Or so I think, of course, because I know plenty of people who would disagree with me.
This all stems from my general feeling of being fed-up with people’s commentaries about my meals. Especially at work, where we all eat together and everybody gets to analyze what the neighbour is eating, probably because our lunch room isn’t that great and being there is boring. Yes, that’s where I got remarks about how ‘diet-like’ I eat, just because I had more vegetables and protein than starches on my plate. Seriously, most people can’t recognize healthy eating anymore when it stares at them in the face.
But I was wondering. Maybe I do take it too far? Maybe I can afford eating regular yogurts, instead of fat-free fruit yogurts, or low-fat chocolate mousse? Just maybe. (It’s a whole other matter that I started buying those because at the time, they were on sale for weeks on end, therefore cheaper than ‘normal’ ones, and then I simply got used to it…)
So I tried. And the result wasn’t great. I don’t know if it’s because I’m used to my favourite little desserts now (I use that kind of dairy as desserts, it can’t be worse than tiramisu ;)). I don’t know what gives. But the fact is that I now find a lot of the regular stuff icky. A regular mousse doesn’t taste more chocolate-y than my low-fat one. And the regular strawberry-flavoured yogurt tasted more like chalk, whereas the fat-free version, at least, had some strawberry aroma to it. Then I went to Germany to pick some desserts that were yummy according to everyone I know… and I didn’t find them terrific at all. (They were cheap, at least. That’s one of the great things about living next to the border. Moreover, I get to bike 7.5 kms just to go there!)
My rule of thumb is: I don’t eat what I don’t like. I agreed with myself to make an effort when it comes to what I know is healthy–that’s how I taught myself to like a lot of vegetables, in the end–but it’s an effort I’m not ready to make for desserts or junk food. If that stuff tastes foul, then I leave it aside. It’s not like someone is putting a gun on my nape demanding that I eat that chocolate muffin at the campus restaurant. Besides, it’s just a chocolate muffin, it’s not the last one of its kind on Earth, and if I really want one, then I can go and buy a really flavoured version. Anyway. You get my drift, I guess.
I don’t eat what I don’t like, including these foods. Especially these foods, in fact–I don’t see what would be the point. I find it easier to go by this rule nowadays than to obsess about every single calorie, to be honest.
Conclusion: maybe I’m not such a freak. Maybe I just eat certain specific brands of fat-free foods because I like their taste.
That said, give me a yummy-tasting regular food, and I’ll eat it as well.
March 15th, 2008 at 19:20
Don’t let other ppl grind you down! You don’t need to justfiy what you eat to others.
March 16th, 2008 at 09:31
Actually, I like teasing them about it now.
“Why do you eat X, are you on a diet?”
“No, I just like how it tastes.”
“Yuck, but how can you like something like that?”
*looks at plate full of greasy food/McDo sandwich/whatever* “Well how can YOU like something like that?”
March 17th, 2008 at 12:10
Gurl you are getting an AMEN from the MizFit.
about it ALL and especially the unsolicited commentaries (what is THAT about?)
people. kill. me.
and, as you already know, it is never about *you*
M.
March 18th, 2008 at 23:06
I really don’t know why people feel like they can comment all the time. Oh well. Their problem, not mine! :p
March 19th, 2008 at 23:10
I completely agree with you about the unsolicited comments about eating healthy. Yes, I am enjoying my apple as my afternoon snack, probably more than you are enjoying your entire box of Girl Scout Cookies.
But, I do have to admit - if everything was the same amount of calories, would I still not like the taste of healthy foods? I find that when I eat something that I KNOW is ridiculously high in calories, I enjoy it less. So maybe it’s conditioning as well…
March 21st, 2008 at 08:11
For me, I don’t know. I remember clearly many afternoons at work where there was cake in the kitchen, yet all I could think of was the juicy apple in my bag for a snack. Maybe I’d be less hesitant if everything was the same amount of calories, but I think I’d still like my healthy foods all the same. (Yeah, I ate too much sugary things yesterday, now all I want for breakfast is eggs and PROTEIN, haha.)