“You Just Eat Vegetables? You Must Be In A Cult!” – How To Deal With Food Judgment
I was hanging out with some friends a while ago and we were chatting about how long we think it will be until we decide we’re ready to pop out some kids. One of my friends said to me, “You will probably have to wait until you start eating proper food though, won’t you? Because you will be eating for two then.” I let the comment slide, but my sensitive side felt like it had just been slapped. Proper food?! Gosh, because what I eat now is not proper? This is just one of many occasions when my eating habits have been judged by my well-meaning loved ones who don’t quite understand why I eat the way I eat.
I did an interview with comedian/actor/motivational speaker Kyle Cease last week and he brought this topic up as well. He had just kicked off a juice fast, and was talking about how some people around him think he’s crazy for just eating vegetables and natural foods. Then he went into a riff about how crazy the standard way of eating would seem if we all ate natural, whole real foods. Imagine if we were all standing around eating fruits, veggies, and food grown in the ground (the way nature intended for us to eat) and someone came up to us and said they were going to start drinking milk from the boob of another species, start eating pepperoni meat from an animal that doesn’t exist, and start drinking Coke, which is a solution that dissolves nails. We would think they were nuts. But sadly, this is what has become normal.
Generally speaking, we have become so far removed from our natural diet that we’ve lost sight of reality. We are not designed to eat food that comes out of a box, a microwave, or a drive-thru. Living bodies need living foods.
You and I know that, but how are we supposed to deal with our friends and family who think we’ve gone and joined a cult just because we don’t want to eat food that isn’t actually food?
Criticism and snarky comments are usually offloaded for one of two reasons:
1. The person is oblivious to the detriments of poor diet, and is ignorant about your reasons for choosing to eat the way you eat.
or
2. They want or know that they need to make certain changes, but aren’t willing to make them yet.
Nothing shines a light on our own un-actioned goals like seeing someone else rocking them in their own life. Some of us are inspired by seeing people make positive changes, and some of us are threatened. It’s those who are threatened who will lash out with nasty and judgmental comments.
What’s the solution?
You can either choose to educate them a little and tell them about what you’ve discovered about eating whole, natural foods (in a caring rather than condescending tone). Or, if you know that they absolutely won’t want to hear it, just slip on your thick skin, let the comments slide and lead by example.
If you’re on the receiving end of this kind of conviction, quickly remind yourself that their comment has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. Try to see their innocence. Remind yourself that you were once in their position, and that they will wake up if/when it is the perfect time for them. Personally, it’s very easy for me to forget that not so long ago I thought vegetarians were crazy people who had just never tasted bacon.
Ultimately, the way someone else acts and thinks is out of our control. We all wake up to different wisdom at different times and if/when it is their time, they will come to you with questions about why you look and feel so great.
We can’t change people – all we can do is stay focused on what is best for us, and allow our light to be the inspiration someone else needs to light up their own life.
Have you experienced food judgement? How have you handled it?
Positive affirmation for the day: I am immune to the opinions of others.
Like this post? Share the love!
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Google+
POSTED IN: diet, food judgement, vegan, vegetarian
join the tribe
Join the green mo revolution! Subscribe to get Jess's updates & Green Mo Revolution e-book FREE with over 80 green smoothie recipes!
Write a Reply
I struggle with this every single day when it comes to the opinions of friends, family and coworkers over what I eat. It seems everyone fancies themself a nutritionist nowadays! Since I am argumentative by nature, I used to try and reason with people and use logic to plead my case. I have since learned that this is often futile and people usually aren’t open to considering a diet that is so far removed from what they know and feel comfortable with. So now I keep my opinions to myself, and prefer to express my affinity for a plant-based diet through my blog.
Great post.
Nice blog Cleo. I have ‘lost’ my juicer recently (motor gave up) and instead of buying one I blend all vegies in a blender with some water (including carrot and apple) and strain the mix through the nylon sock. This gives me juice only. It is much easier to clean and do and I am loving it – may never buy a juicer again…
Thanks Arianna!
It is very sad mourning the death of a juicer… I lost mine on the weekend and rushed right out to buy a new one. Though it seems maybe I could have survived just with my blender – what a great idea!
