghetti and tacos as messy first date meal choices)
I didn’t have to explain the whys or hows of my eats to him, and rarely need to explain myself to other people. Sometimes people will wonder why I choose to eat goat’s dairy instead of cow’s, seafood but not meat, etc etc, but I just give them a real basic “for health reasons and because I prefer the taste.” That’s it. As we’ve been together and my eats have evolved throughout the years, the Pilot has learned what I prefer and can go into any restaurant and order something that I’d love. All of my close friends are the same way. The more you hang out with the people, the more they’ll understand how you like to eat and I don’t think there’s any real need to explain the reasoning behind it.
Some of us have ethical reasons behind why we choose to nourish ourselves the way we do. I just prefer not to explain my choices to others because I don’t want to influence them or make them feel badly about their choices. Eating is a very personal decision and how someone else wants to stuff their face is none of my biznazz. I don’t think anything can turn someone off more than feeling like they’re being preached to, especially if you tell them about factory farming while they dive into a cheeseburger. It’s kind of like the bad boy boyfriend… even though your mom tells you he’s bad news and you should break up with him, you don’t fully understand until he breaks your heart and you learn for yourself. Like eating- the best eating method for you won’t really *click* for you until you teach yourself and learn from experience—what others say usually wont have too much of a pull.
A great way to show others about our healthy choices is to make something healthy and delicious and share it with them. When they ask for the recipe, you can tell them that it’s vegan/vegetarian/whatever and maybe they’ll be more willing to experiment with different types of eats.
So what do you guys think? Do you tell others about why and how you eat the way you do, or do you just let it be and watch them figure it out? How do you feel about others preaching about their eating views??
For a similar post, check out *When Food and Family Collide*
xoxo
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well, i eat just about anything and everything so it’s rare i have to answer that…but typically if i choose one thing over another it’s a taste thing and i’m OK with sharing that!
I really have never had an issue besides occasional coworkers say something catty. I never come out and tell someone “how” I eat because I don’t even think about that… I just “eat.” To me, it is normal, it’s just eating.. I also don’t use phrases such as “I don’t eat that” – I usually just say “no thank you.” I think that makes it alot more comfortable for everyone else. However, I’ve never been in a situation where people push and ask why. I really don’t mind if someone preaches about how they eat – I can see how others would be affected by that, but I’m educated enough not to be.
I tell others when they ask, and I sure do get a lot of questions. However, most of the people I see on a regular basis do know the way I eat and like to ask questions so they can actually try a lot of the things I make rather than because they are being critical, which I love.
this was very well said… I love your approach to eating styles, and your complete non confrontational attitude, it is very refreshing. (maybe it’s because my approach is pretty similar…) while I get outraged by some things, I don’t preach and my own choices just that – are my own. 🙂
have a fabulous weekend!!
If they ask, yes. If they don’t ask, or I think they are rude, they don’t need to know. Like you, I don’t feel like I ever need to explain myself to the people that I hang out with.
People that preach about their eating views are annoying and must realize that they are turning people off from their eating style who would have tried it. Sad really.
Love this. I needed this, actually. Even though I’ve been a healthy eater for years, people still seem to question it. And I still don’t know exactly how to answer.
The strange part is that I don’t really restrict anything – I eat meat, dairy, etc. I just consider myself a healthy eater. So, it still surprises me when people act like that’s somehow “weird.”
Agreed. I’ve been trying to transition into a healthier lifestyle and I feel like sometimes people like to comment how “strange” that is.
I think you have an AWESOME food philosophy. I’m not a fan of telling others how they should do things and I think being an example and a model of good health will go a whole lot farther then telling someone how they should be eating. Make ’em curious and then be there to help them figure it out once their interest is peaked.
I think the food you choose to eat is as personalized as the clothes you wear, the perfume you spritz on and the music you put on your iPod. It’s just another unique factor in who you are.
That being said, I think people are too quick to judge the food other people eat. My co-worker might not say anything negative about a new dress I’m wearing that is totally not her style, but when I express my love for Indian food, she looks at me with a strange expression and rambles about “being scared of weird food.” Comments about my green smoothies are opportunities for me to share my somewhat out of the ordinary food choices, but I rarely preach about food to anyone.
