Confessions of Your Local Dietitian

I love food too!

Yes, it is true. Food is fantastic. All kinds of food. Flavors are absolutely intriguing and wonderful. I do not associate good food and bad food. Instead I think portions and plans. I have tons of clients who are shocked when they realize I am a normal person with all the same cravings they have. The difference is I know what I am eating and doing to my body so I try to balance and limit when needed.

No I am not judging your plate, I just want to eat my food in peace.

Until someone asks me how to eat or what to eat, I do not even look at their plate. Well, I might LOOK to see if what they are eating is tasty or interesting, but not to judge its nutritional adequacy. The truth is, once you learn what I do for a living, I feel judged by you!! I have reward /cheat days too. I have different goals at different times of the year, sometimes it is maintenance, sometimes it is to drop weight or inches. I know you believe I should look a certain way or act a certain way, but that is NOT me. I know how to eat for all types of things, body building, diabetes, sports nutrition, and food intolerances. But overall, I am a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and the list goes on. So, I know what I want my life and health to look like, and I sometimes fall short of the goal. Does it mean I have an unhealthy relationship with food? No. It does mean I am a real person. I have busy weeks when I must settle for the best I can do with what I have regarding time. I try not to get caught in between a rock and hard place by meal prepping and carrying snacks, but face it, we all do.

Fad diets make me want to bang my head against the wall.

IF they truly worked I would not have a job people. Every body is different, therefore cookie cutter diets do not work long term. And ultimately cause feelings of depravity and resentment/rebellion, or grow unhealthy relationships with food. I tell people all the time, “the first three letters of diet are DIE.” So, try not to fall for the newest quick fix scheme. Always stop and ask yourself the following questions regarding the newest diet.

Does it eliminate any food groups?

Does it promise quick results?

Was it created by a nutrition professional? Please note, MDs are not nutrition professionals.

Can you follow it for a lifetime?

If the answer to any of those questions is no, run Sally, RUN! Because ultimately it will not be of benefit to you or your family.

I LOVE to eat out!

Oh yes, I do. What wife and mother would not? I mean come on! The groceries, the cooking, the dishes... all done for you! Yes, please. BUT, we only eat out maybe once or twice a month, usually for date nights.

Buffets totally gross me out.

If you only knew what I knew about food borne pathogens…. I have a really hard time dealing with buffets. They have sneeze guards people! SNEEZE guards. Do you keep your head above the plastic glass? Well, neither does Bob, who has less than adequate hygiene. Think about the following scenario. Bob sneezes in his hand. Does not wash or sanitize his hand. Returns to the buffet for round two. Picks up the serving utensil and accidentally sets it too far in the potato salad. The utensil begins to sink, and suddenly sneeze particles are a new ingredient to the potato salad!! Yummy.

Not all my recipe makeovers turn out great.

Yuck. Some I could throw against the wall and they would bounce back and hit me in the face!! I have quite a few flops in fact! My poor husband. He usually eats the flops because he hates to waste food! ha!

I love coffee.

Yes, I sure do. It is MY thing. My hiccup. My hangup. I try to limit and always practice moderation, along with watching what goes into my black drink. But ultimately, it is the entire experience. The warm cup of coffee in the morning, in a special mug just sets my mind and heart right for the day.

I do not work out every day.

Nope, I love to workout, but there is just no way in my life to do it daily. Some weeks it is not even possible to do it more than 3 days per week. That is correct. Even though I love it, life can sometimes stop me from doing it. I used to get extremely discouraged when I could not hit the gym 5+ times per week, not anymore. Expectations and reality are two very different things. If you learn to align your expectations with your reality, you will be much more content. I do try to walk with family and be active on the days I cannot make it to the gym. But overall, I am ok with not going all the time. If I am strong, making progress, and happy, I am doing just fine.

Confessions of Your Local Dietitian.

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