You’ve probably noticed the blog content has shifted a bit lately; and now I want to explain why. If you only read one thing I write this year, I hope it’s this.
I’ve had a weird past couple of months. I’ve questioned a lot of things. Is all of this what I want to be doing for the rest of my life? What do I actually enjoy? What is my purpose? What am I promoting? Who was I when this all started? And who have I become?
I, like a lot of bloggers, started this space as a passion project. I loved to write and I loved to eat, so I combined the two and made a blog about it. I didn’t start it with the hopes of it becoming a business. It just kind of…did. While that may seem ideal, the obvious end goal for anyone that starts a blog, it’s truly not. When your passion becomes your career, when your financial well being depends on the very thing that tugs at your heart strings, it will be forever changed.
In short, I feel like somewhere along the way I lost some meaning in all of this. Do I not get the same satisfaction I used to by posting a recipe? Sometimes I feel like I’m just checking off a box. I could write about my deep dark thoughts on so many different things that you’d probably love to hear my perspective on, but turning to recipes is more familiar. More calculated.
It has become somewhat routine. Like oh shit, it’s Sunday and I haven’t written any posts for the week and all I want to do is eat pancakes and not write about them.
I function, I thrive, on meaning in my work. I live my passion every day. When I don’t feel inspired, I can’t write. I won’t write. If I get home late from work and don’t feel like blogging, I don’t. That’s not inspired me and you don’t want to read words from un-inspired me. That’s who built this beautiful space and I won’t settle for less.
That doesn’t mean I’m only writing when I’m super happy. That’s not real life. For example, I feel super inspired right now but perhaps not as positive as I usually feel. I’m feeling those feelings and I’m very ok sharing them with you today.
I read in Big Magic recently about grabbing on to creativity as it comes to you. You never know when it’s coming, but you know when it hits you. It hit me hard last week and that’s what engendered this post. I was eating some ice cream when it suddenly dawned on me that I had to tell you this realization. The inspiration melted all over me and I haven’t stopped typing since.
I’m the kind of person that’s always looking for the next thing. I want to live a life of creativity, joy, anticipation, and excitement. It’s no surprise that after over five years I’m feeling a bit lost. And lost is the best way to describe how I’ve been feeling in more parts of my life than one. I need new meaning. I need to be re-inspired.
Let’s rewind for a second and reflect on the loss of purpose. I feel like 2016 was the year of hyper-focusing on healthy eating. I watched so many women fall madly and deeply in love with healthy food like I did five years ago but something was different. They took it a step too far. They went from health conscious to health obsessed. There were orthorexia red flags everywhere. People in my very profession, dietitians, people in school for nutrition, people blogging the healthy recipes you make at home, were emailing me asking for help with their eating disorders.
Who am I? What have we become? Did I fuel this problem? Are these social networks a platform for disordered eating? Do I even want to eat this way? Are we as “healthy living bloggers” perpetuating orthorexia? Is my blog fueling the fire?
Davida asked me on her podcast last week if I thought we were part of the problem, if we were perpetuating the healthy eating obsession. I replied without hesitation, “yes.”
I’d be lying if I said I haven’t visualized writing a post about the end for the blog. Is that weird? I love Hummusapien more than anything but it’s like this guilty pleasure thought of not having to deal with this health bubble I’m in anymore. Not having to keep up with Jones’ on social media, or keep up with anyone for that matter. Not having to endure the daily scroll through three billion perfectly arranged smoothie bowls with a quarter of a crushed granola bar and a weirdly perfect fanned strawberry. I feel a lot of pressure. I feel it every day. I feel that it has changed me, and maybe you, in some of the best ways and maybe even a couple of the worst.
I’m not trying to blame anyone’s eating disorder on myself or you or someone else. There’s no blame to be had here. It’s a devastating disease. These issues are complicated are multi-faceted. I know we all started healthy living blogs with the best intentions to inspire everyone around us.
We loved food and wanted to personify our passions. Now some the people that started back when I did sometimes feel…over it. Maybe we don’t want to be called “food bloggers.” We have things in our lives we actually care about way more than what we’re having for lunch. We have all evolved. It’s a natural part of life. I’m not who I was in college and I’m not now who I will be in ten years. The content on our blogs and social media is starting to shift. We may have contributed to an epidemic of obsessive healthy eating, but we sure as hell aren’t going to watch it crash and burn.
You know when you’re younger and you see a famous person on a magazine cover and think, “Wow, she’s so pretty!” Nothing less, nothing more. There’s no judgement, bitterness or jealousy. It’s like a toddler eating his or her lunch and simply stopping when he or she is full. It’s easy and intuitive and not riddled with anxiety and decisions. That’s how the blog and social media world used to be to me.
It was all very innocent. I was just posting recipes that less than a hundred people read. I was just excited about eating plants and preventing disease. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into—the good or the bad. It’s funny looking back to 2013 when I wrote Life Lessons: On Beer and Kale, in 2014 when I wrote On Being Too Healthy, and later that year when I wrote On Being Human. The spark was always inside me, but I feel like I couldn’t eloquently express what I was trying to say to everyone until now.
Years passed, views increased, and all the while I started noticing how many people were suffering from the obsession that we as bloggers and influencers accidentally helped proliferate. I watched the people behind large accounts unfold their stories with disordered eating. From the outside, I’m sure I seemed totally health obsessed, too.
Now I’m watching as young girls, young me’s and young you’s, turn their passion for health into an obsession. Into an illness. Into a third cup of oats with PB2 on top for breakfast and toast for lunch. They can’t remember what hunger feels like because everything is a number. How did we get here? Are we, am I, part of the problem? And more importantly, how can we all contribute to the solution?
“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them. And we help them in return. Well I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you.”
As I wrote this I was listening to my favorite Wicked songs “For Good” and “Defying Gravity” and I felt like I was listening to my brain sing its thoughts. “Something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I’m through playing by the rules of someone else’s game. It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap.”
I really feel like you all and this blog came into my life for a reason. I know I’ve grown in wild and wonderful ways because of it. It has taught me, it has changed me, so much. Hell, it’s a gigantic part of who I am. “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? I do believe that I’ve been changed for the better.”
I said it before and I’ll say it again: I know we all had the best intentions. We still do. But I recognize the positive and negative influence we’ve had, the intentional and the accidental. So I’m here to be part of the solution. I’ve found newfound meaning in working with people that are struggling with the issues I keep talking about. I’m here to undo any unintentional damage that was done, on behalf of this entire community. On behalf of the tens of thousands of credentialed health professionals and self-identified health “experts” who have no idea they’ve done anything wrong by posting little salads with dressing on the side, we are sorry. We are sorry if we painted an unrealistic picture of unattainable, unhealthy health.
