Today I’m linking up with Jenn from Peas & Crayons for What I Ate Wednesday
Lets talk about food judgement. I’m sure it’s happened to you. It goes both ways. “Are you really going to eat that?” “Ew what is that?” “Do you always bring a salad?” “Do you even get enough protein?” Why does anyone think it’s ok to judge what someone else is eating? I think the judgement is caused by one feeling: insecurity. Society paints this black and white portrait of health, like it has to be all or nothing. That eating “bad” food should make you feel guilty, or even this whole idea foods can be considered “good” and “bad.” If we took all the b.s. out of labeling the “goodness” or “cleanness” of foods, we wouldn’t feel guilty, or the need to explain our choices because we’d be eating according to what we needed with no fear of judgement.
Breakfast: Peach, Mango, Banana Kale Smoothie with Granola, Coconut and Almond Butter
If you’ve seen any of my What I Ate Wednesday posts you have a good idea of the kinds of foods I like to eat on a regular basis. A mix of smoothies, oats, granola, nuts, seeds, fruit, salad, some fish, margaritas, eggs, lots of veggies, chocolate, the occasional scone, protein bars, dates and plenty of nut butter. To me this is pretty normal. Those are the foods I like to eat, they make me feel good and they taste good to me. For some people those are considered “healthy” for others they aren’t, to be honest I’ve really stopped caring how other people view my choices.
If you like those foods too I will gladly gush over a new nut butter I tried, debate you on the best kind of salad green or discuss favorite toppings for a smoothie bowl. If that’s not your jam, I get that too. I’ll politely shut up. If you love BBQ and sizzlin’ bacon I respect that. If you enjoy soda or candy on occasion I’m not calling the sugar police. Just because I love salad doesn’t mean I can’t go HAM on some ice cream.
Lunch: Pineapple, mango, salsa with a side of sangria (I was shooting recipes at home for Bai) – Eaten with some sweet potato tortilla chips
I had a phase in high school when I thought it was ok to give people uninvited nutrition advice they didn’t ask for. I’m so glad that’s over. Seriously, nothing frustrates me more than people preaching diet advice, often because what they say is pulled from a paraphrased magazine article paraphrased from an anecdotal fact from one research study.
Anywhoo I hope I never come off as preachy or judgmental because I think everyone deserves the right to make their own choices in their own time. Ask me for advice and I’ll gladly share my own experiences both successes and setbacks, but I’ll never shove my food down your throat.
Dinner: Pesto Zoodles, 2 Eggs, Sweet Potato with Tahini
Your Turn:
Have you ever been food judged?
Has anyone ever given you horrible “health advice”?
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People all the time tell me that what I am eating is so weird! I had someone in my family tell me that I was strange for putting avocado on my chicken! Great post, ps. that food looks perf 🙂
It’s funny because what I eat is pretty normal in blog world but I get tons of well meaning nosey people asking me what and how and why I eat how I do.
You just get it. I feel the EXACT same way. I hate how people preach what’s “good” and “bad,” especially when they aren’t qualified to do so. You have never come off as preachy and I try hard to approach things in a similar manner. What I enjoy is well and good but it’s not what everyone should enjoy. P.S. are those sunflower seeds on your sweet potato?! I might just do that…
Thanks Emily! That means so much coming from you because you’re posts are always down to earth and unpretentious which is exactly the kind of advice and guidance I WANT to take <3 Surprisingly no sunflower seeds, but I have topped s.p.'s with them (I ran out) instead they're pecan pieces (got from Trader Joe's)
YES. Oh my gosh, I get so sensitive when people ask me what I’m eating or why I eat it or how much I eat per day. Honestly, who cares?! Eat well and eat often right? I like eating foods that make me happy 🙂
Exactly! It’s really tough for anyone who might have struggled in the past with food because people atomically assume they know what’s best for you and they’re almost always wrong.
For sure – I think everyone does it a little bit. There is commentary if it is a lot of food, not enough food, healthy or unhealthy. For some reason, it’s a big judgement zone.
Yeah, I’ve definitely been guilty in the past of food judgement but I’m hyper sensitive now because I think people should feel comfortable and supported when they try to make the best decisions for themselves.
