More often than not, I feel like the odd man out in our blogging community.
That’s not to say being an odd man is a bad thing, although being a man might be when you consider the fact I’m rocking lady parts. Plus, the Hubby might take issue with my sudden gender re-assignment.
Here’s the thing, one of the reasons I got into blogging, other than to have a justification for my sudden fascination with selfies, was to find people who felt the same way I did about food. That is to say, obsessed.
While I adore the Hubby and would cartwheel to the moon and back for him, he likes sports (ewww) and his feedback on my cooking ranges from good, to great, to needs salt. That last one is a running joke because I happen to have a thing for salt. I also have a thing for sweets, for veggies, for cheese, for fruit. You get the idea, which is why I wanted to find people who felt the same. Enter the Healthy Living Blog community.
I’ve met extraordinary people, who feel just as strongly and passionately about what they put in their mouth as me. We just so happen to have a different take on the finer details: the actual food.
Side Note: This post is not anti-HLB or pro-me, although I’m always pro-me. I think you should be pro-you too. Everybody is different and should tackle their food in a way which works for them. I certainly have. I dig my edible choices, although I have noticed my approach is a bit unusual in our group.
Ways I’m Not Your Typical Healthy Living Blogger
- Italian food is a beautiful thing. I could eat bowls of pasta and fabulous pizzas on a daily basis. I don’t, but I do eat them regularly, and it’s usually my own homemade concoction.
- My cheese adoration and actual consumption is atypical, which is why I think I’m now known as the Cheese Girl in the HLB community, a title I happily accept.
- I eat butter, and I don’t mean coconut butter. Baked good just aren’t complete without butter. I cook with it when I’m not using olive oil and it just so happens to be my favorite pancake topping, alongside a pretty pool of pure maple syrup.
- I like bread with my butter. Not low-carb or high protein or gluten-free bread. Just bread, sometimes white, sometimes whole grain, but always delicious. I did some homework on gluten (i.e. listened to a podcast). It’s an allergen the same way cigarette smoke or pet dander are allergens. Some people are sensitive to them and some people have three cats. I think we know which group I fall into.
- Which leads me to my next topic. I don’t have any allergies or weird reactions to food, unless you count alcohol, and I just overlook the hives. It’s cool.
- I don’t have any digestive issues either. I often say I have a stomach of steel which is really an exaggerated translation for being Regular, with a capital R. Suffice to say, my digestive system is a well oiled machine; probably due to the butter.
- Eating mass quantities of veggies doesn’t make me look nine months pregnant, although eating in general will give me a bit of paunch until the food is broken down and processed. It’s normal. C’mon, have you ever seen a snake eat? Talk about having your food show. That’s practically indecent.
- I like dressing on my salads; always. Real dressing too, not some kind of low-fat or salsa/mustard/hummus substitute. I do keep it simple though, with a mix of olive oil and a fancy vinegar. If I’m feeling extra ambitious, I’ll happily make a more potent concoction.
- I’ve never eaten Oats in a Jar. I haven’t eaten oatmeal itself in years, although granola and I are besties.
- I don’t mess around with Protein Powders. To be frank, I don’t get the obsession since protein deficiency isn’t really a thing, although there are certainly plenty of people lacking key vitamins and nutrients.
- I’ve never eaten a Quest bar, and I have no desire to start. I also think people’s pictures of them look like a rectangular pile of poop; baked in the oven or not.
- I eat the entire egg, yolk and all. In fact, it’s my favorite part.
- PB2, powdered peanut butter with the fat sucked out, makes me sad for real peanut butter. I get the concept, I understand the flavoring; it still makes me sad.
- I like fitspiration. Or at least some of it. It gets me all jacked up so I can take over the world, or at the very least, a workout.
It’s true. I totally do.
- I don’t know how many calories are in anything I eat, and I could care less about macros. I do know what ingredients are in the food I consume, and that’s all that matters to me.
- I’d take sugar over stevia.
- I’d drink a regular soda over diet because I’d rather have calories than chemicals.
- I’d get my food from the local farms versus a Trader Joes or Whole Foods any day of the week, and twice on Tuesday.
The point is I feel like a bit of a rarity in our little food community, a diamond in the rough one might say, although if I’m being honest and taking into consideration my potty mouth and level of humor, I’m probably more in line with the rough.