For the times you thought lunch meant kale salads and breakfast meant lean green smoothies. For the times you thought you didn’t deserve dessert. For the times you felt proud for going to bed hungry. For the times you thought, “she ate that, so I should, too.” I’m here to undo it. We’re here to undo it.
I want to prove that anyone and everyone can find so much joy in eating, plant-based or not. And for the record, I do not believe that plant-based diets have to be restricting if it’s for the right reasons. More on that in another post. Even though I never suffered personally from an eating disorder, immersing myself in intuitive eating education (thanks Kylie and Robyn!) and working with clients who are struggling has unleashed in me this invigorating new sense of purpose, passion and freedom. It’s that inspiration you can physically feel. When I don’t feel like working out, I don’t. And I don’t think twice about it. When I want ice cream or donuts, I eat what I want and I stop when I’m satisfied. Everyone deserves to know how incredible that feels.
I feel like I was lost and now I’m found. I finally feel at peace.
I am more than a food blogger. You are more than a meal plan. Eating disorders are real. This has been a long time coming.
Let’s make 2017 our year. Let’s make the over-obsession with healthy eating uncool. This is the year of self love, of joy, of confidence. Of donuts.
“Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
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Photography: Photo 243
Alexis! I loved every word! You are such an inspiration!
Amanda
http://girlaboutcolumbus.com
Thank you my love! Miss your face!
Beautiful and strong!
Thanks so much, Jessica 🙂
I think everyone should read this post. You are such an inspiration and it’s so refreshing to read someone who is so honest and can admit that not everyone is perfect. In today’s society there are SO many women who think they need to eat and look a certain way and I would love to see this end too. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post!
Awww thank you, Lindsay! I hope the post will be read by people outside of the core readers of this blog because the outside world is who needs to read in most.
i was just having a similar conversation with my RD friend at work…sometimes i cant tell if i feel the need to eat vegetables (because i know its good for me) or i eat because i actually like it. Being in this nutrition world in terms of both passion and profession, i go through feeling lost vs inspired because food is such a vital part of everyones life. people are reaching out to me for advice but like you said, am i inflicting the obsession of healthy eating or making them feel like they dont deserve donuts? lets make balance, self-care, and moderation cool again!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health recently posted…Building a Healthy DIY Trail Mix
Yes, yes, yes! This job sure as hell ain’t easy but at the end of that day know you’re make a huge difference in so many people’s lives. And I feel you on the veggie comment!
Gah YOU ARE AMAZING! And this blog has always been different from the health obsessed ones out there, thats part of the reason why it’s so wildly popular. Because its relatable, real, NOT restrictive. I remember one of the reasons I fell in love with your blog in the first place was the “beer and kale” post. You have such an incredible platform for inciting change and I can’t wait to see what happens moving forward. xo
Karlie recently posted…Bomb Vegan Sammie (with herby white bean tahini mash)
Awwwww I love the beer and kale post!! I almost forgot about it!! Linking to it here for anyone that needs a good read 🙂 XO https://www.hummusapien.com/life-lesson-beer-kale/
Loved every second of this post, especially how it comes from the heart. We walk a fine line as health professionals, obviously promoting healthy foods for their benefits to the body, but trying to teach understanding that in the end, it’s just food, and it shouldn’t ruin a moment or a day depending on what we choose. Thanks for writing this!
You’re so welcome! And you’re very right–it’s a heavy duty we have as health professionals to have integrity and not forget the importance of happiness and satisfaction in life.
Girl, I’m with you 100%. I’m an RD with a small food blog and a small private practice, and I also work in an eating disorder treatment center. I’ve done a lot of thinking about this topic, and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. We’ve created this culture of “right” and “wrong” foods and then social media creates an outlet for comparing how your diet stacks up to someone else’s and how could we NOT have eating disorders and orthorexia running rampant? I’ve worked with so many clients who truly feel guilt and shame for eating:”Maybe eating this ‘clean’ salad is okay, but if I eat that slice of ‘bad’ pizza, I’m ‘bad’ too. And disgusting and fat and worthless.” Assigning value to ourselves based on the perceived value of the food we eat is so problematic and so easy to do when we’re constantly bombarded with photos of salads and smoothie bowls and gluten-free-dairy-free-refined-sugar-free “desserts.” I do my best to model and teach balance, but we’re up against a lot. Thank you for your thoughtful words and for trying to contribute to a shift in how we treat food and ourselves.
So much this!!!!! I see too many people leaving comments asking bloggers if they should eat x,y, and z or how many calories is in something or since that blogger doesn’t ever use white flour they think they shouldnt. I think from seeing this and some of the healthy eating obsession that comes from the blog world it has also made me more interested and in tune with those struggling with eating disorders. I’ve also never personally struggled with an eating disorder but I can see how social media can be a huge trigger- I try to keep my accounts authentic and not only post perfectly curated pictures and share my less than healthy eats too- it suc ks to think we could be contributing to the problem but you are right that it is a reality but totally not our intention. Great read (sorry for such a long commetn!)
Great post! It really resonates with me a lot. A few years ago I got CRAZY into food/health/fitness blogs, plant-based, clean eating, etc. etc. Of course there are so many other contributing factors to developing an ED but I know it was part of the problem for me. I have been in treatment for anorexia for the past 2 months. I have recently stopped following so many blogs and Instagram accounts as they were constantly triggering me but I still visit your blog daily! I appreciate how real you are & for being part of the solution 🙂
Bravo!
Wow. These are amazing words, Alexis and I hope lots of people can read this. This is why I took a big break from blogging actually– I needed to get ‘out’ of bubble and refresh my mind and really reconnect with myself 🙂
Carrie this fit chick recently posted…How I get ready after morning workouts
You’ve got a standing ovation from me over here!! I took a break from blogging last month because I felt this same kind of pressure. Man oh man, I feel so much better now. You are incredible woman and such a light in this community. THANK YOU. <3
Marina @ A Dancer’s Live-It recently posted…It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later!
Yes yes YES. THIS is the post I’ve been waiting for. That we’ve all been waiting for. So important. PREACH.
I really love this. I’m so happy for you to follow your heart. I’ll always support you!!
Beautifully written, Alexis! I know you had nothing but the best intentions all these years. I definitely had moments where I had to step away from reading other blogs because their obsession with tracking/taking pictures/beautifully staging food was making me a little nervous. I hope that ‘healthy eating’ is moving more towards the intuitive/mindful eating spectrum. I’m trying my hardest to help people learn how to integrate a mindful eating mindset in a super stressful, corporate life. Overall, I’m hoping people will begin to see food as fuel & nourishment — not something scary that needs to be tracked, counted, and weighed. Thanks again for the post! xo
Sam @ Hygge Wellness recently posted…Daily Eats #4
LOVE this Alexis. SO so much. Thank you for sharing. I love love love what you do <3
This was such a great post! I am glad that you are still finding inspiration after 5 years of blogging.
