I know today is What I Ate Wednesday, which typically means a light and fluffy post, but I’m not feeling it. The reason is I need to get something off my chest, and it’s something that’s been bothering me for quite awhile now. It started months ago as a small itch and has since turned into a full-blown rash. Hopefully you’ll understand my need for a little verbal purging, although in order to avoid letting you down completely, I’m going to pepper my diatribe with my meals from this past weekend.
When I first started blogging I was desperate to find others who were just as excited about health and fitness. I very quickly came upon the Healthy Living Blog community, and I was so ecstatic over connecting with other foodies, I jumped right in. I didn’t look left. I didn’t look right, and I certainly never stopped to think it through because I had found my people. Or so I thought.
The more invested I become in the HLB community though, the more I wonder if it’s actually the right fit for me.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the HLB community. The people who make it up are incredibly supportive and kind. The women are empowering and they are fun, funny and do fearless things with food. Some of their culinary delights are incredible, and there are many who I connect with on a personal level.
There’s also some HLB blogs I’ve read and comments I’ve seen where if I’m being honest, I just don’t understand. I can’t relate, and while I try my best not to judge, I can’t sit silently by either. Silence isn’t in my nature; the Hubby can vouch for me here.
With that being said, I’m guessing today’s post isn’t going to win me any friends, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to stay true to myself. What you see on my blog is what you get, bad yolk porn and all (#no shame in my game).
On my blog, I reveal my great and sometimes dead sexy eats, my regular weekday meals, the days I’m too tired to cook, my light food days, my ugly food days, my eating extravaganzas, the salads, the sweets, and even those days when a bowl of cereal is all I can muster for dinner. I talk about the highs, the lows, the hormones, the on the floor sob fests, mad monkey love, dance parties, and my own self-diagnosed neurosis.
There is no such thing as being perfect, and there is no such thing as eating perfectly. I want to make that abundantly clear.
One of my main goals is to share my eats with others because I strongly believe in a food body connection. What you eat impacts how you feel Every. Single. Day. so my desired target audience is really for most Americans who struggle with obesity and obesity related illnesses, who have failed at diets, and who don’t believe healthy eating can be fun. I want to encourage people to eat real, whole food without a bunch of chemicals and crap, and I want to teach others that eating well doesn’t equal boring. I want to help people find a way to eat healthy and nutritious meals, yet still love what they eat at the same time because food should be an occasion and a celebration.
I thought the Healthy Living Blogging community felt that same way, and to some degree, many do. But, I’ve found just as many who have taken eating healthy to an unhealthy extreme. Who are all about restriction, the numbers, and avoiding fats and carbs at all costs. Normally I would say to each their own, but today isn’t that day.
What I take issue with is promulgating an unhealthy relationship with food under the guise of healthy eating. When people become so consumed with calories, they no longer enjoy their food. When the use of olive oil, a healthy fat, becomes cause for concern. When whole wheat flour is looked down upon. When so many “healthy” substitutes are made, the end result no longer bears any resemblance to the original dish. When people avoid healthy, yet nutrient dense meals because they exceed calorie counts, but have no problems subsisting on rice cakes, chemically enhanced sugar substitutes or frequenting fast food chains because they can still come in under their numbers.
No one really talks about this stuff, not outright anyway; probably because they don’t want to offend their audience, which in my opinion just breeds further confusion of what people actually deem as healthy or not. I don’t want there to be any confusion about my food choices. I want to be crystal clear, so here we go.
I do most of my cooking with olive oil. I eat bread, pasta, cheese (I seriously have a love affair with cheese), loads and loads of fruit, and egg yolks like they’re going out of style because that’s where the nutrients live.
I bake with oats, whole wheat pastry flour, brown sugar, sugar in the raw, white sugar or even beans on occasion, honey, maple syrup and sometimes Greek yogurt.
I cook with soy milk, almond milk and even buttermilk or cream from time to time.
I consume veggies in mass quantities, along with grains, legumes, brown rice, and quinoa, and I even indulge in sweet treats and the occasional glass of wine. Far be it from to deny someone a good morning mimosa either.
I eat moderate portions, many times throughout the day. I rarely walk away from a meal still feeling hungry or uncomfortably full either.
I don’t mess with protein powders, I’m a vegetarian, despite being taunted by bacon, and you know what? My protein count is just fine.
I’m happy with myself, my body and my doctor is loving my numbers. “Whatever you’re doing, keep on doing it,” she says.
My point is I love the way I eat. It’s healthy and sustainable at the same time, and I even have the numbers to support it. Although in many cases, it’s way more indulgent than those in the HLB community, and I refuse to feel guilty or second guess myself because others won’t partake in a slice of cheese or a cocktail every now and again.
So where does that leave me? The answer is I don’t know.
At the end of the day, I want to help people gain a healthy understanding of food and their own bodies, and I’m not sure I can do that in the HLB community.
