WHY AM I A DIETITIAN?
I’ve gone through college and most of my 20s having to defend my profession and the foods I choose to eat. I’ve been criticized for being too “healthy,” and I’ve been told I’m boring with food choices by people who have never even eaten with me. I just can’t seem to win.
I started The Healthy Apron as a means to defend my profession and my philosophies about food. As other dietitians can attest, we DO eat and we eat well. I choose to eat foods that have REAL ingredients and don’t need a dictionary to understand. I choose to eat foods that do not fool us in to believing they are “healthy” with false claims and I choose to eat foods that take more than 2-3 minutes to prepare. And lastly, I choose to eat most foods that do not need a laboratory to be processed or Google to be understood.
MY FOOD DEFINED
Throughout this post, when I discuss eating “food,” I actually MEAN food; those without the need for an ingredient list 7 miles long or artificial flavor, color, or additives. They are mostly foods grown organically, locally, and made with REAL ingredients, not some lab-made chemical. While I DO still occasionally purchase processed foods, these are in the minority and you won’t find a frozen entree anywhere in our freezer! MY food defined.
For the recipe: click HERE
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HEALTHY?
When I think about a healthy meal, I don’t necessarily focus on calories, fat grams, and antioxidant value like I used to. While those are obviously great “bonus features,” as my knowledge about health evolves, so does my food philosophy. I am LESS concerned about the actual nutritional value of the food itself and more intrigued about the experience you have with it and the understanding of where it came from. I strongly believe that because we are so detached from where the foods we eat come from, that it is wreaking havoc on our health.
One of the greatest pleasures in life is eating and I want you to enjoy food. I want you to relish in the experience by enjoying a meal with family and friends. I want you to savor every morsel and feel great because what you are eating are REAL, WHOLE foods!!
I want you to choose quality over quantity because the more QUALITY foods you eat, the less QUANTITY you consume. Healthy is NOT about how many Weight Watchers points you can spare or how many 100 calorie packs you can eat, it’s about eating a quality, home cooked meal made with REAL food (as I defined above). By following this philosophy you will naturally eat less because you become more mindful of how GOOD your food tastes! You will start looking forward to meals and if that isn’t enough, by choosing real foods, your foods will have a higher nutritional punch! Talk about disease prevention!
THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
We all live in a world that follows a natural cycle: the circle of life, if you will. I grew up listening to my Dad speak about respecting the earth and respecting God’s creatures, “animals don’t belong in cages,” he would say, “they belong in the wild.” Even when animals are only raised for slaughter, they deserve respect and a good life. So why do we continue to support industries that abuse them in such a way?
I would never tell someone not to eat dessert or not enjoy a juicy piece of steak. I would never tell someone to eliminate food groups or give up their favorite meals. What I WILL tell people is to know where your food came from and WHAT it is; read an ingredient list and understand the ingredients! If you don’t know what it is, WHY ARE YOU EATING IT!?
I always compare Kraft macaroni and cheese vs. homemade macaroni and cheese. While macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite meals, I do not love Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. I would much rather make a homemade casserole from scratch, shredding my own cheese, mixing my own ingredients, verses pouring some powder in to a pot of boiling noodles and call it macaroni and “cheese like product.” Ick.
(On that note, you cannot possibly avoid processed foods altogether. I AM realistic. It is what you do consistently over time that matters).
All I ask is that we utlize what God gave us and give back to the earth as much as possible. Remember, “nothing man can create is more complex than a single blade of grass;” from the way it grows, to the the way it feeds and nourishes, to the way it dies and comes back to life. This came from my Dad, a man who loves the Earth and respects the environment, and yet he can’t understand the way I eat.
Food is just as complex as that single blade of grass and is one of our strongest defenses against disease, but is STILL one of the last things people turn to when suffering. The term, “you are what you eat,” cannot be more relevant. We have to protect Mother Earth and in doing so, it will give us all that we need to survive and thrive.
Source: http://aguafm.com/7.html
PROTECT OUR EARTH/PROTECT YOURSELVES
- Support local farmers. Shop at farmer’s markets and buy local as much as possible. The more local and organic you buy, the better it is for the environment, the more nutrients your food will supply, and the better your food will taste. Local farmers need our support in order to thrive. Although they may be a little more expensive, the extra money you invest in your health NOW, will come back to you 10 fold.
- Choose foods with LESS ingredients and avoid health claims. Just because a package broadcasts big health claims doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthier. Foods grown from the earth or provided by the animals we eat, are much more complicated than fortification in a package; they don’t need a label to let us know they will bring the utmost nutrition. Nutrients all work together, in ways we cannot begin to fathom. The less harm you bring to plants, insects, and animals, the more nutrition your food will provide.