I think if you are going to eat alternative, healthy foods you shouldn’t have to explain yourself like Joe shouldn’t have to explain his choice to order from the drive-thru at Burger King. Sure, we can try to convert Joe, but it’s really up to the specific person and their thoughts and emotions towards food.
It’s all a process.
i love your first paragraph! that’s a great analogy.
I used to have issues with people making comments about the way I was eating. (Not really issues just annoyances.) I think mostly comments are from people who just feel guilty about the way that they are eating themselves. But I agree, you (or I! or anyone!) shouldn’t have to justify the way you eat to anyone!
I didn’t have to explain myself to my fiance because he has always been a pretty healthy eater and as my eats have evolved, he’s been really cool and supportive. He doesn’t always eat the stuff I do, but he’s always cool about it and proud of my interest in nutrition. And I always try to prepare food I know he’ll love, even if it means making some stuff for him and some slightly different stuff for me.
As for other people- I tend to eat more “normally” in public than I do at home b/c I love dining out and don’t like to limit myself on those occasions. But when I talk about my eating habits I’ll good naturedly preface them with “I’m weird” b/c I think it makes other people feel a little more comfortable if I can laugh at myself.
And over the past year or so, a LOT of my friends have started eating pretty healthy and ramping up their exercise as well! I say, never preach, just lead by example and talk about how delicious the things you eat are! If people see that you are fit and happy, they’ll often want to give it a try!
I will say the only push-back I get regarding my eats and fitness lifestyle is from my (very overweight) parents. Which is really frustrating and a whole other story. I just bring over veggie side dishes and try to make the best of it when I go to their house because I am over trying to argue with them about anything.
My thought completely parallel yours! I think it’s especially hard sometimes when your family doesn’t completely understand your eating habits. My family kind of scoffed at me too, and I think my uncle takes mild offense that I don’t eat his food all the time. What I try to do is just offer to cook for the whole family sometimes. And my mom’s been more accepting since she’s been seeing me getting fitter. I hope it works out for you!
I’ve resorted to trickery a bit- the last time I went home I told my mom I was craving her homemade bbq sauce (she makes a low carb version leftover from their Atkins days that is actually really good, even if I hate the Atkins diet) and could we pretty please have bbq chicken. I don’t eat that much meat, but left to their own devices they’d be serving me fried fish with a side of white carbs, so this was a healthy compromise. I brought over a ton of cabbage slaw with cilantro, olive oil, and lime and loaded all our plates up with that too. It worked b/c everyone was happy and I felt okay with what I was eating.
I am vegetarian and could imagine NO other way for myself. That being said, although I encourage healthy eating, I believe it is a very personal decision. Fortunately, my boyfriend respects me in that (just as I respect him).
P.S. I just got the EXACT same Buddha’s Feast @ PF’s with my BF last weekend!
I totally agree! I think the best example is just living it and sharing great recipes as you mentioned. My friends & fam are always shocked by how good healthy vegan food tastes! And I think the biggest influencer is glowing skin!
Yes! I love it when people who are nervous to try even unhealthy vegan food (vegan cupcakes take over the world!) are totally won over with vanilla cupcakes with “buttercream” frosting! And So Delicious coconut milk ice cream! Yum yum yum! (haha, I’m totally not a junk food junkie – I swear. It’s also great to win people over with healthy food. I love showing people how, since becoming vegan, I actually have a MORE varied diet than before!)
Ben asked me what book I was reading when we were first dating and it happened to be “How to be vegan”. I wasn’t vegan, but just trying to learn about healthy eating. It started a discussion about food and we got that right out of the way.
Thanks for this post Gina — I agree that we shouldn’t judge others’ eating habits. If someone asks me why I don’t want to eat certain foods, I will say “I’m not hungry” or “I prefer to not eat (dairy)”. I leave it at that, and if they want to ask more questions I am happy to answer!
I think how you eat is a personal decision, and it should stay that way: personal.
I recently received an email from a company rep telling me that some of my foods were “processed and a bit unhealthy” — um, thanks for judging me! I would never want to pass those feelings onto someone else. I will lead by example instead!
Scamp is such a cutie!
