My husband went to jury duty a few weeks ago and the court ordered lunch for the jurors from a standard pizza joint. My husband ordered a salad with grilled chicken instead of going with a pizza or a sub. One woman there gave him a hard time about eating healthy and asked if he was worried about it? Worried about what? Taking care of himself?
This got me thinking. I’ve been known as a ‘healthy eater’ for most of my full-time working life (8+ years). Now, whether I actually was eating properly/well all of those years…that’s a separate topic. 😉
People often turn their nose up at me when I decline cake for someone’s birthday or bring my lunch in when everyone else is eating pizza. Do I indulge sometimes? Yes, but for the most part when I am at work I bring my lunch and stay away from all of the crap people bring into the office. If I want a treat I’m going to have something I really want when I’m home and can relax or out with friends somewhere special. Not just when I’m bored, stressed or pressured at the office.
If I had a dollar for every time someone made a comment about me eating healthy (and we’re not talking positive comments) I’d have at least an extra hundred bucks to my name.
Someone please explain to me when eating healthy became weird instead of the norm. At least 55% of our food preferences are learned (not genetic) and we’re giving babies french fries and soda at 7 months? What are we teaching the next generation?
Does anyone every give you a hard time for your food choices? How do you handle this criticism?
I wonder that too! I always get flack at work for not eating treats in the teacher room! I think it is just a defense mechanism for those justifying their decisions to eat unhealthy. So I try to ignore it and stay out of the work parties to avoid the comments altogether!
I know, but that’s crazy…you shouldn’t have to avoid a party bc you don’t want to eat junk!!
Hi Amanda-
I was just researching this very topic! I’m trying to figure out WHEN eating healthy became unpopular? What happened from the time they cooked meals from scratch in the beginning of the last century until now? I think the processed foods robbed our brains of thinking clearly… ;).
Great topic!!
Hi Teresa – That’s great that you’re researching this topic. I really think it’s so interesting and it is on my mind often. Why why why do I feel like the weird one when I don’t want that brownie sundae everyone else is eating? 😉
Hi Amanda,
I don’t really get crap for eating healthy though it always surprises me when people comment, and I get comments ALL the time, about my healthy eating. They seem to think I’m doing something difficult or hard and that I am somehow sacrificing and I must be miserable when I pass up that cookie or cake. Couldn’t be further from the truth! The more I exercise and stay active, the healthier I eat. There is a direct correlation between living healthy and eating healthy. I have _absolutely no desire_ to eat the junk that most people seem to think is normal, routine, and enjoyable. I’d much rather grab a piece of fruit, have some nuts and seeds and find that to be very tasty, enjoyable and satisfying. This seems so natural and easy to me I often wonder how people can consume the junk they do and find any satisfaction in it. Not that I don’t on occasion grab that cookie, and once I get started……….
I think once you’re in the routine of eating healthy and you learn how much better your body feels, most of the cravings go away and it’s a lot more appealing to, like you said, reach for a piece of fruit or some nuts instead of junk.
I get that all the time at work. I always bring my lunch including greek yogurt, an apple, fiber cereal and a 100 calorie snack. I get comments because I don’t order out subs when everyone else does and don’t eat cake or treats that are in the office…. and as you said, they’re not nice. I don’t know why that is. 🙁 It’s like they’re making me feel bad for trying to be healthy and fit, which is a constant struggle at age 55!!!! How about some credit!!!!!
What is even weirder is that you work at a hospital, don’t you????
I know exactly what you people are talking about. Although I’m no longer a strict vegetarian because my body was low on iron, I can still recall all the inappropriate responses to my eating habits. My whole family is carnivorous so you can imagine. Nowadays I go for organic meat from local farmers in Toronto as a compromise.
Sounds like you are doing what’s best for you! 🙂
Okay, I got one for you guys. I’m a vegan,my diet basically consists of real food, whole foods, not frankenfoods. Veggies, beans, nuts, fruits, grains etc and the occasional splurge, the one I get is ” You eat like a rabbit” or squirrel. Generally I always hear this from people who eat crap food all the time, or i’ll get the “you don’t eat like a normal human being.” It is as though healthy eaters get looked at as indernourished in todays society or as though we are greatly depriving ourself. Truth is I feel great!
