I have a problem. I'm admitting it now...and while it's not really a bad problem, I think that sharing my views on it or even sometimes as I put it into practice... annoys people.
My problematic non-problem is EATING HEALTHY, ha.
I think I have a pretty easy time doing so for myself. I try not to consume greasy, fatty, high cal, high sugar foods or caffeinated drinks as my staple items, but I will indulge in a specialty sweet here and there. When I bake or cook I try to use mainly healthy ingredients: healthier butters or substitutes, and smaller amounts or lower fat versions of things like cheese and oils. I never eat fast food, and if it's the only option I get their salad with the dressing on the side.
I've been able to maintain this practice for about 10 years now and continually it's been pretty easy for me to do (except when it comes to animal crackers and some cereals because those dang things are addictive! .. but they are low in fat and low in sugar, so there you go).
The problem becomes a mental conversation with myself: "Do I care too much about being healthy?" and "Do I inflict my constant care about it too much with others who have food tendencies that conflict with my own?" I can't help it if I actually CARE about the people I share my thoughts with on this matter. If they get frustrated with my comments, I think it's because they continue to eat their way, even if they know another way would actually be better for them, and maybe it's just too hard to consider? I find myself holding my tongue a lot because I don't want to be that nagging person or seem too good about it... but I do want people to make realizations and commit to doing something good for themselves. Committing is difficult I know, but that's what makes it such an accomplishment once they can.
Anyway, the other part of my "curse" tempts me to comment mentally or verbally about certain foods, mainly restaurant foods (which I've noticed I do more often now because we tend to go out to eat more often than I had before we were married). I look at the menu thinking: "Okay, what on here is relatively healthy?.. a salad? soup? a wrap of some kind?" (as I examine the actual ingredients).
The thing is that most of those items aren't really healthy at most restaurants because they all add some "special thing" to them to make them taste better than something you could make at home (which is exactly the key that makes customers come back for more). The special thing is usually butter... butter! arrgh! Last night at Chili's I had a Chicken Caesar Pita (lettuce, chicken and I swapped their Caesar dressing for honey mustard). Three bites in I notice the outside of the pita was slathered with butter, probably grilled in a buttered pan, ugh.
Now, those 3 basic ingredients should not be too unhealthy for you: pita bread, romaine lettuce, honey mustard, and pepper-grilled chicken. I just looked up the nutrition info on this Chili's dish: 700 calories, 41g fat! and 8g saturated fat. That is like a McD hamburger.. thankfully I think the honey mustard switch saved me a little bit but come on!! I can make this at home for cheaper and have it be 200% more healthy. I'm glad I only ate 1/2 of it.
He won't want to know this, but Jon got the Quesadilla Explosion Salad: 1270 calories! 76g fat 23g saturated fat! A salad that is 2 times worse for you than a Big Mac... Holy Lord save our arteries! Bet you wouldn't have guessed all that in a salad... unfortunately and apparently: salads are NOT as healthy as they seem. The healthiest thing Chili's has on their menu is Chicken Noodle Soup, but its never been the soup of the day whenever I've been there, and apparently you can't get it ever.
Of course, people could always choose to eat less of their serving (knowing that it's usually so heavy).. but they rarely do. Satisfying hunger doesn't have to mean finishing the entire plate. To be full is not the goal. Stop before you get there and you'll be much better off.
*sigh*. I don't know why this bothers me so much, but it really does. It's not like I'm super freak-o healthy-eater type person who only buys organic and substitutes soy and tofu for anything that has real flavor. I just don't think it's that hard to make things healthy and tasty at the same time.
Yes, it costs much less to eat fast food, but what you're saving in money, you're losing in health, if you do it on a regular basis. Have you seen Burger King parking lots at 8:45am? GOOD LORD! Bad way to start your day people! I just don't understand how they can place taste and convenience above health & wellness. It's not necessarily a long term thing either. Most fast food will give you a stomach ache after consumption, or at least bad gas or the belches or something.. and who wants to be around you when you're stinkishly airing out?
There's little I can do to help other people, even though I try. It's something they have to genuinely want to do to help themselves. I wish our restaurant chefs cared more. Taste and health can certainly go hand in hand. While at Chili's I said they should have a restaurant only for healthy things where you can be guaranteed that your meal is very good for you. I'd go there all the time.
In the meantime, I'll continue to eat 1/5s of my restaurant meals, and walk out feeling able to walk out, thank you.
My sister is really big on whole foods, and who could argue with whole foods being a great thing? She finds that people are offended by her eating habits, even though she rarely advises people unless they ask for it. Sometimes you can't win. I have recently become interested in lowering my sodium intake. It is insane the amount of sodium they put in even so-called healthy menu items, on top of the hidden fats and sugar. Eating out (even non-fast food) is a minefield. You go girl!
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