I suppose I could pack my veggies and go, and while I may search out greener pesticide free pastures, I could never leave our little community either. I’ve met, or talked to multiple times a week which is almost the same thing, a ton of great people, and while our food choices are certainly and sometimes glaringly (to me anyway) different, there is one constant and common theme, and that is our love of food.
Eat on, my friends.
Today’s post is also being shared with Amanda’s Thinking Out Loud, because that was a whole lot of thoughts, out loud. Now I want to hear some of yours.
What are the ways you feel atypical in the HLB community? What are the ways you feel completely at home?
I could link to this and title it “reasons I am not in the HLB”!
Preach, sista.
Kirsten recently posted…Greek Stew Meat Tacos
Can I get A-Men!
Love this post! I follow a lot of different blogs and sometimes I feel like I just can’t keep up with all the different ways to cook with different substitutions!! I love all the blogs I follow but a girl just wants to buy ONE type of flour to make banana bread not 3 different ones that you have to find in 3 different stores. Keep it real girl, and do your thang! 🙂
Ain’t that the truth. I use regular wheat flour and that’s about it. I don’t want to mess around with multiple flours if it isn’t necessary. Food should be easy as well as delicious.
I have UAP, WW, and bread flour–I use bread and WW in my sourdough, and UAP and WW in cookies/muffins/waffles.
Um, WW=Whole Wheat, UAP=Unbleached All Purpose.
Kirsten recently posted…Greek Stew Meat Tacos
That’s it. We’re through. 🙂
I like the coding.
And this is why we love you. 🙂 Three cheers for cheese!!! (Bread and pasta too while we’re at it)
Tiff recently posted…Not So Bad
Let’s give them four cheers. Cheese deserves at least three all on it’s own. 🙂
I adore your natural approach to eating. Honestly, I could not regularly tune into a blog that promotes sugar/fat/real food substitutes with processed crud. You’ve got game, thanks for sharing it with all of us.
I’ve got game, huh. I like that. I’ll have to use that sometime. Big love to you Liz.
Love this! I also don’t think there’s a fine line between what is healthy and what’s not. Who’s to say what’s right and wrong? there’s studies that show this or that, but there’s studies that refute that, too.
Just be you. Live your message and ditch the labels.
I’m so sad I’m not going to meet you in person in Utah. I double booked myself for events on the sunday because I’m a moron that clearly needs help reading calendars. I could come in for one night, but that doesn’t really feel like it’s worth the flight.
Another time I hope!!
x
caren recently posted…Comment on When absolutely nothing goes right. by Kerry
I understand, but I’m sad I won’t get to meet you. I was hoping we could stand awkwardly in a corner, not talking. Dammit, now who’s going to do that with me and actually find it humorous?!
This might be the best post I’ve read in a while,Meghan ! This is why I keep coming back to your blog- you keep it real. I couldn’t help but laugh about Quest Bars- anything with a “high protein” label sends me heading in the opposite direction!
Khushboo recently posted…A weekend of delicious eats
Aw thank you Khushboo. I’m so glad you liked it. I was definitely nervous hitting Publish on this one, but at the end of the day, I gotta be me and stay true to myself.
ooh! I loved this post!
I follow your blog since months ago and I really like the way you see food! This perspective is great and similar to me.
I like food, I enjoy food, I want to eat healthy but always enjoying.
Go for it!
Thanks!
You hit the nail on the head. If you truly want it to be a permanent lifestyle, then you have to enjoy what you eat.
We’ve never met but I think we must be related… we think the same. (Scary, but true)
I love to sweat, I love to eat healthy, but…I love love LOVE to eat. And eat well.
Carry on sistah friend. Carry on. (Typed as I wave my butter flag)
Maybe we’re brothers from another mother. ‘Eh?
I want a butter flag too.
I absolutely love you, your baby doll curls, your cheese & fruit plates, your public banana and fabulous, uniquely you!
I am pretty jealous of normal eater with text book digestion!
As for Quest Bars…I could scream if I see another “creation” made from these creepy looking mystery bars!
I think I am pretty abnormal as a HLB, as well but I love it just the same. For the record, I unfollow pop tart eaters and people who feel the need to “cheat” on themselves with Ronald McDonald or some other silliness instead of just rocking their own style.