I agree, you people don’t want to be preached too, they are usually ignorant on the subject, and even if you tell them, they don’t care until something personally effects them…
I am getting REALLY jealous of your camera skills!! How did you learn so quickly??? I have had my rebel for over a year now, and my pics don’t look like that. What the HAY!!??? Who taught you…..I need their name 😉
hahah thank you! i still have no idea how to change the settings on it
i just shoot in “P” mode, keep the auto settings on, and shoot food with my macro lens and everything else with the kit lens. i’m still playing around with it and maybe one day i’ll read the manual 🙂
You’re gonna get tons of great comments on this post b/c it’s totally on point!!
“Eating is a very personal decision and how someone else wants to stuff their face is none of my biznazz.”–AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sooooo sick of people coming to my blog judging my lifestyle as not being a “good enough” vegan b/c I may have trace dairy or a leather purse. I also just yesterday for the first time ever, posted a picture of burger that Scott ordered when we were out. He’s a vegan at home by virtue of the way I cook and the food I buy and make, but when we’re out, he’s a big boy, his own person, and can order what he wants and I truly!! don’t care what he eats. I love him if he wants to eat a burger and like you said, lecturing and soapboxing about the evils of factory farming and slaughterhouses is not going to bode well for that meal being a pleasant event, for our relationship being good, or for trying to “convince” anyone…preaching is NOT the way!
You are so right on! I love your approach and wish more people would just worry about themselves, not judge others, and just move on!
Have a super weekend hon!!
🙂
Hi Averie!
Great points! I think we all loved this post and to get our own thoughts out.:) Enough with the JUDGING, right! Happy weekend. 🙂
My method is: I don’t talk about it if I don’t have to, but because it’s so ingrained into my habitual lifestyle, people tend to ask me questions. I answer when asked, but I don’t feel a need to preach, but when I am asked I always make sure that I make it clear that I eat a certain way because it is MY choice and I don’t necessarily believe my choice is right for everybody, and then I explain why I made my decisions. Most of my friends find my nutritional fun facts interesting and useful, which is nice!
I think its possible to give a brief explanation like “it works for me” or “I feel best/healthiest/etc eating this way”. If someone dwells on it too much then that’s their issue. You should never have to explain yourself!
I don’t feel the need to explain to people why I eat healthy. My family does give me a lot of grief though saying that I am dieting or something. It’s hard to get across that I just ENJOY eating healthy.
I’ve definitely struggled with this in the past for a few reasons.
1. I’ve had a ridiculously long history of diets. So my friends, family, and now husband were sadly used to be restricting restricting. As were coworkers.
2. Now that I no longer diet…I simply eat people still assume that when I eat brown rice over white or a veggie burger over a beef burger, that it is for diet/restrictive/weight loss purposes. And there is always chatter!
It’s taken me deciding what is right for ME. Deciding what balance looks like for me and replying with a simple “because this is what I enjoy!”
End of story. Great post!
I love eating more healthfully, and making better choices myself, but I would never think that my eating style is better than another persons. I don’t feel the need to “convert” someone to my way of eating. Just because someone decides to eat a cheeseburger does not mean they are ignorant to the way their food is prepared; it just means they choose to eat them, as I do on a moderate basis. Just as we don’t appreciate judgment from others, it’s rude to assume that a person needs education or “conversion” to a certain eating style.
My whole family knows I majored in nutrition in college so whenever I order something with a strange twist or off the norm, they just know that’s how I roll. No questions, no preaching. If someone asks, I explain, but I always include that my preferences are my interpretation of research etc. and why. I feel like people need to make decisions for themselves and I get totally bugged when people we hang out with make everyone else at the table feel guilty for their eating styles (especially when they proclaim things as fact when they are actually very controversial and not well understood). That’s not cool and not what I believe it’s all about.
Gina, you do an incredible job of explaining your beliefs and preferences without being preachy or degrading and I totally respect that. I think that’s why I have been such an avid reader since finding your bomb blog. Thanks so much for being awesome!
I love this post. When explaining eating habits or reasoning (even though it ain’t really nobody’s business), I think it’s vital to remain friendly and informative as opposed to defensive and preachy. You, my friend, have achieved that.
It is ok if I link this post to my blog? I may muse on a similar point in today’s post!
thank you!
totally don’t mind 🙂 muse away my friend
Thank you so so much for this post!
I deffinitly feel like I’m being judged at the lunch table by coworkers, I never talk about “how” I eat but they ask and make comments. For everyone else I just say no thanks I don’t really eat meat and sometimes they look at me funny 🙁
its comforting to know others are going through the same thing!