Hi Jess,
I find that this is a big problem. Even within my own family. I deal with it by not making an issue out of it, and offering a taste of what I am eating without talking about why I am eating it. My husband and children will often ask for the same things I am having providing I’m not preachy about it and they are just thinking about their taste buds.
With friends and acquaintances, I will admit to bowing to peer pressure and eating rubbish in their company because it is just too difficult to do otherwise at times.
Good post!
Hi Jess! Such a great article and so true! When I started eating more naturally and consciously some of my friends were really unsupportive or felt “sorry” for me. Over time they’ve come to accept my way of eating but it’s still hard when we go out.
It is mind-blowing to think that cheese-and-bacon-balls, gummi bears, processed deli meats and Coke are seen as ‘normal’, whereas natural whole foods are seen as ‘weird’.
Regarding food judgement, so many people seem to think green smoothies are crazy. It must just be SO vastly different to the milk-and-sugar laden smoothie concoctions that the average person is used to. I’ve been told that it’s ‘not a proper breakfast, and I need to have something proper in my belly’. You know, like nutra-grain or raisin toast etc!!
Sometimes I know I can be a bit over-zealous in my proselytizing about the wonders of green smoothies. And interestingly (or perhaps obviously!) people are so much more likely to want to try them when I am not quite so evangelistic and instead just let my much-better-than-it-used-to-be skin and much-better-than-they-used-to-be energy levels do the talking…
I think our food choices are so incredibly ingrained in who we are and how we are raised and how we interact with the world, that anything that is *different* can be really threatening to those who haven’t really had to examine their eating habits before…
Great post Jess, xo!
In the beginning, I was sensitive to the comments and remarks made to me by family and loved ones. I was a bit defensive. Now, I just let it slide over me. I don’t worry about it and don’t judge them or myself. I am strong and comfortable in why I eat the way I do and that’s what matters to me. My body thrives, my mind is clearer and my spirit is more compassionate and loving. I learn something new about myself all the time and love it. Some days I don’t b/c it can be rough, but that is growth and I know that I will be stronger for it.
If someone sees me drinking a green smoothie and asks snarky “What is that?!” I say “It’s a green smoothie and tastes DELICIOUS! would you like a sip?” (Very nice and handing glass towards them) Some people say OK. Some people vehemently refuse it. I say “OK.” with a smile and keep on drinking.
Loved this post, Jess! I believe a lot of us deal with it.
XO
Most people are too scared to even try it….
It’s crazy isn’t it?!! I get this all the time. People think I am crazy and depriving myself or have a weird eating disorder because I avoid sugar and eat well. It’s much more acceptable to be addicted to junk food and have Coke for breakfast then it is to eat healthy foods!
I think the problem is that people feel threatened by our discipline and abilty to stick to a healthy diet. In their head it makes them feel inadequate and they see themselves badly because they can’t do it. They are just trying to justify their unhealthy lives by bringing us down. It always comes down to their insecurity so we can’t get too caught up in it.
It’s the same with being positive and happy. Misery likes company and so many people don’t cope with their loved ones success and positivity. It’s sad that it has to come to that. We should all be encouraging each other, not bringing each other down!
“It’s much more acceptable to be addicted to junk food and have Coke for breakfast then it is to eat healthy foods!” This is so true! And so sad at the same time! Just goes to show what an absolutely brilliant job the marketers at the huge food conglomerates and fast food outlets have done brainwashing the general public! Kind of surreal when you think how socially unacceptable it can be to be eating REAL FOOD! But the world is changing, it won’t be too long before we’ll have a generation who look back at the last couple of generations and say “WHAT?!?!?!?! You used to eat a chemical sh*t storm (boxed cereal) with zero nutrition with antibiotic-laden, growth-hormone infused, mucus inducing, acid forming, calcium leeching SWILL (aka mass-produced milk) poured over it for breakfast every day??!!!! How did any of you survive???!!!” 
Recently my extremely supportive Mother (sarcasm) told me that I”m annoying when I talk about healthy foods or suggest she try fresh fruit and veggies and juices to prevent her cancer returning, because it’s just a “phase” I’m going through…… I’ve given up trying to convince her to try it, I figure EVENTUALLY I will be such an inspiration by what I’ll achieve for my life and health that she’ll just want to see for herself!
