You are What you Eat…Really?!?

March 24, 2012 General Interest

We live in a society that moralizes food. Don’t believe me?
  • Good carbs, bad carbs
  • Clean eating: I hate this term because it somehow carries the connotation that you are dirty if you aren’t eating “clean.”
  • Michael Pollan: ok, ok, I have an entire blog post brewing about Mr. Pollan. I appreciate that he focuses on sustainable farming practices, eating local, eating less processed food. My issue is that when food becomes such a moral decision people mistakenly believe that their food choices are a reflection of WHO THEY ARE AS PEOPLE. And this isn’t helpful.
  • “I’ve been so bad today….” said by just about every living human being
The trouble with a moralistic tone to eating is that it invokes judgment. And judgment invokes guilt and shame. And guilt and shame typically lead to unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
If we look at our timeline as a country, we have dedicated that last 150 years to good/bad eating and look where it has gotten us! I believe that we’d be a lot farther along if we focused on how our bodies feel when we eat certain foods. Throw out the judgement (YOU AS A PERSON ARE CERTAINLY NOT WHAT YOU EAT) and focus on the experience and see where that lands you.
I want to hear your opinions! Do you agree or disagree? Are you what you eat?
I got this quote from a friend and colleague Leslie Schilling. She’s another rock star dietitian in Memphis. I highly recommend you check out her blog and follow her on Twitter.

3 comments

  1. Thank you thank you thank you for writing this blog post, Marci!!!! I really needed this reminder and the quote is perfect- made me literally laugh out loud and I shared it on my facebook page right away! I’m so fed up with the good v. bad food mentality…

    It’s ridiculously insidious at my college, but especially now that it’s National Nutrition Month. Literally had someone from the nutrition liaison come up to me while I was eating my dinner and make comments about my food choices (told her that I had a HAES,

    intuitive eating RD, thank you very much). Thank you for being such a positive influence amidst this eating disordered culture. Clinicians like you are making the world a better place.

  2. Great post!! It’s so difficult guide clients in recovery when they are trying to recover in such an ill world. I discuss this topic in nutrition groups with my patients all the time! Love the “I haven’t eaten any sexy beasts lately?!” 🙂

  3. Thanks for your feedback ladies! This quote just seemed to funny to pass it up. I was inspired after Leslie shared it with me. 🙂

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