- Plants should steal the show. Leafy greens and veggies should comprise MOST of your diet. These colorful guys should be the star players in your diet, with meat and other foods as the additives or side dishes; a little bacon here, a few pieces of chicken there, some cheese here, and lots of veggies everywhere!!
- Eat as a family. Cook. The average person does not cook family meals anymore! WHY? We rely too heavily on convenience; a frozen meal or a stop at the drive thru every single day is not treating your body well! Why is it that we are too lazy to pack a lunch, but able to spend extra money for the vending machine or fast food? Or that we can sit and watch TV for hours on end but sacrifice 10 teensy minutes each night to pack a lunch or a breakfast? Unheard of! What are we teaching our kids? Small changes like a home cooked meal every night, will benefit your family tremendously. It doesn’t take that much to change your lifestyle, you just have to be willing to do it!!
By investing some time and effort in to your foods, they will invest time and effort in to you! They will nourish your body, make us healthy children, and breed habits that continue for generations. Let’s ALL take a stand together! Let’s each eat REAL foods, WHOLE foods, foods without pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, and crap. Afterall, it IS how God intended.
This was such a thoughtful post and insightful post! Thank goodness there are fabulous RDs like yourself out there doing so much good and helping to clarify things. Thank you!
Fantastic post!! I used to be huge on getting the lowest calorie everything but those foods would leave me unsatisfied which would lead me to overeat later. Now I’m really appreciating better foods. I used to only eat the 100 calorie english muffins with a long list of chemicals but not I eat TJ British style Whole Wheat muffins which has ingredients found in nature for 120 calories but I feel so much better when I eat one of those!!
excellent post, Erin! it does amaze me that in a culture so obsessed with food, we barely know anything about it. maybe because it’s so readily available, it’s easy to take for granted. (along with our health.) thanks so much for sharing!
Hey Erin, great post! I do believe in eating food where you understand the ingredients, foods that make you feel your best, and supporting the local economy! Personally, I also understand that not all people can afford to 100% support local economy (I know I can’t) and I also don’t think I could ever eat butter.. even though it’s considered “real.”
This is so great that you put so much time into this post because I understand how our profession definitely receives questions and criticisms.
In weekends I try to add calories to consume for gourmet reasons,but recently weekends not as active in plans to burn off so can add more too! Very sporty for Sat.+Sun.’s with decades past and there all week not so much actions and by the cooks in work. Now over that decade later on and lifestyle changes at work in sales so done in restuarants since earlier. Yet calories burn off weekly so I eat onto added on calories by wekends sports hobbies in mountain trips. Now in
furture I’ve been dieting on & off by all midweeks,and add gyms+health clubs. But,so what stop this wieght gain up + down and onto midweeks did just have little too much calories &carbos & fats. There must need to be a active routine exercise program in schedule all over again, or study something sporty besides in walking or gyms routines. Diet + water intake food onto recipes in planning as this cookbook by Rocco !
Great blog! Glad to see you on Twitter and Facebook. In regards to your contest, I’d say one of my favorite food indulgences is cheesecake! Any type, any kind, YUM. But it’s so loaded with fat, calories, and carbs that I can only indulge one or twice a year.
If there were a healthier way…I’d try it!
[...] Eat and Eat Well. [...]
Erin-
I couldn’t agree more! We need to get back to making our food, eating tons of fruit and veggies and eating REAL food. Love this post.
Great post! I think food is such a big part of our lives, and it is so important that we know where it comes from and make conscious decisions as to what to eat and what not to eat. Good, fresh, healthy food is such a gift and should definitely be enjoyed as a family.
Amen!!! I’m all about REAL foods and good ingredients.
I love your philosophy and agree whole-heartedly with your assessment of health, nutrition, and real food. I have friends that have struggled with their weight for years, eliminating entire food groups at times, and living by the 100-calorie packs and pre-packaged diet “foods” you mentioned. It’s been hard to persuade them that eating such non-foods is not the key to health and happiness!
Thank you for such an enlightening, well-written post
I absolutely LOVE this post!!! “I am LESS concerned about the actual nutritional value of the food itself and more intrigued about the experience you have with it and the understanding of where it came from. ”
This is amazing, I don’t have anything too interesting to add because you really covered all the points!!! So inspiring and informative!!
Have a great trip this week!!
Go, Erin! I love this post!