I could be wrong though. It certainly wouldn’t be the first or the last time. Who knows? Maybe I can make a difference with someone, somewhere, somehow, and whether I’m part of the HLB community or not, at least you know exactly where I stand when it comes to food.
If you’re a blogger, do you ever question whether the HLB community is for you? What’s your reason for blogging in the first place? Do you feel like you’ve achieved it? How do you see healthy eating? Does it include a smear of butter or a slice of cheese?
Good for you Megan! I certainly can’t judge–esp because my eating habits as of late are far from healthy most of the time. But I would never judge you anyway! I love your blog and it’s YOUR blog about how YOU eat/live and so YOU can do and say anything YOU want to. If its not right in someone’s eyes, they don’t have to read it! Keep doing you, I for one, like YOU! 🙂
Aw Stacey, you always say just the sweetest and right things. Thanks for that; I needed to hear it today.
Oh, boy am I right with you, Meghan. I started blogging for most of the same reasons. I also end up with a big question mark on my face after reading some blogs. I believe in healthy eating and how it can be such a positive impact on our entire lives. I’ve worked the Weight Watchers program for 26 years. I worked for them for 15 years. So many people with whom we come in contact need to hear the things we’re saying about healthy eating. No you don’t have to deprive yourself. I’m vegetarian as you are, adding in eggs, yogurt and CHEESE. Yes, it needs to be in capital letters! We can eat this way and get plenty of protein ( I am exploring protein powders, but I’m older than you and probably should be pumping my protein up a bit.) but I don’t rely solely on them. It’s an ongoing process. I am being very successful at the moment at keeping my weight down, will it last…I don’t know. There have been times in this 26 years when I’ve struggled terribly. Maybe it just took 26 years to really figure it out! But I love your honesty, your humor and your humanity, Meghan. I think you’re right where you need to be. But if you decide to move on to another “community,” please don’t leave me here alone…I’m coming with you! Have a great day!
I love that you capitalized CHEESE. Thanks for the kind words Fran. They mean a lot to me.
I think that the HLB community is so large that sometimes it’s easy to generalize about the whole group (I know I do it a lot). From an outside perspective (okay, not really “outside” but as someone who can’t eat low fat crap let alone high fat heaven without being sick) I see such a wide variety of opinions on what is healthy and what’s not on healthy living blogs.
That’s the part that I like both the most and the least. On the one hand, I have found others sort of like me who struggle with stomach issues and really have to limit what they eat not exactly calorie-wise, but content-wise because otherwise we’re chronically sick. I’ve also found blogs that I read no because I can necessarily relate with everything they eat, but I like who they seem to be as people, and I can support their food decisions because they seem practical and nutritious enough to be sustainable.
What you listed to me as your diet is my definition of healthy. I’m not entirely sure what other people’s definitions are, but olive oil is so good for you, as well as whole grains, egg yolks, and wine. Fruit and produce is good for the soul as well as the heart. Obviously I eat a ton of meat, so that’s where we differ in opinions, however I know your husband eats meat so we aren’t too far off.
Again, even though I don’t eat grains, eggs, dairy, etc. doesn’t mean that I can’t think it’s not a healthy diet for someone else. We are all different (cliche alert!) with what our bodies like most. You show how moderation and small indulgences work for you with such great detail and yummy pictures! I think you have hit your target audience that you described above very very well.
On to food- I want that cereal bowl, no joke. I’m not entirely sure what all you have going on in there, but it looks like a nice combination 😉 Oh, and the cracker/raspberry plate combo is calling to me too (sorry cheese but I’m just not a fan of you sliced and raw like that. Bahaha).
Great post Meghan. It didn’t seem judgmental at all/I don’t think you will “lose” any readers/followers by it because that’s how I assumed you rolled all along. This was just a good clarifier! 🙂 (Hmm… Spell check is telling me clarifier is not a word; however, dictionary.com says otherwise!).
Oh my. I had no idea how many paragraphs I had written before clicking “post comment.”
Madison, I just adore you. Seriously.
I also know you have a rough road with your allergies and you do a remarkable job with handling them, while still searching for answers and testing your boundaries. This target of this post really isn’t for someone in your shoes or even those who are training for competitions because I know strict diets are a part of that. I also know everybody is different and counting calories can be a great aid and extremely beneficial for some. I don’t want to knock that.
This post is really more for the people who express disappointment in themselves for overeating something nutritious and sustainable, but then turn around and eat froyo with a bazillion sugar coated toppings without issue (my qualm isn’t with froyo either). It’s more for people who get upset their veggies were cooked in some olive oil, instead of lightly steamed. It’s more for people who want “healthier” substitutes (not allergy alternatives) for whole wheat flour, and it’s more for people who won’t eat complex carbs because they fear all carbs will make them fat.
Part of the beauty of life is our differences, and I have found some great food as a result of those differences, but I also want to make it clear I, in no way, find some of those things (good fats, complex carbs, etc) unhealthy.
