There's more to my life than green smoothies and lentils. There's a little thing I like to call eating happy.
Eating happy is finding the beauty in sharing good food with good friends. It's warming your heart with browned butter walnut ice cream and nourishing your body with avocado toast. It's celebrating food for the happiness it brings to your mind, heart and belly. It's making memories over miso soup. It's learning that there's more to life than eating to live. Sometimes it's living to eat.
It's eating to smile. It's iced coffee with a splash of soy.
It's perfectly seared sea scallops and house-smoked salmon over cucumber noodles.
It's poolside hummus sammies in whole wheat pitas.
It's waffles with extra salted peanut butter.
I didn't care that this key lime pie ice cream wasn't made with organic cane sugar.
I didn't refrain from ordering a bloody mary at 10pm because it was 10pm.
I didn't skip the rice at Hibachi because it wasn't brown.
I didn't eat the serving size.
I didn't go easy on the avocado.
I didn't pass on the house-made chips and salsa.
I'm not a perfect eater, and I don't strive to be.
I don't eat "clean" all the time.
I eat happy.
Matt @ Runner Savvy says
Looks like some good eats this weekend!
Helen says
I love this post, Alexis! I totally agree with eating this way. There's something called balance and moderation. Don't restrict yourself just because there isn't brown rice. It's okay to eat regular white rice or jasmine rice. By the way, all the food looks delicious! Just wish that the almonds were dark chocolate and not milk chocolate!
Alexis says
Me too! I was seriously bummed that they were milk chocolate...but hey, they were still tasty!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Love you! Both oatmeal and ice cream make me happy... As do salads and cookies. I remember trying to eat 100% clean for a few years, and not only was I ridiculously unhappy, but unhealthy as well. People seem to forget that our emotional and mental states have a huge impact on our health, and that we're not necessarily doing ourselves any favours by constantly saying no to the foods we love.
Alexis says
Salad makes me happy toooo! And poolside hummus and veggie pitas 🙂 I completely agree with you--worrying to much about health is most definitely detrimental to your health. Eat healthy, and eat happy!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
This is perfect, Alexis! At this time last year I was incredibly unhappy when it came to food. This past weekend I splurged A LOT, but I ate what made me happy and I feel only a little guilt as opposed to a TON. I am loving the progress that I am making and posts like these really help! 🙂
Alexis says
I'm so glad that you've made so much progress! You go girl!
LC says
I appreciate this so much!! Perfect.
Alexis says
Thanks girl!
She Rocks Fitness says
High-Fives Alexis! Lately I cannot get enough of avocado on toast and trust me I am not going light on it. I love to eat, I love to spoil myself, and just enjoy how fortunate we are to eat the amazing foods that are around us. Life is too short to not ENJOY FOOD, the good and the sometimes not so healthy! 😉
Emily @SinfulNutrition says
Happy belly = Happy life 🙂 I think there's a reason why 'moderation' is the catch phrase of us dietitians!
Alexis says
Amen sister!
Kate says
I really like that...eating happy, not healthy. The word Healthy has become so distorted lately, that it is refreshing to see food viewed as happy and not something good or bad. Your weekend eats looked so yummy!
Alexis says
Thanks, Kate! Healthy is SUCH a buzz word today. Sometimes your bod needs a little something else 🙂
Jess @dearhealthyness says
It's so important to enjoy food, but with so many eating rules saying what you should and you should not eat it becomes nearly impossible to eat withou feeling guilty!!! My rule is to enjoy the moment... And to remember myself that as long as I feel good it's ok 😉
Alexis says
I'm really, really trying to just sit back and enjoy the moment. Living in the present is easier said than done!
Emily says
Happy eating is the healthiest eating of all. It's balance. It's life.
Love this so much.
xoxo
Alexis says
I love that, Emily! Well said.