Confessions of a Nutritionist…
A funny thing sometimes happens when people see me in the grocery store. Most times as I approach a familiar face we exchange nods and brief hellos…perhaps even a little banter about the weather. Other times though, I see the uncomfortable look of someone who has just been caught doing something they shouldn’t. This look is often followed by some kind of an explanation as to why their cart contains chips, cookies or candy as well as a rundown of their most recent discovery of a new healthy salad or soup recipe. While it is somewhat entertaining to listen to, I am quick to let them off the hook. The truth of the matter is, when our daily diet is anchored in whole foods, there is some wiggle room for less than ideal foods that we can enjoy guilt free.
Since so many have made confessions to me, I thought it was high time I made a few of my own.
Confessions of a Nutritionist:
- I have only ever cooked with tofu once. I’ve eaten it more often than that and enjoyed it but I have only ever created a dish with it once.
- I don’t like kale chips. I’ve tried, I really have.
- The smell of Mary Brown’s Fried Chicken makes me salivate almost uncontrollably.
- I have been known to eat dark chocolate while making supper. Don’t tell my kids though, because I wouldn’t let them do that. It would ruin their dinner.
- Eating healthy isn’t always easy for me either. Sometimes I want to eat chips at 9:45 p.m. right before bed and straight from the bag. Miss Vicki’s and a glass of wine are one of my favourite combos. Yep, their marketing campaign totally worked on me!
Eating healthy and what that means to me has evolved over the years. In the beginning it was hard and I felt like I was missing out on some of my favourite foods. As time went on though, it did get easier and continues to do so. I have on several occasions eaten something that used to be a favourite of mine only to discover that my taste buds have changed and it really doesn’t taste very good anymore. Foods that I use to get excited about eating are now a little, ‘meh.’ A few years ago, I tasted a, ‘Lik-a-Stick,’ again for the first time in years. I used to eat one of those every Friday during my husband’s (then boyfriend) baseball season. It was a bit of a tradition with the girls. When I gave it a whirl again, I was honestly surprised by how much I didn’t like it anymore.
One of the big things that I discuss with clients is untangling food and guilt as well. We tend to pair food and guilt quite often. Do any of these statements sound familiar? “It was a rough week at work, I deserved that cake.” Or, we feel the need to justify the fact that we ate something less than ideal. “I earned those wings and beer at the gym today.” The truth of the matter is this. We were blessed with taste buds for a reason. Our food is meant to be enjoyed. Our food choices don’t define us as, ‘good,’ or ‘bad,’ people. Our food choices do however, contribute to our overall good health. If we are consistently making food choices that are highly processed and low in beneficial nutrients, it is going to impact our health, our energy levels and the way we feel.
The point of this post is to remind you that eating well is so important but it doesn’t define my opinion of the person you are, and it shouldn’t define your opinion of yourself either. Eat well to feel well – not to impress anyone else!
Okay…last confession. I have in the past, ‘strategically,’ packed my cart while grocery shopping in such a way as to hide certain packages from plain site. I guess that I’m still a work in progress too!
September brings with it a sense of new beginning. We welcome cooler days, cozy sweaters and fall foliage that is breathtaking. Some of you are preparing to send your baby off to kindergarten for the first time. I still remember that first time up the walkway to the school. It was a mix of excitement, hesitation…and crying. (Don’t worry, I didn’t let them see me!) My boys are 9 & 11 and even still, I miss them when they head off to school in September. Each year I feel like I lose my babies a little bit, but I gain young men who surprise me with their intellect, creativity and compassion for others. Just to keep it real though, they still act like goof balls, can be extremely messy and drive me crazy! For others, you are preparing to send your big kid out into the world as they begin post secondary education, travel or begin their working career.
The time has come to get ready for back to school in my house. We have had an amazing summer but we are all craving a little routine and it is time for us to see other people. Check out this
Black Bean Burgers
Grilled Veggies
Ah! Summer days are upon us! Trips to the cottage, camping excursions and backyard barbecues are just around the corner. Holidays are meant to restore us and give us rest from our everyday routine. It makes sense to take good care of yourself over the holidays – emotionally, physically and nutritionally.
The lazy, hazy days of Summer are nearly upon us! Trips to the beach, a visit to the cottage or time tending the garden all equal the need for a little sun safety. Growing up, I remember spending hours outside without a hat or sunscreen. In fact, it was popular at that time to put tanning oil on your skin to improve the depth of the tan. Yikes! (Those were also the days of no car seats and kids used the street lights to tell them when to return home. I’m not sure how we survived, but somehow we managed!) While there were lots of good things about growing up in the era before sun awareness, reckless abandon for sun protection was not one of them.