The cereal is Nature’s Path Maple Crunch, and it’s one of my favorites. It reminds me of Kix, without any of the sketchy ingredients.
I so used to be one of those people that would freak out about a tablespoon of oil. *Sigh* Unfortunately when I finally let that qualm go about everything having to be healthy, I ended up with a gazillion food allergies (not that I think those events are in any way related). I so know where you are coming from and whenever I hear someone talk about their meals of skinless grilled chicken and steamed veggies (no salt, no oil) I cringe internally. Sure, like you said- under certain circumstances that’s fine, even in real life that’s fine, but I know that if one little thing was changed I used to FREAK OUT. Not healthy no matter who you are.
Oh, and I meant to ask this before… but come on, I had already written a mammoth of a comment. Lol… If you decided to “leave” HLB behind, where would you go? Am I invited 😉 Haha.
I had no idea you were one of “those people.” If what you say is true (is Madison even your name?), then you have come an incredibly long way…now to figure out how to overcome your allergy hurdles. I know you are trying and I really hope they give you some kind of solution.
If I left, I don’t really know where I’d go. That’s part of my dilema, but wherever I end up, you’ll always be invited. I just know my food is vastly differently from those in the HLB community, although based on today’s responses, it sounds like that might be a good thing.
Excellent post! I use to take healthy eating to an extreme myself, but I wasn’t enjoying life and I dreaded going out with people because I knew 80% of the time we would eat and I wanted to keep to my “perfect” day but now I just try to live and enjoy it to the best that I can. Life is too short!
Good words to live by: “just try to live and enjoy it to the best that I can.” At the end of the day, it’s about nutrion and balance, and I’m glad you’ve found your way there.
I’m obviously not a healthy living blogger, but I am into healthy living, vegan food, fitness and the like and have read HLBs for years. It’s actually what drew me into blogging. However, given my own issues and struggles, I had to far distance myself from those blogs a couple of years ago and it’s the best–and healthiest–thing I ever did. In order to gain ads, readers and pats on the back, so many bloggers have taken to presenting themselves as authorities on food and exercise without any qualifications to do so. I won’t ramble here, but I will say that healthy living is subjective and so different for every person. For me, it’s to GAIN weight and exercise LESS, so reading about restriction and obsession is less than helpful.
Big picture, I think healthy living blogs as they are traditionally viewed have jumped the shark into cult-like endeavors at times. I seek out those blogs that have balance and authenticity, creativity and honesty. It’s rare to find these days, but it’s out there–you included. And I will also add that this is a topic that IS actually talked about quite a bit, just not on those traditional HL blogs 😉
I need to find these blogs you’re reading. Please share, and I love your description: “cult-like endeavors at times” because it absolutely seems that way sometimes.
Also, thank you, thank you, thank you for for including me in the “balance and authenticity, creativity and honesty” category. I truly appreciate it because it’s what I strive for, so it’s nice to know I’m somewhat effective.
Bravo! What a refreshing post today (well, every day). I can’t imagine how it feels to get this off your chest and hopefully it is read with an open mind. While I can understand concerns about dairy and wheat products (they don’t sit well with everyone), I don’t think restrictive diets lead to anything good. I believe wholeheartedly in indulgence, indulgence that remains respectful to oneself. I believe in chocolate. I believe in balance.
You’re right Liz. It does feel good to let it all out there.
I know they are some shady goings on with dairy and even my beloved wheat (pretty much anything we’ve allowed the “food industry” to contaminate) and some people have legit allergies and medical based food restrictions. I get it in those cases. Indulgence that remains respectful to oneself is a great way to put it, and I agree so long as you’re not avoiding good fats and complex carbs simply because you think they’re unhealthy.
I believe in chocolate too. And you, but that goes without saying.
I questions the community all the time… and there are a lot of blogs I stopped reading because I didn’t agree with their message. It’s all about balance. No need to overcomplicate. I love food – all the foods. Expecially cheese. With bourbon. Don’t judge. 😉
P.S. You better not be talking about me with the protein. LOL!
I almost put a disclaimer in there for people who are training for figure competitions. It would have totally been for you too, because I understand the mass protein consumptions in those cases. It completely cracked me up that you put that right out there too, which is part of the reason I love you. Well that and we share the same sense of humor.
“I want to help people gain a healthy understanding of food and their own bodies, and I’m not sure I can do that in the HLB community.”
Since this post is all about speaking up and speaking out, I’m gonna say here that I totally disagree! Because you know what happens when people like you leave? People with healthy, stable, nondisordered relationships with food? The HLB community becomes even MORE inundated with meal plans, calorie tracking and macronutrient obsession.
Ignoring the numbers and trusting my body is something that I have been struggling with SO much lately. It’s a hugely radical departure from anything I have ever done before – even if I wasn’t technically on a meal plan, I was still always eating based on calories and carb counts. But, because I’m part of this community, I’m learning about things like intuitive eating and moderate exercising and I know I’m so much the better for it.