Jess,
I totally relate to this on so many levels. When I decided to become vegan in January of this year I got so much heat for it from family, friends, and
Jess,
I totally relate to this on so many levels. When I decided to become vegan in January of this year I got so much heat for it from family, friends, and people I love and would get annoyed at having to constantly defend my choices that I don’t impose on anyone else – then I realized that whenever someone projects judgement it’s really a reflection of their own insecurities so now I just let it go. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Oh! Jess, this is one of your BEST posts. I agree with EVERYTHING you said & HOW you said it!. I have been given the ‘treatment’ too! but I must confess I may have been too over the top with some friends in my love of eating naturally. Keep inspiring us Jess. You are a VERY bright light my life…..
Lone.
I think people don’t want to feel bad about their own diet, or don’t want to take responsibility for their own health by giving up the things they love (that was me too!), so they want you to eat with them so they don’t feel so bad/guilty about what’s on their own plate!
Great post Jess. I definitely deal with this every day. Being kind of a rebel helps, because I really tend not to worry too much about what people think about me in most situations. Plus, if you provide a fairly convincing argument or start firing some examples, people can generally be swayed to at least question their own behaviors… just a little…
I have just finished doing a cleanse with Lana Purcell, Girls Gone Clean Group and we only posted about this last night. The judgements seem to come from everywhere. How very sad and unfortunate that most people see going through a drive-thru and drinking a can a coke as being normal! I have been told that I am the minority and even looked upon as being over the top when it comes to health. I never deny myself or our children of anything – 80% of the time our food intake is nutritious, whole foods and 20% is much more relaxed! Is making the health of my family and myself a priority such a forbidden sin? We very rarely get sick, and if we do, we bounce back very quickly, we live a healthy, happy, active and vibrant life – can people who constantly bombard themselves with junk food say the same….I don’t think so! ♥
Firstly Id like to say that I KNOW what you mean!
I’ve had people were literally eating McDonalds thinking I was the strange one for making healthier choices , questioning about it while scoffing they are scoffing down their ‘food’. All you can do is shrug it off.
However , I strongly believe what Daniel Vitalis says about our attitude and food: we should let our diet define us. We should not let what we eat control who we really are or who we be around. How narrow does that make us?
Just how junk food addicts numbers thrive, vegans create their own club too
I am not vegan but I do find many of them advocate that their diet is ‘better’ and ‘healthier’ in many respects.. eating (mostly) plant based is healthier, of course! I avoid most packaged and processed foods too. However in human history, there is no 100 years of proof to say vegan is healthier so I think people do have the right to question vegans.
If you were on the topic of babies with your friends perhaps your friend was thinking that it may not be the safest thing to feed a baby a vegan diet? B12, amino acids that can only be found (naturally) in meat is vital in the diet of a growing baby and child.
If your comfortable/know for certain that a vegan diet is healthy for a baby wouldn’t you be able to explain that to your friend?
Anyway that’s all I say. Again, we shouldn’t let our diet define who we are, or base our personalities by our lifestyle. I know what that is like.
I’m living in Thailand currently and a typical trip to the supermarket for me involves the purchase of 120 apples, 120 limes, 4 kilos of carrots, 20 cucumbers, 25 mangos, 5 bunches of celery and 50 bananas.
The people around me, who are almost all overweight, puffy, bloated, stiff + sick-looking, with their cart full of soda pop, biscuits, bread, meat + milk, can’t stop sniggering and look at me as if I am “crazy”!
But I feel really good “inside myself”….
My family don’t understand me….
But I feel really good “inside myself”…
go james, that your profile pick…this blog jess, has really touched on a sensitive wide felt topic and one i have strugged with for a longtime.
Today however i have been illuminated as to ways to deal with this so thankyou from the bottom ofmy heart. I guess it all stems fromthe fact that we all dont like criticism or to feel judged.
