Oh man.
I’m starting to think that staying up until 2am last night was a bad idea, but you know when you’re so immersed in a good book that you just can’t put it down? That was me last night with A Court of Mist and Fury. In my defence, I think I lay down and started reading somewhere around 10…. aaaaand then it was 4 hours later. Funny how that happens.
But I’ll spend a little more time gushing about that book next week because today is all about the food. It’s What I Ate Wednesday, after all.
Actually 🤔 I should probably go make some food before I start typing so that I have something to show you. It’s currently 7:30am and I’ve been up for about 23 minutes, with 15 of those spent at the computer with a cup of tea. I really need to get out of the habit of doing that, but today is not that day. Anyways, breakfast. Hold up.
. . .
. . .
Okay. Food.
[Breakfast:] 1 cup of oats with a banana cooked in. 1/2 scoop protein powder, 2 spoonfuls of ground flax, a handful of strawberries, chocolate chips, and maple syrup added post-cook.
So one of my favourite things about blogging is being able to interact with you guys. I mean, I love the writing, and the photography, and the creativity involved, but I probably wouldn’t still be doing this if it wasn’t for the daily interactions with readers and other bloggers… especially when those interactions inspire or make me think.
I got a comment on my last Link Love asking why I share links that talk about the darker side of “clean eating” when I come off as a clean eating blog with my recipes and WIAW. It wasn’t disrespectful or accusatory in any way – just genuine curiosity. And because it really got me thinking about my stance on the whole topic, I thought I’d go into a little more detail in case anyone else was wondering.
But first, lunch… because God knows I can’t be coherent on an empty stomach.
[Lunch:] swampy chocolate smoothie (2 semi-frozen bananas, 2 Medjool dates, big fistful of spinach, 1/2 scoop protein powder, 2 spoonfuls of cocoa, and cashew milk) and an almond butter and [blueberry] jelly sandwich.
Alrighty.
So I guess I should start by saying that I have no beef with healthy foods. None at all.
I think it’s great that we’re putting more of an emphasis on making healthier choices because whether we want to admit it or not, we do have a serious health crisis on our hands, and the leading killers are completely preventable with proper diet and lifestyle choices.
That being said, I don’t like the life-consuming, obsessive, fear and guilt-ridden mentality that often comes with the “clean eating” label, and that’s what I have an issue with because that’s what my life once revolved around (literally – I lived to eat clean), and it’s a pretty shitty way to live exist.
Do I still follow a mostly healthy diet? Sure. But it’s because I genuinely love the taste of a lot of the foods that fall under the “healthy” label, as well as how they make me feel in the long run… not because I’m afraid to do otherwise. My body can’t handle a lot of the things that it could when I was younger, and it’s a lot quicker to let me know when it’s not psyched with what I’ve been eating.
[Afternoon Snack:] sea salt Popcorners and guacamole. And yes, I ate more than one chip, but I just kind of sit down with a bag and a container and eat ’till I’m satisfied, soooo… I don’t really know how else to capture that.
Does that mean I never eat anything that’s completely void of any sort of nutritional value, and which most people would call unhealthy?
Snort 😝 Uhh no. No it doesn’t. You guys know I have a massive sweet tooth and I’ve talked to you a bunch of time about my obsession with jelly beans and other sweets. It’s still a daily thing (I currently have 3 bags in the drawer next to me – don’t ask), but I’m at a place right now where I’m comfortable enough with the way I think and eat not to feel like I have to go out of my to eat certain foods just to “prove” that I have no issue with them, or to feel like I have to draw special attention to the times where I do eat those things. If you’ve been with me for long enough, you might remember that I used to make entire posts celebrating the fact that I “allowed” myself to eat certain things like ice cream or cookies because it used to be a really big deal to me. Now it’s not. Thoughts of good food vs. bad food don’t really come up because food is just food and I don’t spend much time thinking about what I’m eating. Sometimes I want big salads stuffed with all sorts of nutritional goodness, and other times I’m eating jelly beans and potato chips for lunch because nothing else sounds good and I can’t be bothered.