There’s room for everyone and a true healthy lifestyle is one that works for YOU!
Michelle recently posted…Wake up! It’s Wednesday! {Clean Eating 101}
Ain’t that the truth.
I will also tell you the feeling is absolutely mutual. Your IG messages always make my day, either through their positivity or those crazy jokes.
Yeah, I won’t mess with McD’s or any of those big fast food chains either, mainly because what they’re selling ain’t food. I’m not down with that.
UHH what HLB are you reading!?! Because low fat salad dressing, and fake butter is not healthy in my opinion. I admit..I don’t eat cheese, but these are ethical reasons..NOT health related reasons. I eat sugar by the pounds (OK I should slow down with that) and stevia is nasty as f@(&. Anway what I am getting at is that I think your way of eating is healthy…like..really healthy. You eat “real food” which is what I am all about. I was JUST telling someone today that asked me if I ever struggle finding alternatives to supplement my diet and I said “hell naw…that packaged food is just shit, I just eat REAL food.” OK So it doesn’t come from a cow, but I honestly pride myself on NOT falling prey to “low fat” diets. BRING ON THE FULL FAt. I do love coconut oil and TJ’s though. HA But never everrr count calories!
Brittany recently posted…DIY: Mason Jar Photo Flower Vase
I need new material, huh? Give me some good recommendations please.
I like real food too. A lot. A whole lot.
I respect your decision to take a pass on the cheese. I actually try to make sure the food I purchase is done in a way which doesn’t harm the animals. That’s pretty important to me. It’s one of the reasons I don’t eat meat. I can’t stomach, emotionally, what goes on at the big factory farms. I think it’s a travesty what they do.
You are a REAL, NORMAL eater. This is why I love reading your blog. So open, honest, and real. Who cares if you don’t fall into the typical HLB title. Be you and be proud!
ps: I tried a quest bar (yes, forked over $2.50 for it) and it was gross. Tasted NOTHING like the cookie dough it claimed to be. Never buying again.
Kate recently posted…The Desire to Be Something You Are Not
I think everyone is normal or not in their own right. I definitely embrace who I am. I think everybody should whether it’s a love for butter or love for margarine. Be you, be happy, be healthy.
I’ve never tried an actual Quest bar so I can’t really say whether they actually taste good or not. I don’t think they look very pretty though.
this is why i love you. Did you know i love you? No allergies, lover of butter and cheese, alcohol hives looks good on you, and sarcasm… YES!
lindsay recently posted…Feeding the Adrenals- Cherry Sleepytime Shake and Sea Salt
I am so fortunate not to have any food allergies and alcohol hives don’t count, although all cameras better be put away once I start drinking at Blend (wink, wink).
So much sarcasm. I think it’s my second language.
I’m very tempted to leave a comment along the lines of “you should have titled this post ‘ways I’m a normal human being'” buuuuut that sounds a little mean so I’ll just think it instead 😉
There are some pretty crazy things happening out there in the HLB community, but I try not to hate on it too much because I remember what it felt like to get sucked in to all the craziness, and while I’m thankful to be out for the most part, it was definitely a journey full of struggles… and I kind of feel like everyone is battling with their own issues and trying to find their way. Sometimes it just takes time.
But now I’m rambling so I’ll end this by saying that I can’t wait to see you in TWO WEEKS 😀 😀
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. thinking out loud #79 .
I think we’re all normal or abnormal in own little ways. I do sometimes feel a little like the odd man out though because my food ways are so vastly different. At the end of the day, I want people to embrace their choices, whether it’s sugar or stevia. I just so happen to prefer sugar.
TWO WEEKS!! Can you believe it?!
First: Shame on you for having a steel stomach! How dare you! And you’re eating butter??? Like real butter??? I guess I need to stop reading your blog!
No but jokes aside.You know that’s something I really like and appreciate about you and your blog! If I feel like cooking one of your recipes (your wonderful granola for example) is easy and great not only because of the decicious things you make but because I can easily get my hand on every single ingredient. I often see recipes from other bloggers I would like to try but by simply screening the lists of ingredients I back out. First: I don’t even know most of the stuff and second: would never get my hands on it.
Local real food is great! Focusing on ingredients and nutrition is great! Cheese is great! Gosh I would cover my whole apartment in cheese if possible! And stevia is gross. I better skip the sweet altogether than substituting sugar/ honey whatever for stevia.
