When Does Healthy Living Become A Diet?

Soooo I lost my phone between the time I was getting my things together to leave the clinic on Monday and the time I got in my car to drive home. I should note it’s about 10 meters from the clinic door to my car and I have no idea what happened or where my phone went. I’m baffled and for a good 24 hours searched every inch of everywhere and came up with nothing. I had a few freak outs to momma coale and then realized this is just a phone and not my life…although sometimes I think it is. So I have a new iPhone coming hopefully today or tomorrow…all that to say I haven’t taken any pictures the past couple days…

So instead of the usual WIAW, here’s some of my favorite eats lately! Hopefully they’ll make you’re mouth water and encourage you to fuel that body well!

morning green smoothie // I almost always eat two breakfasts, a green smoothie on my way to work and then another breakfast that I actually get to chew when I get to work.

1 cup almond milk, 1/2 scoop vega one, 1/2 frozen banana, pinch of xanthum gum and lots o’ spinach

favorite breakfasts // cocoa buckwheat breakfast bake with barney butter, coconut oil and strawberries

perfectly creamy pumpkin oatmeal with maple almond butter and coconut oil

And while we’re at it, let’s talk about when a healthy lifestyle actually becomes a diet.

There are a lot of healthy living blogs out there and I think a fair amount of these self-proclaimed healthy living blogs could actually be categorized as diet blogs. I don’t say that to point fingers or label or anything like that, but I say that because I think it’s very easy to convince ourselves that we are “living healthily” when really we are living restrictively…and actually dieting.

And there is no food freedom in that.

So where does the line get drawn? When does eating clean and grain-free and vegan and gluten free and no carbs past 7 and paleo go from healthy living to diet?

When there is anxiety with eating outside “your rules.”
When there is a need to control every food situation. And if you’re not in control, then your anxious.

That’s not healthy living. That’s food prison.

mid morning snack // almost always celery and PB

Now, I’m all for nutrient dense foods that fuel your body and make you feel good. And I’m all for eating a helluva lot of plants. I encourage a mostly plant based lifestyle and crush on kale and green smoothies and chia seeds. That’s all good and okay and fabulous, but what isn’t healthy and okay is when we start to find our identity and worth in eating healthy. What isn’t healthy and okay is adhering to food rules so religiously that any deviation means you were disobedient and you must compensate.

Compensate by exercising more the next day.
Compensate by eating super clean for the next week.
Compensate by skipping meals.

Or if you curb your hunger with coffee or tea or diet soda, that’s a form of restriction.
Only eating at certain, pre-planned times or having a regimented eating schedule…that’s restriction.
Only eating low carb foods and fruit at certain times and no grains or whatever…that’s restriction.
And only eating vegan or gluten free to lose weight or perfect something….that’s restriction.

favorite lunchboxes // big salad with spinach romaine cucumber tomato and balsamic vinegar with tempeh salad, blue corn chips and a crispy apple

big salad with tomato, cucumber, and bell pepper with TJs champagne vinaigrette with a hummus, avocado and veggie sandwich on sprouted grain bread with apple slices

The very reason I am not a strict vegan is because that feels limiting to me. Life is too short and there are way too many other things that are complicated in life. I don’t need to make what I eat complicated too. If I want some really great beef at a restaurant..I’m gonna. If there’s cheese on something I’m served or someone made me, so be it. And then there’s the fact that I really, really love farm fresh eggs.