Thanks so much for speaking to the hearts of women who suffer from orthorexia… a word I never knew existed until I took it so far I could not allow myself to carrots or a 1/2 frozen banana because of the carbs and landed in treatment.
I hope you continue to write about your passion and creativity as it inspires women to think outside the box about other ways to nourish your whole body.
If you have an intuitive eating favorite resources I would love if you could share
I love all of this! Being open to following YOUR path and honoring the changes along the way.
Marsha recently posted…The Importance of Drinking Water for a Healthy Lifestyle
I love your blog (and your recipes) so much. Thanks for putting yourself out there. You’ve been a positive influence for me, making plant-based food accessible and yummy and it’s never felt restrictive, just nourishing. I understand what you are saying in this post and your honesty and awareness is what makes this space so special.
Thank you for everything you do!
Alexis, thank you for this post! I am an aspiring blogger, and I feel like after reading this, I don’t want to just be a food blogger anymore. I aim to inspire balance like you are doing now! As an rd2be, I can say that this post changes my outlook on my own diet, my opinions of health, and how I will be in my future career. Thank you for being an amazing source of inspiration!
Also, LOVE the wicked references!
I was Vegetarian for years (never questioned myself what to eat) than went plant-based vegan (for health reasons) and it did become an obsession. Took a while to get out of it. I had to stop over-thinking my food choices etc. I do me now and listen to my mind/body. Stopped reading everything out there on food choices etc. I know what works for my body now and how to feel good & what doesn’t work for me. It’s all a balance with our mind and body. Stop over thinking everything it will drive you crazy. Great piece luv your Blog never miss a post.
I love how honest this was. Thanks for sharing!
“Unlimited, my future is, unlimited” This is beautiful! This is why I read Hummusapien, you inspire so many people (including me)! This post rocks!
Beautiful post, love. I appreciate and admire your vulnerbility. I’ve been battling the same deamons in the sense of a “mommy blogger” facade. I think that’s why inspiration has fallen short lately because it’s seemed more like “I have to” rather than “I want to”. But here’s to making changes and steps towards finding joy in the work and influencing for the better. <3
This is so incredible and I totally agree with everything you’ve said! Even though I’m not an RD yet I see exactly what you’re talking about and I wonder about the social media space and the role it plays in people’s mentalities with health alllll the time. But I love following the incredible RDs out there (YOU! and Kylie and Robyn and your whole girlboss squad that I fangirl over all the time) who support the message of true balance in health. Can’t wait to call myself a colleague of such amazing women and to join you all fighting for this mission! It’s what I’m finding I am passionate about too!
also I was thinking “this is so Big Magic” in the beginning, and then “this reminds me of Wicked” in the middle haha love the references, clearly we have similar taste 🙂
Michelle recently posted…Thoughts on “healthy” treats
All the feels! <3 You are so real and such an inspiration-thank you!
Absolutely beautiful and beautiful blog! I am very happy that I stumbled upon Hummusapien 🙂
YES! Alexis you just described me to a T. I am a nutritionist/health journalist who got obsessed with healthy eating and I am now down to an emaciated 60 pounds and i remain profoundly influenced by all the othorexic crap one sees daily on social media. We need to start a movement—this isn’t freedom, this isn’t LIFE–it’s sheer hell. What do you plan to DO to be part of the solution? Ps…if you know anyone who would work with me I’d love to hear about them–it’s hard getting help where i live.
This post is coming at SUCH a perfect time for me. I’ve been feeling lately that I’m slowly but surely being sucked into this health-obsessed bubble more and more. It’s so easy to let it affect your thoughts and actions and this post is a great reminder to step back and basically snap out of that way of thinking. Thanks for writing this… such an inspiration! 🙂
I am in my DI right now…and this really resonates. As a future RD, I want my clients to be able to enjoy their food and feel really good. I love love love love loved this post. Thank you!
This is AMAZING! And you are SO right. As someone that has a disordered eating past, I hadn’t really had any “flare ups” in several years by the time I stumbled upon health food blogs. I literally became CONSUMED with reading them and learned a lot of GOOD things. But I also believe it did trigger a lot of the issues I had in the past. I became obsessed with eating healthfully, buying organic and health foods I had never even heard of before. I became super focused on macros and other ridiculous styles of eating that had never crossed my mind before. I am all about this new initiative and new pursuit. It’s a fine line to be a role model, but also not a catalyst. Thank you for this beautiful post and your transparency!
Amber @ Madden Wellness Counseling recently posted…February Favorites
My thoughts are not entirely cohesive after reading this, but I just want to say, “Thank you! I needed this today.” As a forty-two year old woman who has battled various forms of disordered eating for several decades, I sometimes wonder how I ever allowed myself to get to this point. Most days I’m paralyzed by my fear of what my day of eats should look like. I always start with the best of intentions—“today, I will allow myself breakfast…”, but typically end my day in some degree of shame (having overeaten or missed an opportunity to truly enjoy a food experience.) I relentlessly compare myself either to others or to some form of a previous (read: thinner) version of myself. I have no recollection at this point of what it is like to feel “normal” around food so am greatly appreciative of the efforts I am seeing in the blog world, such as yours today, aimed at addressing the issue and presenting a more reality-based depiction of eating and health in general. While it pains me to think that, at my age, I really should have my act together, it is so helpful to know that support is out there, just a few keyboard clicks away.
This is such an incredible post. I LOVE your blog (and Robyn’s and Kylie’s) for just the reasons you are writing about here. It’s so easy to get caught up in “oh man, that’s ALL she ate today? Does this mean I’m over eating?” or “I just ate a turkey and cheese sandwich for lunch with chips and all I see on Instagram is pictures of smoothies and kale salads…. man, I suck.” But I love your blogs because you address these issues and help women see that they are more than just calories, a pant size, or what they’re eating. You are so inspirational, and I hope you continue blogging for years to come!
I hope you have a chance to read all of these comments, because you deserve all the praise you get 🙂
I think it’s sad that the first thought I had once about one of your blog posts was “she never had an eating disorder? how is that possible” WHAT KIND OF THOUGHT IS THAT??! i’m kind of ashamed of it. your balanced/nourishing/let’s not overthink it/non-labelled way of eating seems so easy, and delicious, and healthy. I hope when/if you ever need small breaks from blogging, that your readers will totally understand. i know you’d come back re-inspired and write up some great posts, so win-win! please, just keep doing what you are doing, being real, sharing WIAW. i know, personally, i know struggle with “well, i want a salad/veggies/celery/rice cakes, but i’ve been told i don’t need to eat these so is this even healthy anymore?”
bottom line, we (your readers) love you 🙂
Oh. My. Goodness.