I found myself saying “AMEN!” to your “something to talk about” section. It seems like sometimes others care more about what I eat (I don’t eat meat) than I do. I usually give a vague answer, like “health, environment, ethics” but people seem to try to dig deeper and deeper. I would love to talk to people about my diet, but it always seems to end up negative in some way. I appreciate your viewpoint.
I just stuff myself silly with my mom’s cooking. But what is super fun is cooking healthy recipes with friends. It’s a good way to try new stuff!
girl, i would stuff myself silly with your mom’s cooking too 🙂
I’m so glad that I read this post today because I just had to do some “splaining” last night to my boyfriend and friends. I recently started a blog and have recently begun working my way back to a healthy lifestyle. I was working for a company that had the “work hard, play hard” motto complete with happy hours and take out every day and my healthy beliefs started to become a thing of the past. Now even over a year after leaving the job some of the bad habits stuck around. I am back in school for Nutrition (the original plan before the job) and though my new eating habits aren’t “new” to me, they were just out of practice for a few years.
Now I’m being questioned about the reason for the sudden change and the reason why my camera follows me where ever I go. I sort of feel the need to explain my choices and I really don’t want to sound preachy but it’s really just a simple answer. I’m not trying to “diet” and I’m not doing it to just lose weight. I eat this way because this is what I like and what makes me feel good and the blog, well that’s just a fun way for me to reflect and share with others.
Your post really came at a good time for me and it’s very refreshing to hear how others have worked through explaining their choice to be healthy and how their lifestyle has affected their relationships.
Thanks!
Well said girl! I do not think anyone likes being preached too, haha. A few years ago when Lori and I started to eat the way we do now, we would talk about it a lot to our family, and at first they did not understand but now over the years they have learned our ways 😉 Everyone is different, each body is different and some things work for others but may not work for someone else. Have a great Labor Day weekend beautiful! xoxo
What a great topic! I get a lot of questions about what I eat, and I understand their curiosity because a low-meat, non-gluten diet is strange to a lot of people. I have reasons for my ways (I don’t like the taste of meat and gluten upsets my stomach) that I explain to them, and people are usually understanding.
The only time I get a little annoyed is when others comment that something I’m eating is abnormal or ask me why I want to eat THAT. As a VERY OPEN recovered anorexic (i.e. everybody knows I had an eating disorder), I feel it is in SUCH poor taste to interrogate me about or insult my meals. I always reply that “I just like it,” but sometimes I want to tell them to shove it.
I usually don’t run into this problem since most of my family and friends are cool with me being a little “picky.” The people that really don’t get it are my husband’s family. They love their fast food, and I’ll get made fun of for eating a salad at a country buffet. I don’t preach to them, I just say that this is how I eat and that’s that. Still, I do get made fun of for not chowing down on fried chicken or deviled eggs.
I never ever tell people that im a vegan unless they offer me something i dont eat. Then i will respond with “no thanks i dont eat ________” as quickly and kindly as possible and if pressed for more info i just say i dont really like it. I dont want other people to force their dietary choices on me and so i will never talk about it unless asked.
I’m glad you got to orlando safely:) Have fun in civilization!
Thank you for talking about your eating habits and how you explain them to people. After 25 years, I’ve recently decided to stop eating meat. For personal reasons and for health reasons. And after I watched Food,Inc. I can easily say, that I will never order a fast food cheeseburger again. That movie really inspired me to eat clean and wholesome. I’m about to be married and my fiance, however, loves burgers & meats and I’m looking to your blog for inspiration on how to cook for myself as well as a husband. When I told him about how I wanted to go vegetarian and my reasons behind it (and I’m only drinking/consuming soy milk products because I’m lactose intolerant), he was 100% supportive and didn’t question me. My family on the other hand isn’t as understanding. And your post just gave me the motivation I’ve been needing to hit the gym today! Have a great weekend!!
When people ask why I don’t eat certain foods I usually tell them that they make me feel sick or give me a migraine (which is very true with many foods) but I always say that everyone reacts to foods differently & this is just what works for me. I have had a few people tell me they tried going without Splenda because I mentioned it gives me migraines & there’s went away too. I think if I would have turned my nose up them and said “No way will I eat that!” they would have just thought I was rude & never tried something new.
There also are quite a few times that I have just sucked it up & ate whatever someone serves me. Eating processed food every now & then isn’t going to hurt me but my friends getting sick of me for being a snob will.