That’s not always something that’s easy to capture in a WIAW post since [at this rate] I’m only doing 2 of them in a 30-day span and I do tend to be a little more conscious of what I’m eating on those days since I have to take extra time to photograph my meals and what not. That and Spoons is kind of niched into the healthier food realm (or something like that), which I honestly have no problem with either. I really like providing people with meal ideas and recipes that prove that healthy foods can be delicious and satisfying, but you’ll never catch me demonizing any foods or food groups. Not sugar (I mean, how hypocritical would that be?!), not grains, not gluten, not fat, not… whatever else happens to be controversial these days. Or at least I hope you never catch me doing that stuff, because if you do, you have my permission to smack me upside the head and tell me to get my shit straight.
[Dinner]: some of my mom’s leftover Mexican rice casserole that I snatched on the weekend, which has… uhh… rice, black beans, onions, bell peppers, enchilada sauce, a bunch of spices, and cheese. Some steamed broccoli on the side.
I personally believe that there’s room for all that stuff in our diets, and it’s not 10, or 20, or whatever percent they’re tossing around. It’s whatever happens to happen on any given day. And, more importantly, it’s not worrying or beating yourself up about whatever happens to happen on any given day. Trust me. The stress that comes with obsessing over your food is more harmful to your body than sugar or saturated fat ever will be. That doesn’t mean that you should eat bags of sugar and chase them with shots of lard, but you don’t have to treat those things like poison either, because the real poison is the fear and guilt that society has attached to them and the effect that those negative emotions have on our well-being.
Health is a lot more than just eating right and exercising. It’s mental, it’s emotional, it’s spiritual, and it’s social. And it doesn’t matter how meticulous you are with your physical health if you’re neglecting the other areas. TL:DR, there’s nothing wrong with eating healthy as long as the motivation to do so isn’t driven by guilt or fear, and it doesn’t become your whole life.
[Drink]: the basic golden milk recipe without the smoothie part.
And holy.snap did I have a lot to say about this. One of the main reasons I missed doing my WIAW posts was because they gave me a chance to talk about food-related things that I couldn’t really fit into recipe posts or ToLs, and hope you guys don’t mind.
Also! I know I said I’d update you on what’s going on with my golden milk experiment, but seeing as this post is already bordering on 1500 words (you’re a rock star if you made it this far), I think I’ll save that until tomorrow. See you then!
Let’s chat!
No questions! I’d just love to hear whatever thoughts got stirred up.
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Your version of clean eating is the same as mine (well not right now because I’m eating like crap! but when I’m eating normally, yes). I have never let clean eating totally overrule my life but I’ve come close. It’s so much better to live balanced. In terms of the comment you got on your other post, I think it’s really easy for people to not see the whole picture (because uhh they can’t see the whole picture, no matter how much we post). I find your blog and eats very balanced.
here’s the thing. People LABEL everything. CLEAN eating is trendy. WHat does it really mean? gosh darn that depends on who you ask. I like the words. … REAL FOOD better. Because chocolate and butter and wine are real foods. hehe
Love your philosophy on this! And as always, your eats look so yummy 🙂
This entire post makes my heart happy. I’ve been struggling with the darker sides of clean eating for years. First the over restriction and then the ‘eat all the healthy foods’ phase and I felt like we weren’t talking about it at all. So I love that you’re sharing your stance like this <3
I despise the term “clean eating.” Society has used it to create this idealistic form of eating that is supposed to be superior! Learning to listen to our cravings and understand what our bodies want is how I like to define healthy. Loved this post!
I agree. I see this in my WW meeting a lot — even from my leader — who talks so proudly about not using butter or mayonnaise anymore and I’m like WTF not? There’s nothing wrong with them!
But I get it too. People who have been heavy most of their lives (like me) are wired differently, and it’s a long journey to rewire ourselves to not fear food. I’m still working on it!
I think we’re all on journeys and probably will be forever. I mean, I eat differently now than I did a year ago, and I’ll probably eat differently a year from now as well. But I get the wiring thing, too. And I think that, on the flip side, people who have struggled with restrictive eating have this fear of eating healthier foods because it might look like they’re going back to bad habits. Crazy how the brain works.
Great post! And also, how the heck did you make simple PB toast look that dang decadent?! 🙂
Haha! I honestly have no idea. I was surprised myself which is why I photographed the pieces separately instead of putting them together in a sandwich.
Yes, yes, yes. I totally hear what you’re saying. This post is actually very similar to some of the thoughts that I was sifting through when I wrote my WIAW for this week–about how just because I eat healthy doesn’t mean I’m trying to “prove” anything, and certainly that I”m not judging anyone else for what they eat.