Alexis- I have to admit to you that I am among those struggling to find that balance between eating donuts without guilt and being dedicated to taking care of my body, as well as my mental and emotional health. Your words have always inspired me and have helped me in many ways to work though my own perceptions on food and health. My daily eats don’t have to mirror someone else’s, and my definition of health should be my own- based on what makes me feel good, inside and out. Some days that might be a yoga class, other days it might be donuts. The best days are when it’s both. None of us will ever be perfect. The best of intentions can still fall short and we do change as we grow older (and hopefully wiser).
Thank you for being honest, and thank you for staying real.
Shelby recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday #2
This post is *exactly* what I needed to hear today! Not going to lie that, as someone who’s been in recovery from anorexia for 3 years, your blog and a lot of other healthy eating blogs were really triggering to me because I felt like I HAD to eat that way. And that all of the Cheezits and cookies and home-cooked meals must be unhealthy because none of the bloggers I looked up to seemed to eat them.
So this was a total breath of fresh air and such a positive thing to read rn. Thank you so much girl, keep doing the amazing work you’re doing!
I have been following your blog for a while now and it has always been on my favorites tab. Your posts have eithey made me laugh, hungry, or feel like I’m capable of conquering the world. That is an understatement. I’ve battled with anorexia for a few years, but can finally say that I’m doing so much better. A year ago, I moved across the world to my roots to study in university and have grow into a powerful woman that I’m learning to embrace each day. This post was just what I needed to read. Despite being better, I still get so fixated on things sometimes and sometimes wonder if the people I follow on social media are really a good influence? I feel like many of us have become health obsessed for so many of the wrong reasons. We need to start a chain reaction and your words have been a beacon. Thank you, so so so much.
BEAUTIFUL as always! I feel the change too and not only with myself, but with this community. The health obsessions is exhausting and it is not real life and it has become an obsession. I think we are all burned out and we are all experiencing this at very similar times. Yes we work hard. We train hard. We eat well. We’ve tried it all, but what it comes down to is enjoying life. Doing all of those things, but with more balance, less worry, more enjoying. There is a cool shift happening and I like it a lot better. XOXO
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…Restaurant Doro
A very inspiring post.. Keep evolving – that is what life is for. Every great brand has to adapt to the changing environment – why not bloggers?
Goosebumps…thank you, Alexis, for your honesty and inspiration…❤❤❤
THANK YOU!!!!!!
Love this and love your renewed inspiration
You’re just amazing. Thank you!!!!
Well said. You are awesome, keep on being you and evolving, that’s all we can do as humans and RDs <3
Awesome post! I find this kind of thoughtful, thought-provoking content really interesting, and it is one of the reasons I keep coming back to your blog. Keep on keeping on!
you are incredible. thank you so, so much for this post. i couldn’t agree more, and as someone who is trying to take my blog to the next level, i’ve asked myself so many times “what am i promoting?”
i used to be an athlete for a living and health/fitness was my life. as i transition into a regular full-time job, i’ve found my healthy habits somewhat slipping and it’s been challenging to find a balance, but it’s also helped me realized that our (meaning the world in general right now) obsession with health and working out every 2 seconds has gone a bit too far. it’s so important to recognize that life is about BALANCE and enjoying the things and people that makes us happy. it’s not about counting calories or running 10 miles a day, unless that’s what fills your cup. it’s about doing the things that help us become our best and happiest selves. love reading your blog and am proud of your bravery for posting this <3
jordan @ dancing for donuts recently posted…February Favorites.
Jordan – we have such a similar story/background! I just wanted to say “hi” and say I totally get where you’re coming from. Hope you’re having a great week xo
Sam @ Hygge Wellness recently posted…Daily Eats #4
Hi Sam!! Thank you for that – just checking out your blog now and it’s beautiful. Going from moving all day everyday to being sedentary at a desk is definitely a big lifestyle change!! I love your message though, and how important it is to listen to your mind & body. Thanks for introducing yourself and I’m excited to read your blog now!!! 🙂
jordan @ dancing for donuts recently posted…Colorado Recap.
Thank you for articulating this so beautifully. As a fitness professional I can struggle with similar issues. For me, fitness
is about supporting health, and feeling strong in your body not achieving a size 2.
Such an eloquent and relevant post, Alexis! While I am not an RD or health expert in any way, I have recently felt that the “food blogging” world is just not where I want to be right now and I actually posted on my blog a few weeks ago about how I am shifting my focus to include more of my other passion- sustainability. While I still LOVE food and will post recipes here and there, I felt that there was something bigger and deeper that I wanted to talk about and share. I’m really excited about this new shift but definitely nervous since it feels so different! I can’t wait to see how your content develops and what you share next!
Thank you for writing this. I echo the comments above in how needed this post is, and how everyone should read it. As an RD, there can be a fine line between helping people improve their eating habits and having people go off the deep end. Promoting an all foods fit approach is SO important to help people establish a healthy relationship with food.
Amanda @ Fueled Fork recently posted…Quick & Easy Weeknight Mushroom Barley Risotto
Thank you for this beautifully written, honest post. I completely agree with everything and can totally relate. While I love my new found passion of snapping food photos and posting on IG or my blog–it saddens me to think that I may be promoting disordered eating. And I definitely find myself more focused, too focused, on healthy eating. I have thought about adding a greater variety of photos to the mix on my IG account but know that they wouldn’tbe as well received. But maybe it’s time for a change and maybe a bunch of us dietitians other health professionals can join forces and lead the way.
I just want you to know that your blog has helped me so much in breaking free from disordered eating because you always post a realistic and healthy amount of food. Your blog had a variety if recipes that ive used but i have found it most helpful because it promotes eating enough. I know how hard it must be to be in your position and feel the guilt that you may have contributed to an epidemic of disordered eating but, for me at least, the content on your blog has helped me grow out of an eating disorder and into a well rounded person with interests outside of food. As long as you always keep it real on hummusapien, which you do, you dont have to worry that youre putting out negative content.
I genuinely had a tear in my eye (and I never cry). This is so amazing and exactly what this world needs. You should be so proud, its never easy going against what everyone is doing.
Thank you for caring and for questioning the status quo!!
xx
I’m not one for posting on blogs, but I just had to say THANK YOU so much for this. I can think of about 10 blogs I’ve unfollowed in the past few years because of this trend, and your awareness of and determination to stop the crazy is so heartening. 20,000 thumbs up.