The bottom line is to stop worrying about what others think, invite them to try what your eating and if all else fails put on that thick skin and let it slide
brilliant 
Hi Jess,
We have someone who comes to visit us regularly, and when she might see us eating something that she hasn’t seen us eating before, it can get branded as another fad. We just smile to ourselves – because when she visits again, we’ll still be eating the new ‘fad’. We are continually trying to improve our diet – even though it is fairly good, there’s always something amazing out there that we may not have heard of, or haven’t tried yet.
Oh we still cheat a bit with those not-so-healthy treats, but not often – it creates that little guilt feeling accompanied with that comment ‘that was nice for a treat’.
Kind regards, Lyall
.
Hi Gorgeous Jess!
So love this post honey, it really is something we all go through when we start changing our eating habits for the better. I think the questioning and criticism comes from people being troubled over ‘what is the right foods to eat’. There is so much conflicting and confusing information out there, we have all been roped in at one time or another to a diet that promises health and happiness but never delivers. My experience is that my friends and family are super curious, they only criticise because they are not really sure what I ‘can’ eat and this reflects badly on them. In my experience I have influenced so many people to start introducing healthier tastier foods into their diets and I love that this is my job now also!
Love you gorgeous, thanks for another spot on and insightful post xxx
I have to put up with comments like these all the time!
I used to be tres sensitive and defensive about it, but now I just feel that It’s heart breaking that the majority of the population have just lost touch of what real food is. So many are out of tune and not in sync with their body’s needs and surviving on stimulants/processed food.
I just smile, lead by example and ultimately have let it slide because deep down, inside, I know that I am eating the way my body wants me to. We are what we eat, and I would like and it is my choice to eat whole, healthy, natural, whole foods.
Thank you for this post – I’m sure lots of us will resonate with it. I know I did!
Jia Ni xo
Thanks so much for a fantastic post Jess…its so common to be judged by what we eat, and I find it much more difficult to find healthy food choices out and about. There are some circumstances where I just go along with what ever food is on offer, and just try and make the best choice I can when I am around some people, its just easier. When my sister in law visits, who is extremely overweight, she always comments on how weird we are, and once even said something about the weird food we feed out pets, because it doesn’t come out of a can. I have learnt to laugh it off in most circumstances, but yes sometimes its trickier than others.
Thanks again
Jayne
My friends have always supported my eating choices; it’s been my family (parents, sister, extended family) & co-workers (when I worked) that gave me heck about it. I never understood why family & co-workers would me for trying to improve & maintain my health – they’re the ones who suffer when I’m not healthy.
awesome post Jess, great read, love the comment about the milk from another species boob and coke, love it, thanks again for my day with your posts, you continue to inspire me x
I get “food judged” much less than I used to and it’s gotten to the point now that it really doesn’t bother me. Unfortunately many people don’t know any better, I just smile and let their comments slide
Here here Jess! I totally agree with what you have said in this post, and it is also something I have to manage daily. I have found that I now distance msyelf from people who are not alligned with the same values as me, and try to surround myself with friends who are open to the idea of living a healthy life. It is true that when people make negative or snarky comments that it is their own vulnerability and confidence that feels threatened…and I try to remember that rather than feeling hurt by an off-hand comment a friend might make.
I’ve experienced these comments SO MANY times, with close friends and family and people I don’t even know that well. You can’t avoid them!
But I have found that no matter if it’s innocence or self defence that drives the comment, taking an approach like Jess mentions really does work. Not usually at the time you say it but a few weeks later when you talk to them, they’ll pipe up with some snippet of information that lets you know that it is beginning to sink in!
I can still remember reading the wellness warrior for the first time and believing in it but being so overwhelmed at the number of changes I’d have to make to my life style so I can kind of understand why people react the way they do.
I find the best thing to do is focus on the postive.
People comment because they care, dont understand or have issues of their own. Sometimes you get through to someone you really care about – and this is what I focus on. My mother in law recently started juicing daily and she has lost seven kilos in a just a few weeks. I can see that she is just gaining momentum! I am very excited for her.
I wish I could get through to my own parents. I make comments to them because I care. I am very aware that it is all very patronising from their point of view.
100% with you on this Jess.
A couple of months ago I wrote a post on this explaining how people react.