I think more than anything, I now view food and nutrition as so much more than what I once did. Food is such a huge part of our lives, it’s so important to have that healthy, trusting, BALANCED relationship with ourselves and our intake. It’s taken time to get there, but I’m there and I am so much better for it!! Amazing post, you hit the nail on the head!
Fantastic post, Erin!!! Beautifully written and you can tell that you are obviously passionate about food and your career. I agree with everything you just said.
GREAT post, I’d like to print this and show some people who have no clue
Can I please print this off and give it to all my family and friends. I am so supportive of your food philosophy, and you articulated beautifully. We have gotten way off track with how we eat in this country, and I know that I feel so much more healthier and connected to God when I move away from all of that processed nonsense. Bring on the whole food! Thanks for sharing, love…as always, you inspire!
SUCH a wonderful post!! I definitely agree with you, I have been criticized for my food choices quite often, even by my own family! They say, “that’s all you are eating?” or “what? you aren’t eating the triple layer chocolate cake?! What fun is that?!” Well, I choose some things over others, and when I do have a treat I don’t have another. I stick to one treat, or MAYBE two if I feel like splurging. I’m also the same as you when I choose foods, as in I love to look at ingredient lists rather than nutrition facts. The info I get form the ingredient list really tells me so much more about the food I am eating!
I love the way you think. More power to you!
I LOVE THIS POST ERIN! Well said. I completely agree with you and love when I am eating something “unhealthy” in other people’s eyes and they are like you are a dietitian. I am like so what. I know what good nutrious food is and completely agree with this post. Now only if I could write like you. Have a wonferful weekend!
Great post and message. I’m in complete agreement. It really is about quality of food versus quantity. And it’s surprising how much easier this is to achieve than people expect.
I think this is my favorite post of your’s! I agree with your points, but one I’m particularly passionate about is to eat as a family. Growing up we always did that, and I think the benefits go far beyond nutrition and food, but also to knowing what’s going on in each other’s lives and staying connected to your spouse/children.
PS- I get criticized about my food choices from some friends, and even my own extended family!
This is a GREAT post. I’m a future dietitian and I’m saving this for reference in the future! You put things much more eloquently than I could have.
Amen friend! We’re both trying to reveal that good, healthy foods don’t have to equal plain rice cakes. Love the points you made!
Oh I couldnt agree with you more!!
What really amazes me is how many people dont understand, and even mock, something so simple.
AMEN! I am so with you. And I love all of your tips. Eat & eat well-horray!
I think this is my favorite post of yours ever. I love how you just lay it all out there. It shows off your passion, heart, and belief in what you do so well.
I’m studying to become a dietitian and I’m already getting criticism. It’s not just for being healthy on the inside although that’s a huge part of it..but it’s all about feeling *amazing* and how food does that for us. I just think it’s incredible how our bodies react to what we put in them and how we can use food to take us to our highest potential. Yeah, to some the foods may look “boring” but I’d rather choose a “boring” banana that makes me feel great over a beautiful pastry that gives me a sugar high and crash.
Applause, cheer! You know this is so smart, because overall you eat to fuel your body and it’s about an experience. I read somewhere (maybe even here) a quote “pull up a chair to a refrigerator.” It’s about more than just eating everything down, it’s slowing down and savoring food and nourishing your body.
Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I’ve just recently stumbled upon quality over quantity. Since I hate (and fail) at counting calories, I’ve been making more of an effort to eat more whole foods and I find that I crave junk a LOT less. It’s a bummer people give you a hard time about your eating choices. I guess most of my friends (and definitely my family) are pretty healthy eaters too.
I’m so with you on the quality of the foods you choose, too – and focusing a little bit less on calories, and all that jazz and more on what it is I’m putting on the table every night. I used to be “that” girl that focused on calories counting, food diaries and the dreaded WW pts. But not anymore. I’ve lately been loving going to the farmer’s market more and more, looking for the freshest yummiest ingredients for dinners and stuff. It makes it truly an experience, I totally agree! Food is good, real, yummy, food, that is.
Wonderful post – I agree with every single word! I have recently started to buy more organic and locally produced food and this morning I made my first trip to the farmers market. We are so far removed from the processes involved in food production its scary. I feel so much better eating organic, local and in season – and much more connected to nature this way. Fab post
I totally, 100% agree with your food philosophy!! Although it’s not always easy, I do make an effort to purchase locally grown foods when I can. Like you said, there are obviously going to be situations when processed foods are the only options, but after that, there’s nothing that feels better than returning to good, real, WHOLE FOOD again!