Thank you for posting this, Alexis! I’ve come from both sides of this perspective and I appreciate you being candid with some of the internal conflict you’ve been dealing with. When I was in undergrad for my dietetics degree, I had a health and nutrition blog and looking back, I feel I almost certainly contributed to the restrictive eating patterns. Now, after becoming a dietitian, I’ve thought about starting a blog again. However, I keep talking myself out of it with thoughts like “There’s no way I eat as healthy as this other blogger” or “I’m definitely not good enough to work up to a successful blog like all of these other dietitians.” It’s refreshing to hear some of the struggles you’ve had. Thanks for being such an inspiration. I look forward to even more content from you. And congratulations on continuing to grow as a blogger, dietitian, and an overall inspiring person.
Best wishes!
-Amanda
absolutely heartfelt and beautifully written. i too sometimes have the same feelings. i’ve been into healthier eating, researching nutrition and working out in different ways since college- Its SO EASY in the world we live in to compare our journey to others. one day we think we aren’t thin enough..the next we are thinking we aren’t muscular enough or even too thin. its time that we band together and be what is best for us together and help one another work towards what is our own version of healthy. yes we need to eat our greens but for me cookies too! and we need to SHOW that! its part of life – and being real is what this world needs more of!
Bravo, Alexis!!!! This is wonderful. So eloquently written.
First, I love the Wicked references, but beyond that, I just have so much respect for what you’ve said. I’m a very “little league” hobby blogger – I have like 4 followers, LOL – but I’ve thought the same recently. I even wrote a post recently called “am I a healthy living blogger?” and questioned so much of what is presented to us as “health” and “truth.”
I am not a health professiona but I am committed to sharing what it means to TRULY be healthy. Food is awesome – but it is not life. I love reading your more reflective posts, so I hope you keep ”em coming!
Thank you for always speaking with such passion, honesty, integrity, knowledge, and empathy.
AMEN, SISTER. Reading this was like a breath of fresh air. But more importantly, it addresses something that isn’t often talked about by food bloggers…. that we may be perpetuating unrealistic eating standards. Blogging is so funny because it’s literally a film roll of perfection – the perfect shot, the perfected recipe, the edited writing. Life isn’t really like that. But this post was so raw and so real, and you don’t see that as much nowadays. I feel really inspired after reading this. Thank you so much for speaking out!!
Wow. That’s the first word that comes to my mind after reading this post, and that’s the word I’ll take away with me. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that, as bloggers, we can impact people with our words more than we ever imagined. Thank you for reminding us to focus on making that impact good.
Casey the College Celiac recently posted…Sweet & Salty Banana Ice Cream (Gluten Free, Vegan)
I don’t particularly know what to say but I know I need to say something because this was incredible.
So thank you. Thank you for addressing this, for writing this, for being AWARE of this. Thank you for being brave enough to bring this up and even more brave for acknowledging that you may have, in fact, contributed to the problem (I do not know whether or not you have). Thank you for being open and honest and genuinely beautiful–inside and out.
Thank you.
Girl you are part of the solution and not the problem. Only you know what is in your heart and I nodded my head while reading this whole article. It is a DANGEROUS world for today’s girls and women. I don’t think I’m exaggerating either. I’m a grown woman and I have been in a struggle with orthrexia for years now. Like you mentioned, it started with healthy eating. It perpetuated the last couple of years with online media however, I have a tribe of bloggers now that I follow that are changing (and have changed) my life and YOU are one of them. YOU give me Peace. You help show me what is really health. The world today (men, boys, girls women) need women like you. I love this tribe that you are apart of and I feel like I’m apart of it too ! I feel strong and connected to so you and the other true healthy bloggers and I turn to you when I am bombarded with other messages . Like I said, I’m a grown woman-the youth really need you. I hope you feel your level of importance !
This just makes my heart so happy to read! You were actually one of the blogs I chose to continue reading once I claimed recovered a few years ago, because I felt like you weren’t too extreme and you showed that you could actually properly fuel your body.. You’ve been so honest about your journey and your own discovery and I’ve found it so refreshing. I think what it is really cool is that you haven’t had an ED in the past, but yet you still recognize how the HLB world can exacerbate EDs in everyone. And how freaking terrible they are.
I am so over seeing bloggers/instagramers post nothing but “healthy” food. I would love to see more fries and burgers and real cookies more often, Especially from RDs!
Kate recently posted…Weeknight out at yoga
Hell to the freaking yes! I love that this community is talking more and more about this. People desperately need to hear about what disordered eating really looks like – it isn’t just the stereotypical image of super thin women or men, but it’s about obsessive thoughts and behaviors around food. Everyone is silent, ashamed and afraid of talking about it, of even admitting it to themselves when in reality, the silence is what helps perpetuate the behaviors and the thoughts even further. I know from firsthand experience because I was in that headspace, too.
Sometimes I consider myself lucky because I didn’t really get into reading blogs until after I recovered from my eating disorder. Is that a terrible thing to say? Because I had such a personal experience with disordered eating, when I started my food blog, I was very conscious about not using language that may be triggering for some people. But if I had never had that experience, I would never have known what not to say! It’s all just a learning and growing experience and nobody is perfect. I love that you’re talking about this and I just want you to know that I really appreciate everything you said. Part of my mission in life and on the blog is to bring awareness to this issue and I’m so happy to be in good company.
<3
So much of my same thoughts, Alexis. Thanks for putting it out there. I do believe that we RDs *especially* have to be mindful of perpetuating the impossibly ‘healthy’ diet ideal. I’m with you on shifting the focus, to making orthorexia a known issue, to messy breakfast bowls and imperfect salads, to honesty and integrity in portraying our own diets on social media. Bravo to you. Now all we need is that perfect hashtag to kick things off 🙂
Your blog is actually one of the few “healthy living” food blogs I read because I really appreciate your balanced approach to health and wellness and I like how you genuinely seem to enjoy learning about and promoting a healthy lifestyle. I personally have never suffered from disordered eating and I find nothing more luxurious than spending an afternoon cooking a nice meal and sharing it with friends and wine. What I like about your blog is that I think you feel the same way and have some good suggestions for how to enjoy the “foodie” lifestyle while not losing sight of the importance of eating nutritiously and mindfully. Plus the recipes I have made from here have always been wonderful! Anyway – thanks, as always, for this post and for your honesty.
Wow, girl, this had to have been a hard post to write but so so so good; this was so humble and kind of you. People look up to you and are looking up to you even more as you addressed this topic; this is a tough topic but so good to talk about. This is the real kind of HEALTHY living that I want to attain to; it’s wholistic, not just about food. I’m so glad you’re making this leap, and I don’t think you’ll lose readers. I think you’ll gain readers, because of this LOVE for your readers, compassion for others, and concern for them. <3 you girl. Thank you.