Anyway, I’m not sure exactly which blogs you’re referencing, so this next comment might be irrelevant and I’m hesitant to say it because I’m searching for the right words, but here goes: I feel like the HLB community is getting very, very young. Like, high school young. While it’s awesome that young girls are interested in living healthfully (god knows what *I* was doing in high school), it’s also strange and hard to relate to. My relationship with my body image and with food has changed exponentially over the past few years…and continues to change every single day.
whew! I wrote a novel. I just wanted to say, please please PLEASE keep doing what you’re doing. You’re an inspiration for people like me who are trying to figure it out for themselves. Will there ever be a day when I am equally excited for a gorgeous vegetable as I am a gorgeous cupcake? You give me hope that there will.
HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Maybe the HLB community is getting younger…perhaps that’s part of my issue because I seem to be getting older (damn aging). I’ve also had years to torment myself over food and I can tell you what I ate in high school is not even close to how I eat now. Hell what I ate five years ago wasn’t even close to how I eat today. It was really a medical emergency a few years back that changed my eating habits, and as a result my life, all for the better. I want that for others.
For me personally, I don’t look at numbers (although they really can be a good thing for other people). I look at ingredients. If I can pronounce it, know what it is, and it’s healthy, well then I’m going to eat it. If I can pronounce, know what it is, but it’s not healthy, I’m going to eat less of it.
And you hit the nail on the head with your comment: “Will there ever be a day when I am equally excited for a gorgeous vegetable as I am a gorgeous cupcake. You give me hope that there will.” That’s literally what I’m trying to achieve. I so badly want that day to come for people because I really do love my veggies just as much as my cupcakes. Especially cupcakes covered in fruit.
By the way, your comment made me misty, in a good way.
I think you’re in a place that a lot of us are trying to reach…but we’re scared to let go of the numbers because it’s the only thing that we have ever known.
Aging is actually a wonderful thing! I’m 25 and I know that I’m much more self-aware, confident, and honest with myself than I was at 20 or 15. And I hope to continue making just as much progress over the next 5 years. Trying to come to terms with Who I Am, instead of Who I Think I Want To Be, is helping me to let go of a lot of food and body-image issues.
I love your ingredient-list approach to eating and I love your photos of grocery hauls. There are always so many gorgeous fruits and vegetables!
I read through all of the other comments that people left and it really seems like your words have resonated with many of us. We’re all figuring it out together 🙂
You are much sharper than you give yourself credit for because this right here is it: Trying to come to terms with Who I Am, instead of Who I Think I Want To Be.
And your comfort level with yourself and your confidence will only grow as you get older. I can attest to that and we all know what my ego is like.
I’ll also post my grocery store pictures and CSA produce because it starts tomorrow (and I couldn’t be more excited).
You’re too cool. Just saying.
I initially started out my blog as a way to communicate with people through food. Then the deeper I got into the HLB community, the more obsessed I became with food, the “good” and the “bad” (I put the quotes there because, really, who’s to say anything is “good” or “bad” if it works for one individual?). I’ve noticed over the last few months that I need to kind of back out of religiously reading HLB blogs because of how they make me feel about my own eating habits. I will never understand the women who can just completely give up sugar (all the power to them) or the women who can control their snacking to the point of its nonexistence. That is so not me, and I really need to step back and look at what IS me and what foods I like to eat. And as it turns out, I love bread, most fats, and cheese (as you said), and I really need to stop letting the HLB community make me feel bad about loving those things.
I’m not saying everyone out there makes me feel bad, and even in the posts that do, the bloggers don’t mean to. I think the community is great, but there are some risks to becoming fully immersed in it, like I have been for a while. Additionally, there are people out there like me who have health issues that restrict the way we eat even more, so really, comparing my diet to others’ is just not a good idea. I love your definition of healthy, and am on the way to fully embracing one very similar to it. I’m so glad you brought this up!!
P.S. Can I crawl through the screen and eat your food? Please?
P.P.S. I apologize for the novel of a comment. 😉
I like the novel of a comment, and I’m glad you’re taking control of your own food and how it makes you feel. For me, the HLB community doesn’t make me feel bad about my food choices, probably because I have too much ego for that, but it seems to be sorely lacking in some really important food groups like bread and cheese. My favorite.
You can come through the screen anytime.
love this post… love your outlook…
Thank you. I appreciate you stopping by and letting me know how you feel; it doesn’t hurt you flattered me either.
Meghan,
I’m so proud of you for getting this out of your head and onto your blog. You’ve done a wonderful job with your essay, and the photos sprinkled in are just icing on top.
Thanks Kirsten; it felt really good to get it all out, and thanks for letting me vent to you earlier about it all. I very much appreciate it.