Meghan, I am so happy you as the odd (wo)man out are part of that community because otherwise I am not sure I would have ever found your wonderful blog.
I do like to try to keep my recipes pretty simple because I like to cook simply. Half the time I make things on the fly with my farmer’s market or CSA veggies and an odd assortment of leftovers and the other half I use what I consider pantry staples, of which I have plenty. I don’t need to be filling it with any more ingredients, especially ones I rarely use. I’ve never had stevia so I can’t say whether it’s gross or not. The idea to start using it just doesn’t appeal to me though.
I’m glad you found me too because then I got to find you.
I basically wrote the exact same post a few months ago…hence why I like you so much!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…Gluten-Free Carrot Cake + A Very Special Birthday!
Yes, I remember it well. I commented back then how I was working on a similar post, although my reasons were more food based. I still get a kick out of yours though and your Harry Potter reference.
I love it!! Own it girl!! I don’t eat butter or cheese only because I realized they make me feel like crap…or I would…and sometimes I do anyways if it involves pizza.
I definitely am not a foodie though, so the community for me is about just having others who are always interested in finding their best life, whatever that means for them. Fun loved this post!
Amanda – RunToTheFinish recently posted…Ready to escape a life of beige and awaken your sparkle?
I’m sorry to hear that, although I’m glad you make an exception for pizza. Too much processed food makes me feel like crap, but butter and cheese makes me feel glorious. 🙂
Your line about Quest bars cracked me up. Couldn’t agree more!
Jess @ Keeping It Real Food recently posted…Thinking Out Loud
Glad you liked it.
Yes, thank you! I have the same eating philosophies and that’s why I was so thrilled to find your blog recently. Love your recipes! Thanks for sharing them!
I’m glad you found me, and you are most welcome. Thanks for taking the time to comment and say hello. I love seeing new faces and getting different insights so feel free to speak up anytime. Especially when you agree with me. 😉
I am a carb MONSTER. I love me some bread, I love me some butter. If it was good enough for my grandma, it’s good enough for me.
Bex recently posted…Handmade “Cuppow”. Mason Jar Drinking for the Rest of Us.
And I LOVE this saying. If it was good enough for grandma, it was good enough for me. You rock!!
Probably because you rock.
And that’s probabdly because WE HAVE THE SAME LAST NAMES!!!!!!!111!ONE ONE ONE.
Bex recently posted…#MakeTodaySpecial with a Willow Walk
Get out of dodge!
How far exactly was the distance between Germany and Cleveland again? I feel we really need to hang out one day. In between playing chase with Max I’d let you introduce me to the world of cheeses that you know I have yet to work my way through. Don’t take me adding more salt to just about every dish you cook personal, though, because hey, I have a thing for salt, too. Actually, I think that’s one of my non-HLB things because I’ve seen many people use low-sodium everything or saying they didn’t add any salt. But a) that’s not easy over here because we don’t have no-salt-added legumes or cottage cheese and I plain out refuse to live without either of them. And b) salt is and will always be a flavour enhancer. Fact. All of that salty talk and your butter fondness combined I hope you tried/ better: are using salted (!) butter. I discovered it in Sweden years ago and well, the Swedish know what’s good.
I’m feeling at home and – finally when judging from my family’s looks – normal when it comes to oat bran/ oatmeal/ oat whatever. No oats in a jar for me, either, though.
And now I wish I could attend Blend. I guess at least I get to bug you via mail all of the time, ha.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Pin it? I’m in [for] it!
Unsalted butter is a joke and reserved for a few baked good recipes that call for it. Otherwise, I am all salted butter, all the time. Amen to salt. It gives the food flavor. Plus, we need salt in our diets. Certainly not the amount you’d get from processed food, but if the vast majority of your food is self prepared, then adding some salt isn’t going to hurt.
It would be great if you could find a way to get to Blend. I bet there are still spots left. Afterwards, you can come to Cleveland for a few days and hang out with the kitties.
Grr I hate when I think I comment, and come back to find that I must have written it all out in my head!