Thank you for this heartfelt post. I’m just starting out and I already feel the pressure you mentioned. Thanks for your honesty.
Such a beautifully written post with a spot on message! As RD’s we need to be real and show that there is much more to healthy living than green kale smoothies and running a 5K everyday – like finding joy in the little things of life, which may or may not include enjoying a donut. 🙂 So many people have lost the ability to truly enjoy their food, the flavors, the textures, and the company that surrounds them during a meal because of an unhealthy obsession with “healthy” eating. Thanks for articulating that so well, and how we all need to shift our focus a bit!
Marie recently posted…Master Muffin Mix with Whole Wheat and Oats
Very well written post! Thank you for sharing your thought. I agree with you that obsessions with healthy eating is a bit over the top. There is so much more to food, life and enjoying each one.
Thank you for sharing your heart! Oh my goodness I am going to share this over and over again…so so good! i have been in a similar placesof feeling pressure and anxiety and just checking things off when it comes to posting on social media and sharing recipes and content with my coaching clients. I still enjoy it but things have changed and I am in a different place now than where I was when I started my business. I also have realized several of my clients feel guilty when eating cake at a birthday party or a cookie after dinner 🙁 NO! That isn’t life and people need to be ok with eating that slice of cake or pizza!! I love your passion and your honesty! Thanks for continuing to share it with us and please know you are an inspiration! Thanks for keeping it real for all of us!!
Love every word of this! AGREED!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Latest favorites, like PiYO, red shoes, a make-up bag, good reads and more
Whoa, Alexis! It sounds like you are having a midlife crisis a bit early, and that you are suddenly running in the wrong direction. I realize this post is intended for the benefit of people who have eating disorders and is well intended; but, near the end, where you wrote: “When I want ice cream or donuts, I eat what I want and I stop when I’m satisfied” — that’s bad advice, especially when taken out of context. It sounds like my daughter. She had a slim body, like yours, when she was in college; now she’s morbidly obese, and my granddaughter is heading in the same direction. Very disappointing!
Anyway, the primary purpose of my response is intended more towards addressing the earlier part of your post where you seem to be wondering what to do with the rest of your life — a “why am I here” kind of thing. I have a suggestion in that regard: You could extend the compassion you show for people with eating disorders to the animals that are saved by vegans and vegetarians. I read recently that more than 10 billion farmed animals were slaughtered in the United States last year, many of them horribly abused during their short time on earth. You could use your excellent writing skills to treat healthy plant-based eating as a wonderful side benefit to saving animals, or vice versa. Develop a passion for compassion..
I’m not a Buddhist by any stretch of the imagination, but I admire their philosophy. Most of them recite one of several versions of The Five Contemplations before they eat, One of my favorite contemplations is, “ May we eat in moderation and in in such a way that reduces the suffering of living beings, stops contributing to climate change, and preserves our precious planet”. All worthy goals.
Something to think about, Alexis,
We enjoy your recipes. Keep up the good work, and good luck in your life.
Lee
I sincerely hope that you have told your daughter or granddaughter that you are disappointed in them because of their weight. Being disappointed in someone because of their weight is not compassionate but judgmental. That kind of talk breeds body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem.
Kate recently posted…Weeknight out at yoga
Say what? I agree with your last sentence (which appears to say the opposite of your first sentence). Actually, I have not expressed my disappointment, choosing, instead, to set an example by living a healthy plant-based life style and emailing Hummusapien recipes,to her. She loves her dogs so I sent her the book, “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows”. So far, it hasn’t worked.
Good catch- that should say “have not”.
Kate recently posted…Weeknight out at yoga
Thank you for this. As a dietetics student and budding food blogger, I too am hyper-aware of social media and how it can encourage an unhealthy relationship with food. Trying to keep it real is priority number 1 – thank you for sharing your honest thoughts!
Here’s to self-love, body confidence and donuts in 2017 😉
Britney @ Savour & Shine recently posted…Your New March Playlist + A Little Bit of Life Lately
Wow, well I’m crying. I think it’s because I found your blog in 2013 when my anorexia and orthorexia were just beginning- and soon skyrocketed. I stopped reading for a while because I need to get away from food blogs while I recovered, but I recently came back because I was astounded and pleased by your shift in outlook. Thank you for being honest and real and upfront. I’m ready to be part of the change too. Lots of love.
Crying that you are crying!!! This comment made me beam with happiness. So much love <3
This gave me goosebumps. Beautiful.
This is such a great post. I have been feeling this EXACT same thing in my own life regarding blogging, food, and an online presence. So many days, I just want to stop and I think, how did I get here? What do I do now? I struggled with an eating disorder for years, and although a plant-based diet helped me come out of it oddly enough, I hate the presence that health food has on social media. It’s this bubble that seems so fake, which is the exact opposite of who I am. It makes me want to quit and then I wonder, will I ever be able to help others if I do? Is quitting the answer? I’m still not sure. But until I figure it out, I have promised myself to be 100% real and without BS because life is too dang short and I’m not living mine on a camera or on social media in order to fit in. Screw that. I didn’t come into this to be popular or promote extremism, but somwhere along the way, this whole blogging thing became that way online. I’m done. I made a decision a month ago to give up most of social media on the regular and I’ve never felt more free. I’m still working on the rest of it, but until then, I am so thankful for people like you who are done with the BS too and are ready to talk about it. Great post!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on all this. It’s refreshing to hear a public discussion of the dangers of being too focused on what we’re eating. I totally support the idea of enjoying a whole range of foods and celebrating and being grateful for the joy of food!
Elissa recently posted…Simple Vietnamese style pork and noodle bowls
Thank you for writing this, Alexis. I definitely agree that the obsession with all healthy eating all the time has gotten way out of control. I feel the pressure all the time, thinking that my posts don’t appear healthy enough or beautifully styled enough to fit in to the healthy blogging world because they’re not gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegan, raw, etc, etc. Then I think, “wait a minute, I’M THE EXPERT HERE!” and I went to school for a long time to learn bout what the body needs and if I want to post a recipe for a full-on cookie and short ribs, then I’m going to, dangit. Because people can’t live on smoothie bowls alone. I’ve worked a long time to get rid of restrictive eating patterns, and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that life is so much better when you can enjoy an ice cream cone with your husband instead of feeling guilty about it. I’m loving all of my body-positive, intuitive eating RDs that are helping to promote a balanced healthy living approach!