You still inspire me, Amanda. Once, your blog taught me that it’s okay to eat frequently, with lots of snacks throughout the day. Now, your blog is teaching me that it’s okay to eat a large meal all at once. You’ve been with me through so much of my recovery…can’t thank you enough!
Also, that strawberry-chocolate combo on oatmeal looks amazing. Some strawberries sound divine right now!
Joyce – that really means so much to me, thank you <3 I remember getting inspiration and strength from seeing people eat/do things I was afraid to do, so it really feels good to be able to return the favour. It's so great to hear that you're in a better place!
First of all, your food looks so amazing! Love that swirl on the bread–very impressive!
And I so so love what you had to say on clean eating. Ive noticed the obsessive behaviors becoming such a thing on youtube on blogs and pretty much everywhere! Love your approach to clean eating and healthy living. BALANCE all the way. Totally agree with you that its not a percentage but it changes each day.
Yesterday i ate like 35803589 servings of chocolate. Today all i wanted was savory. Evey day is different.
okay..ill stop now. im just toally loving this post! haha
Thanks, Heather! I’m the same way with getting sugared out and then craving heather foods the next day. I figure my body will let me know what’s up.
I wholeheartedly agree. There’s no point in demonizing food. Foods can be nutritious or unnutritious… but not good or bad, not even healthy or unhealthy. Healthy is a lifestyle tht includes mostly nutritious but also some less nutritious foods.
That Mexican casserole looks delicious!
“Foods can be nutritious or unnutritious… but not good or bad, not even healthy or unhealthy.” <-- that's seriously the perfect way to say it! Thanks for sharing that idea, Laura!
Yesss I love this. Well-being is about so much more than what you eat. It’s how you move and think and relate to yourself and others. You nailed it.
I totally agree and can relate to this entire post. I used to live to eat only clean, and boy did my relationships and personality suffer. It’s all about balance, making mostly healthy decisions, still enjoying those sweets, and honestly just being nice to yourself and your brain!!! Thank you for sharing.
I’m with ya, friend. I eat pretty much everything and really believe there’s room for all foods in our lives. I will say, I’ve been indulging too much lately and need to clean things up a bit! My stomach hurts. Hahaha
Thank you for sharing your perspective and wisdom with us. 🙂 <3
I love your carefree approach to eating, even if it ends in stomach aches sometimes 😛 Totally worth it.
Love the cheesecake strawberry oats. I am going to double it twice and cook it in a square dish rather than individual servings. Have to consider the heat in Austin. xo Lauren
Amanda!!! I loveloveLOVE this post!! That’s e.x.a.c.t.l.y. haw I feel about food, and how I’m striving to remind myself to think every day (you just worded it so much better than I ever could have!). Sometimes it feels like everyone is trying to tell us that we’re making food, eating, exercise, etc. too hard and we really should just do what makes our body feel good…BUT then it seems so many of them then go on to qualify that statement with an addendum of things “we all agree are detrimental and we shouldn’t do/eat”. That’s hard for me to hear (slash block out, because I don’t agree with that mindset, plus I don’t want to be filling my mind with other people’s rules they have for their life), because I already tend to be the sort of person who beats herself up too much over trivial, stupid stuff. And I really hope that doesn’t come across as pushy, rude or obnoxious; I don’t mean to deride those people in any way. It’s just not how I want to live my life, and sometimes I feel very alone in my perspective. Thank you SO much for your balanced, insightful words into this subject!
P. S. I love how you take us along live through the creation of many of your blog posts. Like you pause to go get breakfast and I can just imagine I’m there patiently waiting for my friend to grab a quick something and return to chat. It feels like we’re having an IRL breakfast/lunch/whatever together! 😉 You’re the best! 💗
Your comments always make me smile, Hannah – thank you! And I know what you mean about not being a fan of those universal generalizations about specific foods, because that’s how I feel as well. Like… I hear thing all the time about how processed sugar is the devil, but then I find that I actually feel -better- when I include more sugar in my diet, and it’s been that way for as long as I can remember. So yeah… it’s definitely about finding what works best for you and sticking to that, because we’re all different! And I actually had even more tag-along snippets thrown in there, but I had to cut them out because they made the post WAY too long…
I made it to the end of the post, and I absolutely loved every word Amanda. Because, I am growing more and more in that direction. I don’t see you demonizing any food group, and all your food looks not only nutritious but DELICIOUS. It doesn’t have the ‘taste disgusting’ bad rap that healthy food has gotten over the years. It is full of flavor; I can testify to that after making quite a few recipes. You are adventurous. You’re honest with your food journeys, and I love that about you. Food is just food. Of course we fellowship around it and make memories while eating, but life isn’t food.