I dig this post (and you). I feel like I’ve definitely been sucked down the not-so-healthy “healthy living” route a time or twenty and I feel like a lot of HLB struggle with that. I feel like a majority of HLB want the same thing- to eat healthy and to enjoy the food, but I think so many get lost in the process and end up getting side tracked with weight or other numbers, ya know?
I used to be obsessive with posting my calorie counts weekly on my blog and then I realized that 1) probably wasn’t healthy for me and 2) definitely wasn’t healthy for others. I realized that I could just be igniting someone else’s unhealthy obsession with “health” , which made me realy feckin’ sad to be honest. So I stopped doing that. Do I still count calories? Yup. But I eat treats when I want or need them (yes, sometimes you need them!) and if I’m feeling stressed I don’t track. Point is, doesn’t matter for other bloggers to know that. Everyone has their own way of managing their food/stress/everything.
HLB can be a great thing and encourage other people to make healthier decisions and more importantly to have fun with their food, but they can also be a very negative influence, so I totally get where you’re coming from. Personally, I think you’re one of the best examples of a REAL HLB, because you’ve got a truly healthy way of eating (which includes eating things you love- like cheese. Everyone loves cheese.) and you don’t play into fad diets or protein powders and all that shit. Quite frankly, when I read your blog I feel like you’ve got your shit together. Yeah, yeah, I know you talk about all the highs and the lows, but I feel like that makes your blog more real.
So yeah. Conclusion: I think you’re a better HLB than most. I should print that on a gold star and you should wear it pinned to your shirt at all times. Just sayin’. 😉
Hello, welcome to my novel. I should give it a title! hahaha. But seriously, I love how you just sparked a bunch of people to literally write pages and pages of content in response to you. You go girl.
I would absolutely wear a gold star, especially if we could make it glittery.
Seriously, your comment means a lot to me. In your words, a feckin’ lot.
I guess I didn’t really know the impact I had on others in the community when it comes to health and wellness. I just know most people aren’t showcasing bread with butter, cheese plates, and pasta bowls with actual pasta (not that there’s anything wrong with spaghetti squash), and I kinda wanted to say, to hell with that. So I did. Thanks for the support!
*clings to your pant leg* You can’t leave! Not after such a wonderfully insightful post! I honeslty couldn’t agree with you more about some of the things that happen in the blog world. I love this community, and I’ve met some really extraordinary women through it, but for every amazing blogger I come across, there are a good handful of others where I just can’t help but shake my head. I’m all for experimenting with your diet, but some of the things I see are just borderline disordered. Everyone is on a journey, though, and God only knows I’ve had my issues with food, so I try hard not to judge.
I feel like I’m in a pretty good place with my food and body right now, and although I definitely don’t follow the standard HLB diet, I feel and look better than when I actually did. The blog world needs more people who actually have their shit together when it comes to diet and exercise, so… no… you can’t go anywhere 😛
Clings to pant leg…I love your imagery, on your blog and even in your comments. It’s good to know I’m not alone in my thoughts on this topic. Now if only I could convince others that egg yolks, complex carbs, and an occasional cupcake aren’t the enemy. Sigh…maybe one day.
All things in moderation, emphasis on both “moderation” and “all things.”
Wise words Da.
OMG I salute you for this post, Meghan..and couldn’t agree more! I’ve been blogging for 3 years now and I’ve definitely noticed an increase in disordered bloggers, who in fact give the impression that they are healthy. I am glad I have a strong head on my shoulders to no longer get swayed by what I read but it worries me to think of the kind of influence particular bloggers could be having on those who are impressionable. Amongst the various “trends” in the HLB, the issue of protein stands out more. Why does everything have to protein-ified?? If you (generic you) want a slice of cake, eat one..don’t kid yourself that a protein mug cake hits the spot! Healthy is being able to accept that some days calls for salads and other days cookies…and that exercise is a form of enjoyment, not compensation. It’s a relief to know that I am not the only one who shares these sentiments.
Again, this is an awesome post and is exactly why I continue to read your blog 🙂
I’ve never had a microwaved mug cake. I’m not even sure what those things are, and I’m not gonna lie, they freak me out.
This right here is it: “Healthy is being able to accept that some days calls for salads and other days cookies…and that exercise is a form of enjoyment, not compensation.” Well said my friend, and I knew you would share my sentiments on this because we really see eye to eye when it comes to what constitutes healthy eating and living.
Great post! I get so frustrated when I hear people counting calories or worrying about every little thing they eat. I’m not goign to lie, I’ve been there before but I’m at a much happier healthier place in my life now. I DO limit certain foods and avoid some entirely because I have learned to listen to my body and how it reacts to those foods. I may eat mostly Paleo and to some that might seem extreme but it’s a diet that works for me and at this point in my life is healthy for me. If I want a beer, you better believe I’m going to have one. If I want a cupcake, hell yeah, serve it up! Now, I might not feel great the next day because what I ate but hey, I’m okay with that! Oh, and don’t leave!!!!! Love your blog and your humor 🙂
I think you have to listen to your body and if you learn how to do that, it will really tell you what you need. Our bodies are way smarter than we give them credit for, and I think if predominately paleo works for you, then that’s great. Being a vegetarian I certainly can’t knock an “extreme” approach so long as people are doing it in a healthy non-disordered way.