Alexis!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing out for all to see exactly what has been on my heart (and in the heart of many Dietitians! This is such a wonderful message that EVERYONE needs to read! So much truth that needs to be spread across Social media platforms, instead of “it’s Tuesday, so you must eat toast!”… I love the direction you have decided to take and I encourage you to run with it! I’m on board with you to stop fueling the fire of obsession with food!
<3
@fuel_for_the_soul
Fuel for the Soul, LLC
Thank you <3 You just get it!
So good girl. I love it. I’ve been feeling lately that many accounts I follow are all the same thing and no variety. If I don’t see your face, I couldn’t even tell you which account it is. I’m so happy I got to a place where I love kale and I also love cookies. It’s so important to find that balance and what works for you and hopefully people can find that for themselves.
Keep going girl, you got it 🙂
Erin @ Erin’s Inside Job recently posted…Five Things Friday #128
What a treat it was to stumble across this website/blog. As a nurse, health conscious athlete and mother of two grown daughters, I have worked hard to ensure they grow up with a strong sense of love for themselves. My mantra for them from the day they were born was “strength, wisdom and beauty”. While we are not all perfect by any means, and we sometimes fall from our intentions, it is important to remember that each day, like the sun rising, we are given fresh new opportunities for repair , growth and rebuilding. As an individual who also needs inspiration, and change frequently, your words have resonated with me and you should be so proud of this epiphany of yours. When we share our passions, no matter what they are, in order to inspire others, and that passion becomes a job… the magic fades and it is no longer something which brings us joy. They say…” that if you love what you do.. you never will work another day in your life. ‘ The trick is to find the balance to turn our passion into our life’s work so that we can enjoy it fully. Be true to yourself and those you wish to inspire and always do your best. If I could make one suggestion, it would be to reach out to Ted talks and bring this message with you. I have felt the shift from reading healthy blogs to losing sight of what healthy living and eating should be all about to begin with. It should not be an obsession or a fad or a prison. Too many are looking for the quick and easiest way to have that “societal imposed” perfect image to show the world. It makes me sad to see this. I myself have fallen victim to this at time. When the ugly beast of anxiety starts rearing her ugly head in the form of “Oh my god, we didn’t follow that food plan exactly as it was written today” or something similar, then we must step back, take a deep breath, acknowledge it and forgive ourselves to change the direction. We must be compassionate with ourselves. Thank you for your inspiration and acknowledgement. Thank your for your recognition of this epidemic and reaching out to make a difference with not only your self but those you seek to inspire.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! I would say it’s a doule edge sword because when I was in graduate school BEFORE I started following or writing a blog I was counting calories to an extremely low level. Reading health and fitness blogs of people that looked fantastic but were eating WAY more than me INCLUDING dessert helped me break that negative chain. It showed me you could eat a normal amount of calories look amazing while eating a donut. Realizing that 2000 calories not 1200 was actually normal was extremely helpful to me! That’s why posts like this are so important, to show our readers that we are all human and balance can be achieved!
Alexis,
Thank you SOOOO much for this!!!! After reading this I went over to my boyfriend and said, “Well, this Hummusapien post made me cry.” I have dealt with body issues and binge eating disorder for years. My binge eating was always worse when I would restrict my eating because I would go back and forth between perfectly counting calories to eating everything in sight. I discovered the Intuitive Eating book over a year ago, but I would read it and then wind up going back to my calorie counting because I wanted to lose weight quickly. Recently I picked up the book again, and I have not counted calories since that. It is incredibly freeing!!! I still struggle with stopping when satisfied sometimes (haha), but I know it’s all a process. Anyway, I really appreciate your insight, and it is so wonderful to hear this side from someone who knows what they’re talking about. Keep doing what you’re doing!!! 🙂
Fist pumping and arm whooping in my mind (in real life sitting at my desk in a crowded office) when I read this post.
I am a dietitian working her way back into private practice. A private practice where all sizes are welcome, there are no scales or calorie counting books in sight, the words clean eating only refer to washing your produce before eating it, and we practice HAES, intuitive eating, and the non diet principles. good health has been steamrolled over the past few years by health professionals and (dear god) ‘wellness bloggers’ who freely hand out information that has been damaging to so many. I am so happy that so many of the people I respect and look up to in this industry of health and nutrition communication are taking a more compassionate, inclusive, and intuitive approach. Bloggers like yourself, Robyn, Anne, Kylie and Rachael are changing the way dietitians are seen in the blogging world. Perhaps one day we will (and our image) be changed for the better.
PS. Those are my two favourite songs from the Wicked soundtrack too. It’s the only CD I keep in my car 😉
I came over on a link from Avocado a Day and I know I’ve pinned a few of your recipes in the past. Who can forget “Hummusapien”? I could count myself as obsessed with healthy eating, for sure, and I do try to stay balanced. It’s hard when I am trying to undo the bad habits of the past – still working on weight loss to what will ultimately be half my highest weight – and the food culture around us in America is terribly unhealthy. I grew up eating cookies for breakfast by middle school and often skipping lunch. If I’m obsessed with new ways to enjoy brown rice and beans, it’s because six months ago I was eating fast food five days a week.
Sure, eating disorders that obsess on health are a problem, but remember, the opposite is “disordered” as well. Without blogs like yours, would have had no place to go as a counterpoint to the popular culture and advertising. Even better when you can be as honest as you’ve been.
I just started reading your blog today after Rachael recommended you as one of her go-to’s on a recent post. After reading this I like you already! I am currently in a mind shift from orthorexia to more intuitive eating – thanks to Kylie. I am fed up with trying to eat perfectly, to be perfect, all the time. I am surrounding myself with bloggers just like you who are passionate about speaking the truth on diet restrictions, body shaming, and self care. I feel the change in myself already, also with the help of my therapist. Your post was beautiful and eloquently written. Your thoughts and apologies were different and slightly jarring (in a good way). Thank you for this post.
Best thing I’ve read in a long time. Thanks for taking the pressure off of the need to be perfect. I’m tired of feeling guilty. Now, I’m going to go eat a warm chocolate chip cookie and enjoy every single bite. 🙂
Wow. Just wow. You are an excellent writer/blogger, and the way you speak hits the nail right on the head!! Thank you for this post!!
PattyAnn recently posted…One thing after another….
AAAHHHH-mazing post! Not only is it really well-written, I’ve had so many of the same thoughts! Thank you for your brave and true words!
Just getting caught up on some of my favorite blogs, and LOVED every word of this 🙂 Thanks for being such a positive inspiration (and for the Wicked references!) 🙂 You are amazing!
Tara | Treble in the kitchen recently posted…Running Safety Tips
best. post. ever
I loved reading every word of this. I feel like I am getting into the wellness blogging world just as it’s starting to shift and it’s an interesting experience for me. I am wanting to go into my blogging experience with this kind of mindset and awareness about how healthy eating can become obsessive and how MENTAL health is health too!! I’m so glad you’re talking about this! Love!