I don’t really ever have problems with my friends or family. They basically know and support me in everything. The only place where it gets sticky is work. People tend to ask me questions about food I bring to work ( they think what I put on/in my salad is weird) or if we go out to eat why I don’t eat meat. I just usually say I dont like it because it’s easier and nicer than a full explanation. I just wish they were nicer about it!
Great blog and great question! This is something I have trouble with. I don’t think ppl understand that I don’t eat dairy but eat meat and always feel comfortable asking about the non-dairy thing. I try to keep it simple just an “I’m allergic” but there seems to be enough info out there on lactose intolerance etc that ppl always have follow up questions. I’ve also sometimes thought maybe its because I’m over weight that people don’t automatically assume that I’m eating healthy because that’s how I eat…but that just might be my own issues 😛
I have had problems in the past dealing with family – mainly because some of my relatives have had eating disorders in the past and when they see that I don’t eat a whole lot of junk, or choose fruit rather than cake for dessert for example, they think that I’ve got food issues too. I really wish it wasn’t this way – after all, why is it any of their bizznazz as you so rightly put it!? I love this post because I’ve often wondered about what the significant others of various bloggers that I read think of their eating habits. I hope I find someone as supportive as the Pilot! 🙂
I love food and I love new experiences. I actually will ask ‘why’ when someone says they are or are not eating something. It’s not to be judgmental. I love knowing what makes people tick. I love that if someone I knew was vegan they can turn me onto a another area of food that I have yet to explore.
I had recently found a vegetarian sushi place and was AMAZED at how they can make a mushroom taste like a tuna roll!!!
I celebrate food and the experience I get from everyone who had so called ‘different’ types of eating styles.
If it weren’t for all of you I would be stuck eating steak and broccoli instead of tofu and spirulina (not sure of that spelling) but I think you get the jist.
Have a great weekend!
Great post. I really like your approach on this. I’m moving into my sorority house so I’ll have to explain why I make my food all the time and not the food they make us.
Thankyou for this!
As I have gone from a junk eating teenager, to a young adult who is concious about my health, my friends especially have been very curious about what and how I eat. Sometimes it even borders on rude. I never know how to approach it as I don’t want to say that I am being healthier for fear of putting them down for what they are eating.
I think I’ll adopt your strategy of short and sweet 🙂
xx
Great points Gina and (other commenters)! What a touchy subject indeed. It brings up so many issues. There are many types of people that can judge you…You can have the food pushers(“cmon you know you want it” or “it is not going to hurt you”)when you are actually just fine, the food haters(these are the rare breed that really don’t think or care about food and how amazing a meal can be, they might fear food), the jealous folks (who want you on their unhealhty wagon, maybe they are jealous/insecure beause they are unhappy with themselves so they bag you for getting the dressing on the side, etc)…plus then there is just the unaware types(really it is called ignorance to be truth).
When out to eat with these comments ever happening, I find it is best to say “Oh that is too bad you feel that way, but this works best for me and I love this dish and how I feel.” Not explaining yourself too much, not feeling bad, not making them feel bad either but just getting to the point, which is really… the truth.
What is nice is eventually people let you be and I love how you mentioned Gina, that there is a Health U-turn coming around and I feel more restaruants and everyday folks are more aware of making healthier decisions.
With that said, I am off to dinner with the in-laws (tonight) and they are picking the resatuarant(last time was some random place similar to a Denny’s) and I still get the occasional “Why don’t you eat meat, again Moni?” or “How do you get your protein?”! They are great though and like i said, your real friends and loved ones let you be.:) Wish me luck, I am going in!
You’re so pretty. I love seeing pictures of you. Your hard work def. shows!
I love cookbooks too. I have an ever-growing collection as well.