I’m thrilled you like my sense of humor, as immature and raunchy as it is, and I appreciate your support.
Wow–what a post to “come into reading your blog” on! 🙂 But seriously, it is very well written, and I agree with so many things you said. I won’t reiterate what so many other commenters already posted, but . . .
1. I do believe some people are taking healthy eating to an unhealthy level.
2. I absolutely believe “to each their own” when it comes to diet, but no matter what, it should focus on real, whole foods. Whether that be vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free . . .
3. Selfishly, I guess, I try to keep my blog focused on what I want to write/post about and not get sucked into doing something because it seems to be the HLB trend.
4. It’s all about maintaining a healthy balance!! And sometimes “healthy” isn’t strictly referring to the food. Sometimes “healthy” is what makes you happy and/or nourishes your soul. 🙂
Welcome, my name is Meghan and sometimes I rant. Hard.
I whole heartedly agree with what you said in number 2 and in number 4. With regard to number 3, there’s nothing wrong with being selfish from time to time. That’s also good for the soul.
One more thing. I love, I mean seriously love, that your wrote in list form. It rocked my socks.
Earlier this year I noticed that I have become obsessed with food….tracking, obsessing, constantly thinking about it. I had to take a step back and realize I had a problem. I wouldn’t have had this obsession if it weren’t for HLB, however it’s a souls edged sword because I love blogging and reading blogs. I pretty much agree with everything you said and I think all of us see to notice and struggle so I’m confused as to why we need to keep up the front! This is One of the reasons I don’t blog ab everything I eat. It’s nobody’s business!
I’m sorry to hear you got sucked into that negative vortex, but glad to see you realized it and took a step back. At the end of the day, you have to take care of yourself, your mind and your body. The best way I do that is to avoid reading disordered blogs and then to rant publically about what healthy eating means to me.
You are not allowed to leave! PERIOD. (end of story!) And if the time comes that you do you have to take me with you 🙂
Seriously I applaud you and all that you do with your health and wellness and your ability to not get so focused on being “healthy” that you forget about living your life. When I started blogging (that makes it sound long ago but it was only in the fall) I made quite a few self deprecating comments (mainly about my lack of working out and my love affair with all kinds of cheese). But those have been few and far between as of late (and usually directed at my lack of organization over my piles of paper work 🙂 ). And I have you and a few of the other really good people out there to thank for it! For accepting me into this little community without judgment, or criticism, or pressure to be/eat like anyone other than myself.
Maybe I don’t read enough blogs, or maybe I was lucky enough to just stumble on and stick with the “right” ones 🙂 But I feel there is a lot of good in this community (there can be crap but then again there is crap everywhere) but for the most part I think we are all making our way towards healthier choices.
Also you can’t leave because I would miss your yolk porn and raunchy humor. SO THERE!
Aw, I’m so glad I was able to help you out. That really means a lot to me, so thank you for sharing it.
You’re right, there is a lot of good in this community and I actually feel so much better for having said all this because despite all the good, I rarely see people eating cheese, drinking a beer, having a bowl of real pasta, so I needed to put it out there that these things can be good too.
Bring on the CHEESE 🙂
Also I forgot to say it before but whatever that strawberry/bread combination is 3 pictures from the bottom… I want some!
It’s strawberry and blue cheese bruschetta. I found the recipe in Eating Well, one of my all time favorite magazines: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/strawberry_blue_cheese_bruschetta.html
First off, let me say that I’m not a blogger. I follow a lot, and I mean a lot, of blogs. I guess almost all of them would be considered HLB’s. I read your blog because I like your blog. You write well, you’re interesting and I love reading about what you eat. I’m also a vegetarian but that’s somewhat irrelevant to my reading habits although I like vegetarian and vegan blogs the best because they’re easier for me to relate to. If, for some reason I don’t like a blog I’ve been following I delete it from my reader and search out one I might like better.
All of that being said, I know what I believe is healthy eating for me and it happens to be pretty close to what I read here. Plenty of HLB’S don’t reflect how I eat or my beliefs about healthy eating or good food. Many others give me great ideas, I delete any that offend or annoy me and follow the others. No big deal. Sometimes judging just takes too much energy.
You’re true to who you are and what you believe and what works for you. Good for you. Keep it up.
Thanks for speaking up Pat. I really and truly appreciate it. I love hearing from silent readers and hope you say hello again in the future.
I’m with you, I don’t read the blogs I find disordered but I still see comments or things on Instragram which baffle me. I say put down the PB2 and eat some real peanut butter made without the hydrogenated oils and you’ll be fine. You might even like it better.