When I explain that I am Vegan, people tend to think I go door to door to try and convert everyone else. I have even had someone ask me how Im vegan if I still date men! Which bring me to the conclusion that they are just not well informed.
Because everyone considers themselves to be a nutritional these days and a scientist from Wikipedia, If someone wants to try and argue with me about why I shouldnt eat meat. I tell them to google factory farming. That always seems to work
I get it everyday at work. Most people at my work are overweight and tired. I am slim and energetic and eat super healthy, they are always making remarks about my chlorophyll, noni juice, healthy lunches and snacks of cut up fruit and veges. Every day someone is offering crisps or cake and I just dont enjoy any of that but people always have to make a snide remark.
It doenst bother me at all, I am always bursting with energy(without coffee)
I hear you Bec! I have the exact same problem at work! 
A fabulous article Jess, and told so eloquently. Funnily enough, while reading this post, my Mum tried the quinoa chocolate cake I made over the weekend. Sugar free, dairy free, gluten free. It is to die for DELICIOUS!! Her comments, ‘oh that’s a big improvement, I can eat that’. Meaning, she struggles with the majority of the way I approach food. Ha. Says it all really.
Judgement always surrounds the minority and unknown. I, too, used to sit on that side of the fence until my body forced me to take a closer look. Main stream society exudes a strange and awkward energy. If we were all given the freedom to choose our paths, without judgement and the inability to just accept things for what they are, there would be such harmony.
There is a shift taking place though. Maybe one day.
What a great post – I was reading and thinking “yep, I can relate” – having been a vegan for the past 19 years. Through all that time I rarely preached to my friends or co-workers about health & diet, as I saw it as my journey and not my place to tell them what to do. Now I’m far more confident within myself and really don’t give two hoots about what anyone thinks of my lifestyle or eating habits – I’ll just say what needs to be said – in the right way!
Typically people are uncomfortable with something they are a) unaware of or uneducated about, or b) seeing something that may alter their own safe world. And the latter are usually people closest to us, as they don’t like anything that might force them to look at themselves and require them to change.
And health and well-being is such a ‘contentious’ topic for many people that if someone really close to them does suddenly change their eating habits dramatically, that can be very confronting.
Most recently for me I gave birth to twin boys 2 years ago, and despite the frowns, dark looks and ‘friendly nutritional advice’ from paediatric staff during checkups (due to my strict vegan diet) – nobody could fault the health and well-being of my babies. They were born full term, and healthy normal weights of 3.3 and 3 kg each.
We love our green smoothies and will continue staying green and healthy.
Thanks Jess – keep it up:)
Oh yes! I’ve been getting this response for a solid 11-12 years now.
I do get a bit of a giggle out of it sometimes though – people can be very close-minded about food and what people ‘should’ be eating!
I have been vego for 17years (since 15) and vegan now for 6months- NEVER FELT BETTER!!!!
In comment to your friends comment about babies, i totally hear ya! I remember being pregnant with my first child and being reprimanded by so many people, “you are depriving your child”, “what a selfish person, your poor baby needs meat, it will have no iron.” bla bla.I was really worried at the time that maybe i was. However after a perfect, natural birth, with no drugs (not even a panodol) out popped a perfect apgar scored baby girl. “Wow!” All the midwives said, “i have never seen a placenta so perfect.” I never knew that a placenta could be perfect or not at the time and it sounds kinda odd, haha. BUT, all i could think was “in your face all of you judgemental peeps!!!!” And in my second pregnancy i knew all was good and once again it was.
Yes i hear all the “OMG what do you eat” and i always say “HEAPS! and i feel AWESOME, but its not for everyone i guess!” I think this comment makes people feel that they are missing out on something. hehe
xoxox LOVIN LIFE!!!
That is so inspiring Kate! You go girl!
thank god we can choose later in life and not depend on others. Children at school used to laugh at me for eating apples instead of hamburgers like they did. It’s tough when you’re a kid especially. Sometimes I forget others just don’t eat at least balanced meals so when I’m in visit somewhere I wake up with a plate full of meat in front of me and them saying “eat up”. Some advice on how to refuse? I just kindly say “no thanks, meat makes me sick” …I don’t know..