HefiA
thank you, hefia! <3
Good post! Well my friends know I like to eat healthy but they also know I have no qualms about indulging in less healthy items. I am a dietetics major so explaining I like healthy foods really requires no explanation once they’re aware of that, but I’m also a vegetarian, and that does get me some questions. I usually explain that it’s just “for ethical reasons and for health reasons” which is the extremely pared down version of a longer answer I could give, but I know people don’t really care to be preached to. If they ask, I’ll tell them. The only time I get annoyed is if someone tried to start a debate with me. Also, the thing I hate is when I say I’m a vegetarian and the response I get is “Oh, but you’re not a vegan, right? I don’t know how vegans do it! That’s a little bit excessive.” I feel like many people just don’t understand veganism and the wide variety of foods they’d still be able to eat. I eat a lot of vegan food myself, and it’s not anything strange or out of the ordinary. On the contrary, I don’t feel like a vegan diet is restrictive–since I stopped eating meat and began experimenting with cookbooks like Veganomicon, I’d say that that variety of food in my diet has drastically increased! I’ve cooked with/baked with/eaten many foods I might have otherwise never tried.
I don’t really give reasons…I don’t really give my eating habits a label either…I don’t eat meat, but I would not go as far to say I am a vegetarian.
I hate the meat industry and feel that my body is more healthy without it, if people ask I will tell them, if they don’t, that’s cool too.
I became vegetarian a couple of months ago and I have no problems with people eating meat. I feel like sometiems people attack me and are like “OH You are one of those people who eat healthy and never eat anything bad.” I don’t know and people always ask where I get my protein and I feel like I have to list all these things and they still don’t believe that I get enough. Plus, I do eat cookies and stuff and chocolate, so I don’t know. I don’t preach but I feel like people just look at you in a weird way for eating healthy, it can get annoying to explain myself to people because sometimes people just pry and pry and don’t stop asking questions.
I don’t really restrict anything and try to eat everything in moderation so I don’t get a ton of questions. When I do, I have no problem answering…I’m proud of eating healthy (when I do) 🙂
I never really get questioned about my eating habits by my friends or roommates, but I run into a lot of difficulties with my family. They assume that my healthy eating is me being anal and restrictive with my food, and they’re always making rude comments! I really wish they could just respect the way I choose to eat instead of criticizing.
Random but wanted to let you know that Publix stores in O-Town are now stocking the chocolate chip cookie dough Larabars!
good to know, thank you! i’ll be hitting up publizzle today 🙂
This was very well written.
I find that when I bring “my kind of food” to work and school that most people are actually interested in it. They always ask me what I have and are used to responses such as tofu, tempeh, quinoa, etc. Some ask, “what is tempeh?!?” or “how did you make that?!?” I will tell them what it is, or how I made it ONLY if asked (I don’t go into health benefits or the fact that their hamburger is dripping with grease, lol)….
I’ve found that people are intrigued by a vegetarian (mostly vegan and very healthy) diet and want to learn about it but only to an extent. I usually just say “health benefits” if asked and leave it vague. The key is to always stay confident and share your good food 🙂 One night I made a full vegetarian meal for 4 of my meat-eating guy friends and they didn’t even miss the meat. Cater your meals and your responses to your audience.
I also noticed that some people started buying some of the products that I bring to lunch and eating more fruits and vegetables. Imitation is definitely the best form of flattery!!
(I just realized I wrote a novel..opps!)
Since about May of this year I have been eating less red meat in general. I have tried to also get back to eating real foods and not processed ones. The typical diet in Chile though consists of lots of red meat, Coca-cola, and mayonnaise. When I go out to eat with coworkers or Chilean friends, they wonder why I don’t want to eat any of those things and even if I just say “I don’t feel like it” (as to not go into all the reasons why), it just isn’t enough of an answer for them. They just assume then that I am on a “diet”, when it is exactly the opposite–I just have a very different health lifestyle than your typical Chilean.
My husband has been super supportive of the change though. He still jokes about wanting to go eat at McDonalds and whatnot, but he enjoys all the new foods that I have been cooking.
Great advice on sharing food philosophies. I definitely need to remember that. Sometimes I feel like I can’t even really explain where I am at right now because while I have reduced my intake of red meat, I will still eat it every now and then (whenever I get a craving) and so sometimes I feel like a hypocrite or contradictory but I am really just trying to listen to what my body wants.
This was awesome and I really appreciated it. I have trouble too and I know a lot of it plays to my own and to other’s insecurities. To say I do not want to eat or drink a certain thing is subconsciously to say I don’t approve of the other person’s choices, even if that is not true at all–everyone makes their own decisions. But it can be easy for someone to take offense. I am working hard at trying to find the fine line but sometimes I end up drinking or eating something I don’t want to just because it is easier than explaining and I always feel horrible about it afterwards–I want to be able to own all of my decisions, even if it may affect others.