Have a great day.
I love this post, and I wholeheartadly agree with you! I’ve done the calorie counting, I’ve obsessively tracked how much protien, carbs, etc I’ve eaten each day, and none of it made me healthier or happier. Finally (in my mid 30s!) I’ve learned to just listen to my body and eat what makes me feel good – real, fresh food! I started blogging not to convince anyone that what I do is the right way, but to share the food that makes me feel good.
I love your attitude towards food – don’t change a thing! Thanks, Meghan!
Thanks Melissa. Good real, fresh food really says it all. Much like you, it makes me feel great too.
amen sister. i actually joined the HLB community at the beginning of my eating disorder recovery. seriously, the community was a playground for my eating disorder in the sense of there were so many people just like me. sounds like a good thing right? no! because they portray their eating habits as NORMAL and HEALTHY. as i’ve progressed through my recovery i now can see how disordered the whole concept of healthy eating is. people are so quick to judge what you eat. heaven forbid you eat something out of a box, eat a piece of pizza, or have a piece (or 2) of cake. healthy living and eating to me is honoring your body, your cravings and giving it what it wants.
i am a total carb girl. i love bread. i love pasta and i could never give up cheese. why should i? because someone else tells me it’s not “healthy” yet adding protein powder to everything possible is? i don’t think so. any form of restriction in my book is not healthy and no food should be off limits or labeled “good” or “bad” food. food is food and i believe everything is find in moderation and balance.
i do love blogging though, and now i just choose to not read any blogs that i feel portray healthy in the wrong way. there are good blogs out there, and i do find i get great inspiration from others on how to lead a healthy balanced life, but in the end, i’m going to do what works for ME not for anyone else.
That’s a great outlook. I love a good slice of pizza, especially my own because I could put on all kinds of crazy deliciousness and as much cheese as I want.
DAWWW I love this post. I don’t put myself into an blogging category because I feel like my blog is so all over the place! I would lean more towards the healthy living community, but that would be my own personal definition because I keep myself healthy with my eats, my moves, and my laughs. I don’t read many blogs that seem like they count calories and are doing unhealthy things, but I have seen them before and they make me want to pull my hair.
I ALWAYS think your eats are PERFECT! I eat exactly the same way (aside from the cheese and other dairy) but I do make up for my lack of cheese with extra cupcakes and chocolate chips I swear! In fact so much so that I am still struggling to drop my winter blubber, but I am starting to be ok with that! HA! Great post my friend, and I don’t foresee you loosing any friends because of it! KEEP doing your THANG!
Thanks Brittany. I appreciate the support my dear. I like to think my eating is pretty damn healthy too, although some days it seems like no one in the HLB community eats like that. They’d rather have PB2 than actual peanut butter and I know you and I both think that’s a travesty. Mmmm peanut butter.
Oh Meg! I agree with you 100% (and if I didn’t think it was utterly ridiculous to say more than that, I would!). People make life (and eating) so hard sometimes…on themselves and on others. I’ve gone through many changes since I started blogging. Some days I struggle to understand the reason I still blog. I discovered the healthy living blogging community when I felt that I needed something to dive into…something to distract me…something to light me up inside and feel passionate about, but sometimes I wonder if I would still have a normal relationship with food had I never typed that recipe search into Google that led me to stumble into this world. I was on a path to disordered thoughts when it came to food, but only in the way other “normal” people see it (low fat, fat free, diet this, diet that). When I first submerged myself into this community, I started to soak up everything and couldn’t help but believe it all. Now, it’s a daily struggle…fighting with myself to see the REAL truth versus the false one put up by so many others. Was life simpler before? Is it better now? Will I EVER get back to “normal”? Sorry to be a Debbie Downer tonight…I need sleep…bad!
You’ll get there, although might I suggest a good night’s sleep in the meantime. It really helps, and I’m here if you ever need an advice, a shoulder or just some straight up cheese. In moderation, of course. 🙂
Thank you for linking me to this. I’m sad I missed it the first time, but I also might not have appreciated it as much as I do now. I will no ramble on, but I like to believe I’ve come back around from a deeper, sadder, place, despite still having room to (psychologically) grow.
Growing is a good thing. We could all use some of it, myself included. 🙂 I’m happy you’ve gotten your food happy back. Maybe it’s all those delicious egg; the power of #yolkporn. 🙂
I appreciate this is a bit of a bump from the past, but Meghan, I swear that you are some kind of American version of me! I could have typed out your food philosophies and near on all your ‘About Me’ list for myself!
I’m only new to the HLBlogosphere, but I think yours is one of the first that actually promotes healthy but realistic living! It’s been so, so disappointing to find so many bloggers who restrict themselves so much, yet promote a ‘healthy’ lifestyle.
Congratulations and keep on doing exactly what you’re doing – we can only be ourselves afterall! <3
Big hugs from a wheat-eating, cheese, butter and sugar loving urban hippy (and newfound fitness freak) from across the Pond.