I think you summed it up so wonderfully in this paragraph.
‘Health is a lot more than just eating right and exercising. It’s mental, it’s emotional, it’s spiritual, and it’s social. And it doesn’t matter how meticulous you are with your physical health if you’re neglecting the other areas. TL:DR, there’s nothing wrong with eating healthy as long as the motivation to do so isn’t driven by guilt or fear, and it doesn’t become your whole life.’
And I want to write like you… It’s great! 🙂 Also, that almond butter? How did you get such a perfect swirl? Last of all have you tried ‘Don’t Go Nuts’ soy butter?
Thank you SO much for the kind comment, Emily <3 It really means so much 🙂 As for the swirl... I really have no idea 😆 I think it was a little on the softer side because we were having a warm day, so it was a lot more spreadable. And I haven't tried that particular brand of soy butter, but I've seen it in the store. How is it?
Amanda, I couldn’t agree more with what you said here – I too, believe that health is not about what we eat or how much we exercise – it encompasses so much more – and heck yeah to not demonizing foods – or gorging on them!
Seeing your mom’s casserole – I see where you get your cooking/baking skillz from!
Thank you, Shashi! But my mom is the real cooking master – I mostly just stick to baking 😆
First off, can you cater my meals for a week? Because all of yours look delicious! As for healthy eating, it definitely can be a fine line between eating healthy because you “should” versus because you sincerely just love the taste of avocado and veggies (guilty). Thanks for the insight on such a tricky topic – and the drool-worthy eats! 😉
Hey Amanda!
Thank you so much for this post!!! It has taken me decades to get to the point where I don’t demonize food. I’ve always been on the curvier side, but I finally gave up on dieting a few years ago. I have to say, while I went back to my high school weight (which was heavier, not lighter), almost every blood test has evened out and stayed healthier since then. And I’m sure that’s because most days I genuinely enjoy eating the “healthier” or “cleaner” foods most of the time. Of course, like you, there are likely some chocolates or jelly beans sprinkled in throughout the day (who knew we had so much in common?!?), but for the most part, I’m eating what I want and what I want serves my health.
I have to say, throughout that journey, I realized the stress of all the counting and self-policing and guilt-ing I put my body and mind through, was enough to make me unhappy AND unhealthy. I still struggle with the internal guilt on those nights when I eat ice cream for dinner instead of lean meats and veggies (like last night. Lol), but on a whole, I think the balance in my life is So. Much. Better. Thank you again for posting this, as it means a lot to get a balanced opinion on this issue rather than someone else’s post on how “clean” eating is the ONLY way to go in order to be healthy.
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Molly! I can completely relate to being way healthier now despite not eating as “cleanly.” There was a time where I literally did eat 100% clean and I was probably unhealthier than ever just because of how bad of a state I was in mentally. The negative effect of stress definitely doesn’t get as much attention as it should.
I think the clean eating trap is one that far to many fall into on their path to a “healthier” life. I definitely slipped and it’s taken some time, but I’m happy to say I’m much more comfortable eating things that have sugar or aren’t whole grain or don’t fit the “perfect”, “clean” mold. Although I’m passionate about fueling my body well, I agree that foods being off limit or inducing fear is just not healthy at all.
I think it’s a journey for sure, and one that the majority of people seem to go through. It’s great to hear that you’re in a better place, Meah!
I love this! I think that it’s so important to indulge and feed your soul as much as feeding your body. And you shouldn’t feel bad about that! Yesterday it was super hot and I was craving an ice cream cone so that’s what I had! Generally speaking, if I’ve been eating more “junk” food than normal, I start to crave veggies and fruits and other healthy stuff. It all balances out. I used to be obsessed with making sure I burned more calories in a day than I ate and it was so bad for me in so many way. I’m so glad I’ve found a much more healthy way to eat and live now! And I’ve been there with finding myself up at 2am with a book because I couldn’t put it down! 🙂
“It all balances out.” <-- yesssss! I remember wasting so much energy on trying to control my cravings because I thought I had too much of something on a particular day, but it really does all balance out and when I find myself eating too much sugar, I definitely start craving more veggies.