I was totally thinking of vegetarians/vegans when I wrote this. I’m sure you get a lot of comments about your choices. If you feel great, that’s what matters. Good for you!! 🙂
omg I can totally relate! I think a lot of it is people jealous of your lifestyle and at one point i was the jealous person. i wrote about it a few months ago here http://www.onaninhale.com/1/post/2011/07/healthy-lifestyle-jealousy.html
Finally got to reading this post! I love it. 🙂 You are so right…it’s really important not to judge people one their eating habits (and on other things really!), but sometimes it’s easier said than done.
I feel like I am constantly made fun of because of my eating habits. They are definitely viewed as weird. The blog world makes me feel more normal for sure.
Don’t let it get to ya. 😉 Just make the choices that are right for you!!
YES!!! This frustrates me to NO end. I just got it again this week – my father in law is hosting a little dinner for his sister (my husband’s aunt) who is visiting the area, and it’s on Friday. So he’s ordering pizzas. My husband mentioned that I’d want salad or something and he said he’d make me one (which was nice) but then said “but she’s wasting away” – which to me is a jab at my healthy ways, and NOT a compliment. So – I like to stay in shape. So – I like to eat healthy, whole, real, yummy food. It doesn’t mean I need to be called out in a negative way for it. Why is it more acceptable to eat like crap than it is to eat healthy?? Annnnd END RANT. hehe 😉 Clearly I’m fired up.
Whoops. Hit a button with Jess. 🙂 Totally get it and so been there. Exactly there actually. haha…
Like I said there are times where I would just want the pizza and eat that, but there are other times where I would request something else and people would get all squirmy/weird. 😉
Wow. This has really made me think.
When I came home and told my family I had become a “vegan with benefits” they were confused, especially once I said it wasn’t for moral reasons exactly, but health ones…and just generally feeling better.
I think I get more of an “I don’t know why/how she does it” attitude rather than a negative one, per se. Yet, I do feel weird some times for wanting to be healthy!
I was going to put something about how it’s a bit similar to how I’m would guess people react to vegetarians/vegans. Or even people like me who only eat chicken and turkey. I always get the WHAT? No red meat? No fish? Then I have to explain that I don’t like either…but I wish I liked fish…etc. I like how you put it though…it’s not always that people are mean/rude, they just are confused!
I couldn’t agree more. It is frustrating. No one would ever tell the overweight person eating crap “are you worried about eating so poorly. You kow you shouldn’t have that soda and fries.” But somehow it is ok to comment when someone decided not to eat the crap cake from the supermarket. I will say that I think people criticize because seeing someone take care of themselves, pass on the cake and eat well makes them feel more guilty about their own diets. My MIL always comments that my husband exercises too much when really him going for a run when we visit just makes her feel badly for doing nothing.
Yup – I do think often times people comment because they can’t understand how you have the willpower to turn down junk food or the motivation to workout when all they want to do is sit on the couch and wait for the pizza delivery man. 🙂
I always get crap for my food choices- it’s ridiculous!! No wonder people struggle so much with healthy eating, our environment {aka people!} doesn’t help at all.
You’re so right! I think that’s why it’s really important to surround yourself with other healthy people!
UGH! I HATE when people do that, or poo-poo passing up a cookie, as if we are slaves to fitness and health and we are living so badly and unhappily. Please. Gimme a break. Quite the opposite!!
It’s so silly. There have definitely been times I want to tell someone they should trying say no sometime too. lol 🙂
AGREED! It’s amazing how much other people seem to care what you do and don’t eat. The truth is, they’re probably just projecting onto you their own insecurities, or their own guilt about eating the cake, pizza, etc. It’s unfair that you (and the rest of us) have to bear THEIR issues, but just keep your chin up for making the right choices. Sounds like you and your husband do a good job 🙂
HA…it doesn’t bother me at all when people make comment although it used to back in the day. I always felt weird. Now I could really care less what someone thinks of what I eat. I fuel my body with good food most of the time and treat myself when I feel like it. 🙂