Hi Zoe. Thank you for your very comment. I love finding kindred souls with similar food philosophies; butter loving and all.
Sending a hip bump back your way. Can’t wait to check out your site.
I just had to comment on this and let you know that it feels like you’ve actually taken the words out of my mouth with this post. For most of the time, it’s felt like I was the only one in this community who thought this way. It is so nice to know that isn’t the case. This is a conversation we need to have. This, not how to make our bread gluten free and how to find the best vegan butter or diet soda. Anyway, THANK YOU for commenting on my post. Glad that I found your blog!
Amy @ Long Drive Journey recently posted…My Healthy Living Philosophy
I’m glad you enjoyed it; it’s always nice to find a kindred soul in our little HLB community. I say embrace your veggies in one hand and your hunk of cheese in the other. You are definitely not alone on this topic.
Thank you SO much for highlighting this post- I think you have a place in the HLB world- because you are damn healthy and this is a perfect portrayal of it- my favourite bit was ‘i never leave a meal still hungry or overly full’- You, my friend, are capable of embracing your body, it’s needs and what it takes to live. LIVE. Bravo. Bravo.
And I know you you made those grilled cheese in butter.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy Tiramisu Oatmeal Pudding
I think over eating and under eating needs to be part of the discussion too. We seem to live in a world where both happen all the time and so rarely do people eat just what they need. It’s usually way too much or in our community, way too little, especially if you’re working out like a machine.
With butter, of course. Is there any other way to make grilled cheese? Bread, cheese, and butter; it’s the perfect meal.
Meghan recently posted…A Blast from the Past
I’m glad you linked up to this post, because I missed it the first time around.
As someone who is not part of the HLB community as anything more than a reader, I can safely say that I simply don’t get it sometimes. All of these special diets and restrictions and recipes for those special diets and restrictions just seem so overly complicated to me. To say nothing of the fact that I don’t want to run out to spend $16 on unicorn tears that I will use exactly one time for this single recipe.
I have greatly reduced the number of blogs to which I subscribe for precisely those reasons: they simply do not apply to my style of eating. I love healthy food that is probably (definitely) a bit more indulgent than the average HLBer. It’s also why I’ve become such a fangirl of yours! Because I love wine and cheese and veggies and all of the real food just as much as you do, and your philosophy is one that I can get behind.
Tara @ Rovin’ Rambler recently posted…Myanmar: Final Thoughts
I’m with you, and I still don’t get it, which is why I try to stay away from those blogs, although I still see it in comments and on Instagram. It’s craziness to me and certainly not sustainable.
Thank you for the lovely thoughts on my blog. I really appreciate it; they mean a lot to me. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…A Blast from the Past
Wow this really was a great post! It definitely holds true with how I view eating these days. I actually joined the HLB when I was, ironically, not so healthy (yes I was one of those overly restrictive, naive college students who thought I could run for miles and miles and live off of small amounts of food, calling myself “healthy”).
And a lot of times when I see people do posts about following specific (i.e. rigid) diet plans, I just ignore it. I really think that unless a person has a severe allergy to something, there is really no need to eliminate any food groups or whatever from a diet.
I mean, I am able to sustain my weight while eating the foods I love – cheese, breads, sweets on occasion because they give me nasty headaches lol, lots of fruit…all the good stuff in the world that makes eating and life more fun.
So I definitely agree with everything that you have said!! There is no need to be so restrictive and rigid all the time just for the most “in shape” or “thin” body you can achieve. I think that health is more important. And for me, my healthy weight is above what I always wanted to weight…so losing more is definitely not always the answer to being healthy!
Thanks again for the great post!
Natasha recently posted…MIMM
Thanks for the lovely comment, and I’m so happy to hear you achieved and maintained a healthy weight, while still being able to enjoy some of the finer foods out there. I can’t ever imagine a life without cheese. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Sometimes
Found this post through thebigmansworld.com and I am so happy I did. As a foodie and a someone with a background in nutrition, I find myself struggling with these same issues (personally and within my community). I don’t know how many times I get asked about best “diets”, good vs. bad foods, what to eat, when to eat, how often to eat etc. I am happy to help educate others and yes, we should all try to lead a healthy/active lifestyle. But, you don’t have to go to extremes to get there…Okay, I feel like I’m going on a rant now so let me stop lol. Thanks again for this post!
Nathalie C. @ Devoted Foodie recently posted…Sit & Sip with Devoted Foodie 7/27
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. It’s always nice to hear from people who feel similarly, especially about the blogging community. The word diet makes me all kind of ranty too. We could rant together. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Currently: August 2014
Alright, you just earned yourself a follower. This was great, thank you.
Haley @ Better With Toast recently posted…WIAW #3
Aw shucks. Thanks Haley. I’m so glad you liked the post. Writing this one was cathartic for me.