LOVE this post!
“Nothing shines a light on our own un-actioned goals like seeing someone else rocking them in their own life. Some of us are inspired by seeing people make positive changes, and some of us are threatened. It’s those who are threatened who will lash out with nasty and judgmental comments.”
I have experienced this an awful lot and I’m not even vegan! I choose to eat pretty healthy foods and I don’t eat most meats – only chicken and fish. I can’t imagine the comments I would get if I actually went vegan! I honestly don’t think people realize how hurtful they are being, making you feel inferior for choosing to be healthy. That’s why blogs and online forums are so great, you can connect with like-minded peace-loving folks who love you for being you!!
Hello, Yes I recently went to Visit my very dear friend who has recently moved to a big country town that I will not mention to find no vegetarian meals on the lunch menu then went to dinner to find the same not one meal not even pasta and the young girl that was serving me said WHAT VEGETARIAN nnoooooo….!…. My dear friend wanted to end my stay by taking me out to a lovely breakfast to find yes you can quess nothing for me to eat I ask well just toast so not to make any fuss as the waitress said to me what you dont eat meat or egg, no I dont… she brought me french toast I then had to say I dont eat egg, as she made me feel like a freak, so I sat there watching my dear friend feeling guilty that she was eating without me that we left. There is a demand for good raw foods to be on the menu, this was a country town full of meat eaters but I find this still an issue in many places.
So at the end of the day whos smiling
Hi Jess -
I admire you for what you are doing. Going from a breakdown to such a breakthrough and how you are teaching others about it.
It is very powerful and only a strong person can do this.
Not every person in this world is going to agree with what we are doing; that is simply how the world is designed to be.
I love reading your emails and blogs.
Good for you for doing this and taking your life on like this.
Frances
I was wondering how you have the time to eat the way you do with the Gerson plan. I’m pretty healthy, but I do have high b/p. I would love to eat more healthy, but fresh food is so expensive! How do you do it? I’m very low income. How can I eat better?
Let your back bone slide. Being judged and judging others choices in return only creates toxic fumes. If someone is judging me or sending a comment my way, I let it go and say ‘to each their own’. They are not ready to accept my lifestyle and I am not bothered one bit, all I care about is what is going in my mouth. I will talk openly and share the knowledge about nutrition that I learn, because my heart wants everyone to make better choices, but at the end of the day, it’s just that – their choice.
Great topic & discussion!
Hi Jessica,
You are a very impressive lady! In every sense of the words. You have real courage and a grace and a wisdom. It’s a privilege to have met you and seen your extraordinary success. Well done girl. Thanks for giving this world a chance by leading people onto a good path. Anytime we can help you, let us know. With love, Ruth
It’s scary how many misconceptions there are regarding food or products used on our bodies due to media and other powerful organizations. Other people don’t know what they are doing to their bodies. Every time I see my mother drink a Diet Pepsi I cringe and she thinks I am being fanatical when I tell her what that’s doing to her body.
I loved your last sentence…so perfect!
I feel lucky as my colleagues are curious about my diet and never undermine me. I held a ‘juice party’ at work recently and everyone tried the fresh fruit and veggie juices. I also took some homemade cacao and coconut muffins to work that were sugar, wheat and dairy free and they scoffed the lot!
One of my colleagues has instant noodles and protein shakes every day and I would love to influence him to more healthy ways, but I would never force my philosophy on others.
I really liked reading this post, as I have born the brunt of this type of judgement before, and it’s nice to be part of a wonderful community.
What used to upset me about this and the message above in how true it is, is that this judgement also rolls over into the way I feed my daughter. We are not prison matrons in our house, and we do not talk to her about ‘bad’ foods, however we steer clear of all processed foods and sugars, and junk, and I have (well meaning) friends and strangers tell me that we will ruin her view on food and create an unhealthy environment for her. As you can imagine, the frustration that this makes me feel is pretty deep. I have learned though, to take it in and breathe it out. Breathe.It.Out.
Trust me, no friend of my daughters has ever complained or screwed up their face when eating organic “Ants on a Log” (pure almond butter on organic celery with organic sultana’s on top) or coconut covered “bliss balls” (dates, coconut, ground activated pecans, raw cocoa butter, raw organic cocoa powder).