YUMMM! Your food always looks so good. I love your take on clean eating. Healthy eating is always a good thing but it can definitely be taken way too far!
I don’t have anything of value to add but I had to chime in and say yes. Just yes. I don’t like the clean eating label, but I do try to eat healthy most of the time. However, my healthy probably doesn’t look the same as most HLB’s version of healthy, and I’m totally okay with that. I’ve found what I need to eat to feel my best and I no longer care what others think of that. Like you, I do have a monster sweet tooth so I always make room for that alongside my salads and fruits haha
“I’ve found what I need to eat to feel my best” <-- I think that's the only thing that really matters. I know we get told all the time that sugar is the devil, but I've -always- found that I feel better when I include processed sugar in my diet... which might be why I have such a big sweet tooth.
That kind of perspective is wonderful to share, because it shows that it’s possible for someone who once struggled to get to a place where mostly-healthy, always-fun, sometimes-junky eating is just by nature and not a conscious effort. That’s the whole point of recovery to me – you just live and it’s not so much work and thought all the time about food. Except how good it tastes 🙂
Amen to that. I’ll occasionally have people ask me if I feel like I’m fully recovered or not, and I honestly have no idea what to tell them because it’s not something I ever think about… which I guess is the point 😆
Love everything you just said. I eat healthy food because they taste good (to me) and my body likes them. And when I eat too much sugary stuff (which does happen because it also tastes good), my body reminds me that mayyybe I shouldn’t do that too often. So, yes, I eat mostly healthy food, but that’s because it works for me… and I think everyone should get to eat what works for them!
Lol I definitely find myself getting a little sugared out sometimes as well, but you’re right – it’s hard to avoid with my sweet tooth. I figure my body will let me know, though, and it usually does.
YES – agree with everything you said! I too love the way nutrient dense foods make my body feel. Like you said, I just don’t strive to live my life to only eat clean. Great post Amanda!
Love your thoughts! I am currently on a journey to embrace eating without the guilt, and it is so refreshing to hear you discuss the idea without telling me I need to cut out sugar, carbs, gluten, etc to be healthy. I’m happy to hear someone say it’s ok to love food when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.!!!
I’m so glad it was helpful, Lucy! And in my honest opinion, letting yourself enjoy the foods you love without guilt is -way- healthier than restricting and stressing over food choices You’ll get there!
great post, and i think you captured the balance between wanting to still treat your body well and choose healthy, nutritious options (and brownie points when we actually like those, too!), but give yourself a little grace and permission to enjoy sweets or other foods when and however you want. it’s so easy as females to beat ourselves up or scrutinize ourselves and turn to viewing food as “bad,” which starts us down the wrong path toward an unhealthy mentality. i love this post and love your food choices here and wish my meals looked this good in photographs. 🙂 thanks for sharing this!
Thanks so much, Shawna! Any my meals don’t always look this good, believe me. It’s the miracle of WIAW.
Well said, even if it took 1500 words to do it. 🙂 They were all good words, and I really enjoyed the post. I think I would also really enjoy Mama Spoons rice and bean mixture. I spy yummy cheese.
I do think about food often, but mainly because I love it and I can’t wait to make some delicious….although these days it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. It is happening though. Case in point, I had a gorgeous salad on Monday and I made Kohlrabi fritters on Sunday. Boom.
You need to come over! We’ll have pierogies for lunch and a Mexican casserole for dinner 😉 And thanks, boo. I really enjoyed writing it too.
Ultimate healthy approach and it reflects in all your posts not just wiaw! Basically anything in life that sucks you in too far won’t be healthy long term, but eating to make yourself happy and healthy for real and just not thinking about it a whole lot anymore is a great place to be.
Thanks Michele! I appreciate that 🙂
I am so glad you brought back these posts because I have missed them! you know I agree with you 100% which is exactly why we are friends 🙂 My diet is what people consider “clean” but I would never let it rule my life or keep me from enjoying dinners out with friends or more importantly, a really good dessert. Life is too short to stress every morsel that goes in our body.
Dessert and sweets will always be my thing. I’ve never been huge on fried or salty foods, but give me ALL the sweets.
