Is Eating Healthy A Chore?
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I was having a conversation with a friend recently about packing something healthy to take with me on vacation. I mentioned that I couldn't rely on the snacks available on the train because they are unhealthy. Then my friend asked me “Don't you take a break from eating healthy on vacation?”
That question really got me thinking. Do I take a break from healthy? Well I told my friend that those snacks foods just don't appeal to me. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that I have gone from Darth Vador to Luke Skywalker on the healthy eating scale. How did I get here? How did this happen?
For years I agonized over diets; what I was going to eat and what foods I had to avoid. It was EXHAUSTING. I put so much energy into eating right, that when I slipped up I felt so guilty. I notice that guilt in other people too. When I talk to someone about eating healthy, they often beat themselves up over the poor food choices they have made.
It is this roller coaster of energy and guilt that increase the likely hood of failure. I had a seat on this roller coaster for many years. Guilt was my best friend and I would have so much pride when I was doing good and was so down on myself when I had fallen off.
Solution. The way I broke from this destructive cycle of dieting was really quite simple. I didn't focus so much on the calories and I focused on eating clean, simple and natural foods. My logic was if I could make these whole natural foods taste good then I wouldn't feel guilty about eating as much as I wanted because it wasn't harming my body. I researched the foods I had been eating and how they were harming me. Everyone is different and has a different reaction to food, but we all knows ourselves better then anyone else. We know what makes us feel good and we know what puts the pounds on. Trust yourself.
All in all I must say I am happier. I enjoy eating natural foods and it feels good. I no longer beat myself up every day for making a mistake. If I want to have something not so healthy I eat it and without the guilt. It has been a journey to get to this point but I encourage everyone to find their own path to healthy.
Is eating healthy a chore for you? Do you feel guilty about eating bad foods? How do you think you can make your transition to cleaner eating easier? Share your thoughts.
Reader Comments (1)
I get that reaction a lot when people see me pulling out my lunch or slicing a tomato or some fruit. They have a list of reasons why they eat the way they do, I never asked but they feel guilty as they scarf down that greasy burger. I don't feel like it's a vacation after doing the 10 day juice fast. Before the fast I would have myself on a somewhat restrictive diet so I felt as if I was depriving myself and would make a whole cheat day that I would then feel guilty about. (I ate wuite healthy in general but switched to a vegan diet in dec now I feel great when I'm eating fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. No other feeling. great Post!