I hope one day we will be less of a minority. It’s a goal I have.
My wife is a vegetarian, and my daughter is 15 years old and has never eaten any meat.
She made her own decision around 7 years of age.
My son is thirteen and h only eats vegetables when I hide them by blending and mixing.
I eat everything, I guess it’s hard to nail the RIGHT way to eat. I have eaten organic for close to 30 years after a chance meeting with Bernard Jensen. I was also fortunate to have read Norman walker at the age of 13. It changed my life. I am almost 50, and the diets I see are crazy, it’s pretty easy isn’t it. If it is packaged then it is worthy of investigating the ingredients. Good on you, for trying to educate, I recall my family would scoff at our ideas, now they all choose organic this and natural that. Hang in there
What has the world come to that eating junk is whats “normal.” I get this kind of criticism from people everyday. They tend to do it because its “funny” My favorites are “You must just hate food”, “Maybe you’ll eat it if we put it in a blender for you”, “Eating like you do is not living, youv’e got to quit depriving yourself of real food” and my favorite comes about when i talk about cooking for my boyfriend “he’s a man, hes going to want real food not rabbit food” To the people of the world I eat only whole foods that are organic and seasonal…I AM NOT THE CRAZY ONE!!!!!!
A great post Jess (as usual). What is great about a post such as this is the commentary, it’s similar to those about politics, money or religion…a lot of people have a “strong” opinion on the topic.
For me, it’s an unusual set of circumstances, depending on the environment that I am in. Growing up my mother encouraged (often forced, god-bless her) to eat healthy real food (lots of fruit and veg) & as a young lad I would resist. This has rubbed off on me and now I am the one to encourage the healthy eating. My family (well my mother and relatives) initially questioned my decision to stop eating flesh (no…I will not label myself “Vegetarian” or “Vegan”, these seems senseless), they simply just accept it (my brother encouraged it & my mum tries to go 2 days without meat each week).
At work, which is often a place of negativity, I am often praised with the food that I bring in and prepare, and often intrigue as to what my diet consists of. And friends, well some just joke as to how I cannot like meat/fish, I just say it’s more a matter of not needing is as opposed to not liking it. After all there are more people on this planet that do not eat meat than there are that do…so technically we are the “normal” ones.
I come from a city known for piling greasy fries on a grilled lunch meat sandwich. Mom eats icing from the tub (I wish that was an exaggeration). I’ve been fortunate in people generally accepting my change to a healthier lifestyle. I haven’t said “I’m a vegetarian/vegan/pescetarian/etc.”, but I avoid milk products and meats/poultry. I’ve found it easier to just not discuss it. Coming from a filth-eating town, its amazing how many friends and acquaintances have begun making little changes in my wake. Seeing a friend pass on the free pizza in the break room or a classmate trying a spirulina super-shake (after taking my recipe) really touches me.
They say “Hey, you look great. What have you been up to?” That opens the door. Some think its a fad I’m into, but that’s OK. A lifestyle change takes time. I’m sure turning down the cocktail my old pal offered me seemed weird, but no explanation is needed. “No, thanks” is all it takes. Anyone who pays enough attention to what you do and don’t eat or drink probably cares enough to hear you out.
As with anything, no that your eating habits are yours and other people have theirs. Like their choice in neighborhoods, schools, politics and religion, respect theirs and offer what’s asked of you.
I know its hard not to “save” people you care for. Earlier tonight a friend pulled out a Pepsi bottle and I had to look away. He’s smart, its his choice. No sense in creating an issue where none exists.
What we eat is a big part of who we are. Cultural heritage has a lot to do with cuisine. We frequent different restaurants than mainstream – I went to *****’s last week and had a heck of a time finding something I would eat. Popcorn and the movie theater no longer get along, and I’m often seen with my “complicated” lunch bag. I’m sorry if my water filter bottle offends you, I’m just trying to get by as best I can.
Side note: I have a wood nail in a bottle of cola. Its being dissolved. I plan on showing pictures of this process to my daughter’s 1st grade class along with some alternative options for their summer beverages.