Thank God you’re catching the shift! I’m thrilled you feel more self-aware 🙂 It’s so important to spread the right kind of message.
I love this! I have fantasized about cutting off my Instagram page for good and just having it be for family etc. but I love food and taking pictures of it and inspiring others to eat fun and healthy foods and help people realize that eating healthy doesn’t mean just steamed broccoli and chicken. i’ve been fantasizing about creating a cooking school where it helps women enjoy eating food again (this happened after I noticed a woman next to me who ordered only steamed broccoli at a vegan restaurant in L.A.) and working with women on body positivity. I hear way too often “Ugh I ate too many carbs last night and now I need to work out 2x as long.” When did we start punishing ourselves for celebrating birthdays and weddings? And yes, I have done this a million times, too so I am not judging, I just get so sad when I hear it from other women. It’s great recognizing how we evolve as we are exposed to new experiences.
P.S. Thanks for giving me this space to ramble!
Emma recently posted…Spicy harissa hummus + my kitchen outlook
Donuts!!!
Thanks so much for this post! Back in the midst of my orthorexia, every “health food” blogger was a problem. I know they all, like you, had good intentions. Of course they did. Unfortunately, I only saw the body they had that I wanted and what they were eating, so that’s what I focused on. I had my eating down to a science (down to the hour I could eat my daily snack–an apple). I’ve turned a corner, for sure, but I’m human and surrounded by women (I work in education) who are still focused on calories, macros, and feeling like they earned the right to finish all of the food on their plate since they worked out hard enough. Just this morning I looked into macros, calculated them for breakfast, and immediately deleted the app because it took a lifetime to calculate, and the app told me to eat what I think is an obscenely low calorie count (having not counted calories in years, I don’t have any clue how much I eat, so I don’t actually know if it was low, medium, or high compared to my normal). Anyway, thanks for your honesty and your great thoughts!
All right girl, this comment is going to be long, so be ready! 🙂 I’ve been thinking about this since you first posted this, and a couple of your other posts that have shown your shift in perspective. Let me start by saying I appreciate what you’re saying and where you’re coming from. But I also want to give you some perspective from a slightly older demographic. 🙂 When I was growing up and in college, fat was the enemy. I had friends who would eat Saltine crackers sprayed with fake butter spray and sincerely thought they were eating what was best for their body. Avocados or peanut butter? Nobody wanted to eat those because of the fat content. But Hersey’s chocolate syrup? That was healthy because it didn’t have fat. Nobody knew anything about sugar being bad for you. Nobody understood the negative impact eating mostly processed foods could have on your health.
The change in mindset and understanding of the power of whole foods, all foods, including those with fat, has been very gradual. I sincerely believe that eating whole foods would not have become as mainstream and normalized as it is now without blogs like yours or mine. So please, while yes there is an extreme on the other side, remember the GOOD you have done by showing what you eat on Instagram, etc. You are helping educate people who don’t know about nutrition and healthy living. And please don’t stop touting the importance of eating healthy foods because there’s still so much work to be done. You live in a world that is surrounded by ultra-healthy people, but that is NOT the reality in most of the USA. You work at Alchemy and live in a healthy living blog world where you see one side of the coin, but the other side is very much a reality for a lot of people. You make it sound like the majority of people are obsessed with healthy eating, but I see the opposite where I live. I’m still considered a bit of a weirdo health nut (although much less so in the last few years–people are learning! It’s a good thing!!) for how I eat and I know nobody who is orthorexic. Not one person.
In one post you mentioned how the rest of the world just enjoys food unlike Americans. I don’t have a ton of experience with people all over the world, but I do have one friend who moved to Italy and has lived there for 5 or so years now. She has had a very different experience than what you describe. She is constantly shamed for her body (they don’t think she’s thin enough) and what she eats. She said Italian women eat very little and shame people who eat “too much.” Just thought I’d share her experience as it paints a different picture.
Now onto the whole Food Babe topic and the unicorn frapp. I agree that the Food Babe can be out of control ridiculous in her tactics and fear mongering is not cool. BUT. I have to say that I appreciate some of what she’s done. She’s brought awareness to the mainstream. We don’t have to be obsessed with every little thing we put in our bodies, but I love that Kraft mac and cheese now used natural coloring. That never would have happened without her. Every parent can’t afford Annie’s organic and it’s not fair that they should have to feed their kids artificial food dyes just because it’s cheaper. I sincerely doubt the unicorn frapp would have been naturally colored without the Food Babe’s past work. So yes, her tactics are extreme and not my style, but I am happy that I can now take my kids to Panera and not have to worry about having HFCS or food dyes or harmful additives in what they are eating. For the record, I don’t obsess about it…they eat food dyes on occasion and HFCS and donuts or whatever. But it comes back to the education piece. Not everyone even knows that artificial food dyes are neurotoxins or certain additives are known carcinogens and as a result feed them to their kids on the daily. They don’t understand how quickly sugar adds up and how it’s linked to every major disease. I know two kids who have battled brain cancer in the past few years. One lost the battle and one is still fighting. I lost two family members to cancer in just the last six months. This is important stuff and educating people is not a bad thing.
I am leaving this comment just so you see another perspective. I do love your balanced approach, so please know I’m not speaking out against that. I love you and your blog and will continue to read as long as you write. 🙂 xoxo
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} recently posted…Spring Break 2017: Club Med Cancun Yucatan
Fantastic read.. Very on point.. But please.. information for a health conscious world is just that information… People take that information and apply it… you cannot stop the reactions to an action… You have good intent.. and I love your Blog… and I read/ use ideas from yours and many blogs to try out new techniques as a chef… Vegetable emphasis is truly a blooming area of the chef world…. Do not be discouraged by the full range of an action… your health consciousness and passion is very apparent and very intoxicating… Breathe in… priorities come first Family.. self… health… Breathe out… inform… discuss… experiment… you got this girl… Cant wait for the next read
Hi Alexis.
Thank you for this. I started a blog back in 2009. It was so fun for a while, but because of many things going on in my life, I loss my inspiration and couldn’t seem to figure out where to go from there. I also started having anxiety about my written words. I felt judgement and fear, even though I wasn’t getting that from anyone. There’s a part of me that wants to put it all out there and possibly help people in the process, but there’s a part that is terrified to do that. As a lifelong IBD sufferer, mom, divorcee, new marriage, adult stepsons, and having a child with severe depression, there’s so much to write about and discuss. Your post helped me to feel that it’s okay to shift gears as we grown and gain understanding and self-reflect. I applaud your bravery. Good luck with it all.
Teresa