Yes I have been judged and yes people have given me nutritional advice without me ever asking and it is advice that usually I would never follow, because I LOVE food…I LOVE carbs…I LOVE wine and margaritas…It is weird how people judge your food so much. I agree 100% that is insecurities, but that is usually what it is when we start judging someone else. Happy Hump Day Smoothie Queen! 🙂
Exactly! Some people assume that something that might have worked amazingly for them automatically translates. LOL NOPE! Also, unless they follow you around 24/7 it’s pretty difficult to get a full picture of someone’s daily habits anyway. Also yes to Margs always 😉
Everyone will always be judgy, it’s human nature and we think OUR values are every ones, haha! But we can keep it in check too! My family is so NOT food focused so so every thing I make or eat, they are just amazed by 😛 I wish I could have some great foodie convos with them, but I guess that’s what my blog is for!
You have such a great perspective! Everyone will judge, so it’s about being comfortable with yourself and knowing when to listen and when it just ignore. Always happy to have a foodie convo <3
Preach it, girl! It definitely happens to me, but I’m probably guilty of doing it to others a little bit too! Ugh, why is this such a *thing* ???!
Love what you said about people offering advice when they don’t truly understand the situation, or that everyone’s needs & preferences are different. I want to tell people, your way is not the only way!
Exactly! I can totally believe and respect that something might be awesome for that person or even a bunch of people but it doesn’t give them the right to say what’s best for me.
I HATE when people judge my food, especially when I’m eating, say, shrimp and someone is like “ew you like shrimp????” I’m like uh…..yes? IS THAT OK? We all have different tastes and I think that’s a great thing.
Haha yes! For some reason people love to give anyone who enjoys seafood a hard time if they don’t like it. *sigh*
As much as I don’t want to admit it, I’ve totally judged other peoples on their eating habits, which is so unfair, because I hate when they judge mine! A lot of times people think I have too restrictive of a diet, but my Crohn’s disease really limits what I feel comfortable eating, especially out at restaurants where I don’t know how things have been prepared. The worst health advice I’ve ever gotten was “you should fast every week for a day… it helps cleanse your body”. Um no. It just makes me hungry. Haha
I’ve certainly been guilty in the past of food judging, but I think when I acknowledged how shitty it felt I realized that I don’t need to have a say in how someone else eats because I most likely don’t know their story.
Yeah… tried intermitent fasting for a hot second and it was a disaster 😛
Yum to pineapple salsa!
Thanks girl!
What an awesome post! I’ve definitely been food judged especially because of my love for hot sauce and mustard! People are always commenting about how gross it is that I drench everything in them but honestly WHY do they care? I don’t comment when they stuff their faces with all the chocolate and candy people leave around the office! If I wanna drink my hot sauce or cover my face with mustard, let me!
Exactly! That’s the best question “why do you care?” there’s almost never a legit reason. Just insecurity.
The other day, a guy told me that it wasn’t possible to gain weight if you don’t eat any fats. Because fats = fat. Cue forehead-palm slap. I’ll let him figure that one out on his own, though 🙂
What I eat is ALWAYS JUDGED thanks to the fact that I cannot eat so much, so I tend to eat weird things. But I don’t care- I love it and that’s ALL that matters!
You do you gurl!
I used to be more of a silent food judger which I think is just as bad. I was actually just talking with some of my health conscious friends about this topic and how a lot of people like to comment (somewhat negatively) on our healthy eating habits. Almost as if it makes them feel better/justified in their eating by having to make comments on ours. Things like “of course you’re getting a salad” or “is this healthy enough for you?” Ugh it pisses me off so much, I wish there was a polite way to silence the health food haters!
Yes yes yes. I constantly get judged for my food choices at work. At first I found it rather annoying… but I pretty much just stopped caring and realized that yes, it is mainly due to their own insecurities. I’ll just keep on being my healthy self, eating all that “weird stuff” and snacking every few hours on homemade protein bars and energy balls 😀
Ugh yes food judgment is the worst! I never felt comfortable at my last job eating because everyone would always comment on my food. People still do all the time! I never comment on other peoples lunches/ food so I find it so uncomfortable/ uncalled for. I get comments like “oh another salad” or “what you eat would never fill me up” and people even comment on my body as well. Jeesh! Anywho- worst diet advice is anyone who ever encouraged juice/ crazy detoxes- no thanks!
Literally I could have chocolate, dates, and nut butters all day long too! Love your posts
Oy vey. I honestly don’t have that many people who comment on how I eat, simply because I work at an organic grocery store and most of my co-workers are weirdo “health nerds”, too, but some people don’t understand a smoothie bowl or why I would want to eat it. It’s silly and I’m open to talking about what and how I eat with everyone, but not if they’re going to be rude about it.
Haha exactly! I’m happy to chat as long as their open minded