Ahhh man I really, really love this post and agree with everythinggggg you said. I’ve actually had a similar post sitting in my drafts for, ugh, months, but it’s essentially saying that everyone’s definition of “healthy” is different and that’s ok–as long as, like you said, it doesn’t consume your life. I also eat a lot of sugar and don’t really feel that bad about it? Nope. For now, my body doesn’t react negatively to it and it makes me happy. Plus, I do what I want 😉
Me too! I read all these things about how sugar is the devil and I’m like… but… I feel better when I eat it and always have? I get that it might not be that way for everyone, but I think that slapping a universal label on a food isn’t right.
Yes yes yes, to all of this. I totally agree. I think the difference between loving healthy food and what it does for your body and the fear of any “bad” foods is huge. When you cross that line, food becomes an obsession, and an unhealthy one. I’ve struggled with the concept of “clean eating” for the exact same reasons as you.
I think it’s an issue a lot of people have dealt with, and I definitely think there’s a bit of a journey involved to get to a happy place with it. I always find it interesting to look back and see where I was with my eating even a year ago vs where I am now.
BOOM! drop the mic 😉
Love your thoughts here. Thanks for sharing them. I agree 100% that we tend to let “healthy foods” kind of rule our lives. I do eat this way because its what makes me feel teh best and keeps the tummy pains away, but that doesn’t mean I don’t crave sugar, cake and pizza on a daily basis. Cause I totally do and I totally give in to those cravings 90% of the time.
Confession: I honestly feel way better when I eat candy and sugar on a regular basis. It’s something that I’ve done for as long as I can remember, so I’m assuming that my body knows something my brain doesn’t.
Is it 1/2 cup dry oats cooked to make 1 cup cooked per one banana and the other ingredients or one cup dry oats?
It’s one cup of dry oats, Heather.
ah thanks amanda…good to have a set formula for the best tasting/best texture of oats…know what i mean?
You have such a great approach on “clean eating” or wahtever that means. I agree with eating things that taste good, and if that’s healthy, so be it. We eat a pretty healthy lifestyle, but I know it could always be healthier. Would I be happier with that? Probably not, so this works for us. I also enjoy my fair share of treats 😉
You have such a great approach on “clean eating” or wahtever that means. I agree with eating things that taste good, and if that’s healthy, so be it. We eat a pretty healthy lifestyle, but I know it could always be healthier. Would I be happier with that? Probably not, so this works for us. I also enjoy my fair share of treats 😉
Happier = healthier, so I’d say you’re healthier now than if you tried to make your diet 100% healthy 🙂
Your foods look so good! I’ve been following your blog for a year or so but I never left a comment so I thought it would be time for that 🙂 I love your approach to food and it’s so relatable! With a past of anorexia, orthorexia and bulimia I feel exactly the same now about eating healthy or just food in general. There was a time when I was so obsessed with what I ate and the thought of eating refined pasta (the horror!) would literally make me cry. Then there was the time when I felt forced to eat these things just to prove I’m not afraid of them. And now I’ve reached a place where I just don’t care that much. I eat healthy foods most of the time because that’s what I like, but I don’t have any problem with eating out or munching on processed things either – I just eat what I crave and it feels so good to be free of any anxiety or obsession – life is too short for that and there are too many delicious things to try 🙂
Thanks so much for saying hi, Chao! I definitely remember crying over pasta (I also remember crying over a spoonful of cooked oats when I was trying to break away from a raw food diet), and it’s so nice to be free of that along with the pressure of trying to free yourself from that. I hope you’re having an awesome day!
“I love the taste of a lot of foods that fall under the ‘healthy’ food label” – yes yes yes!! This is what I tell people when they look at my salad for lunch or when I am at the store and have a shopping cart mostly full of produce and meat. I crave vegetables but I also crave chocolate (a little bit of dark chocolate a day keeps the doctor away?!) I honor my cravings and balance it with veggies. I also am aware of the foods that make me feel good and the ones that don’t. I think that is important as well and I know when I eat lots of veggies, meat and fruit and less processed foods, I feel better so it has just become a habit that I gravitate towards foods that make me feel good and love the taste of.I didn’t always eat salads daily and I actually ate tons of cereal and all the carbs growing up but now my body needs different things and my taste buds have adjusted.
I’ve found that my tastes have changed a lot from when I was younger too, Alicia! And the feel-good feeling that comes with eating good food is definitely motivation to stick with it.