Anywho this is an amazing post and a wonderful reminder of why you (and by extension your blog) is awesome, because you are 100% YOU when you’re here and you deserve all the medals and tiaras there are for that. I say bring on the cheese, the eggs, bananas, and all the granola in the world because those are the things that make life good. Though an inappropriate joke or two never hurt once in a while 😉
You’re the kind of duck that I could get behind, you’ve inspired some pretty amazing health steps in my life, and been a wonderful support. Now lets eat!!
Sarah Pie recently posted…Why I read
We should all bow out heads for a moment for lost comments. I’m sure there’s a den of them somewhere.
I’m so glad to hear I’ve been supportive and had a positive impact on you. Those are the kind of comments that make my month. For reals. 🙂
I loove this post! However, I challenge your stomach of steel to take on some of the spicy curries here…
Tara @ Rovin’ Rambler recently posted…Weekend In Pictures
I would love to try some of those spicy curries where you are; they must be amazing. I suspect my stomach will manage just fine, although my taste buds might scream. You’ll have to keep the water and bread handy for me.
I honestly think out of all the HLB’s out there, you would be the one I would find my kitchen resembling the most, and one I know I wouldn’t turn down a single meal to- purely because it uses all my daily staples- butter, cheese, bread and pasta.
While I do enjoy protein bars and using protein powder, I would never use it as a sole choice of protein- I just love the meat, cheese and nuts too.
The biggest flack I get is my adoration of white potatoes….I remember all the emails I got telling me how ‘bad’ they were for me and how I shouldn’t do whole30 if I included potatoes. I sent those mofos to spam, while making the executive decision to eat a kilo of white potatoes in a day. Oh snap.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…The salad/diet assumption
I think at the end of the day if you cut your intake of processed food, whether it’s the garbage or even the good stuff (i.e. organic, no additives, chemicals, etc) and just focus on real food, then you can have some cheese, bread, white potatoes, gelato, without repercussion. Also portion size plays a role and I think overeating is more of the culprit sometimes than the actual food. Yes I love Italian food, but I don’t eat three bowls of pasta in a single sitting (alright there was that one time… 😉 ).
You’re the coolest. I was going to comment on like 9 specific things, but let’s just leave it at you’re the coolest.
Jess @ JessieBear What Will You Wear? recently posted…Just Stopping By
Thanks Jess. You’re not half bad either. 😉
Yes, yes, yes. A million times, yes.
I just discovered your blog and I’m kind of obsessed with it (and you). Everything about this is spot on. Cheese, carbs, butter…hand ’em over. And I’m glad I’m not the only one that doesn’t suffer from any bizarre food intolerance because, in the blogging community, I feel like I am.
xoxo
Emily recently posted…lessons in etiquette #2: interviews
I’m thrilled you discovered me, Emily. I like the sound of that. Perhaps fame and fortune is not far off. Or maybe I should go clean up the dead chipmunk in my back yard, a gift from one of my felines. Sigh, real life has a way of creeping in, doesn’t it.
It’s nice not to have food intolerances. I almost feel guilty talking about it, but then I remember how much I love cheese and butter and bread. Sometimes all together; grilled.
Hopefully I will see you again soon.
I love you! And most of the reasons why I love you are those rare qualities. Conformity is for the birds. When I first started blogging, I was all jumping in on whatever band wagon that was pulling in. What’s crazy is…most of the time, half the stuff I tried, I didn’t even LIKE! I just kept at it and kept at it until I learned to like it. I’m only just now getting to the point (like within the last year) where I actually know what I *points thumbs at chest* like! I haven’t touched a single jug of protein powder in months. Eggs are only consumed in there whole form. And I couldn’t tell you how many calories I had in a day if I even tried! I like cheese and butter and wine and French fries (even better when paired together! Ha, how’s that for some class? ;)) and cheese…wait, did I already say that…and I will eat them any day and EVERY day!
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli recently posted…Playing Favorites
Oh…but I will say that I do happen to have some overnight oats in a jar waiting for me for breakfast in the morning! 😉 Lol
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli recently posted…Playing Favorites
I’m thrilled you’re discovering and embracing the foods you want to eat. It’s gotta be an eye-opening experience. Plus probably a little freeing too. Wine, fries and cheese have their place, just not at every meal. Well except cheese. 🙂 Alright fine, not every meal, but enough of them. 🙂
You are such an inspiration. For sure, your readers will enjoy this post. And yes, your recipes are great! Thumbs up for sharing them.
Austin Bariatric recently posted…Waco, Texas