A Word On Food Tolerances

These days everywhere you go there is someone with a food intolerance. Restaurants have become increasingly more accommodating and grocery stores offer lines of gluten-free, vegan, paleo, nut-free options that we couldn’t have imagined 10 years ago.

It’s pretty incredible to see how in tune people are becoming with their bodies, its needs and the foods they choose to nourish or not nourish themselves with.

But increasingly so I have noticed that these needs have created polarities between people who are intolerant to certain foods from those who aren’t. That suddenly the diet choices we make give us permission to judge those who choose to eat differently.

As food intolerances have increased, our food tolerance has decreased.

I certainly have a way I choose to eat. I’m an advocate for #allfoodsfit. I prefer to eat less meat, low-gluten and limited refined sugar, but when I decide I want a waffle or a donut or a bacon cheeseburger, I’m not going to deny myself it.

Likewise, I have friends with all kinds of food intolerances or preferences and even if I might not choose to eat that way, it doesn’t give me permission to pass judgment or criticism on the choices they make.

I have friends who are vegan, paleo, gluten-free, calorie counters and fast-food eaters alike. They have chosen to follow a certain lifestyle and I am in no position to tell them them otherwise.

It pains me when I see YouTubers attacking other content creators on the diet choices they make, or when I get called out for eating chicken. Or when Jordan gets hate mail for choosing to no longer be vegan or I get told that I’ve disappointed my readers because of a picture I posted on Instagram.

The other day someone was asking me what kind of expertise I have. “Are you an RD? A nutritionist? A trainer”. No, I’m none of the above, and at this time I don’t plan to get any of these certifications. What I love about THM is that I’m NOT an expert. I will never tell you how to eat, what diet will change your life or that I have the answers to ultimate health. I make choices for me and try my best to lead by example. If what works for me, works for you, awesome. If not, onto the next!

I’ll be honest, I rarely, if ever find myself craving super indulgent foods, but when picking up my @bootstrapcoffee at the farmer’s market this morning, the @tbspwaffles booth next door legit was calling my name. ✨ I follow an “anything goes” attitude when it comes to food. I generally eat very healthy because it makes me feel awesome and as a result just don’t eat a lot of indulgent foods, but it is never ever off limits. This means if I’m craving a Maple Pecan Cinnamon Roll waffle, ain’t nothing gonna stop me! And quite frankly, I was full after eating half and happily gave the other half away without feeling like I needed more. ✨ I’m someone who can’t have strict rules when it comes to food. Too many rules = crazy Davs who starts craving ALL THE SWEETS, as soon as you tell me I can’t have them. Moderation is not something I have to work at, it’s just something that is because I put my physical and mental health first✌️️ ✨ I know this philosophy doesn’t work for everything; that some people are abstainers and need to eliminate things to avoid going HAM at the buffet that we call life, but I’m not one of those people. So if you find all you can think about is the purple elephant when you’re told not to think about the purple elephant, try a more moderate approach to health. Eat the waffle! Who knows what will happen…#mavenrealtalk #realtalk #moderation #yolo #omnom #minnesota #minneapolis

A photo posted by Davida | ?: TheHealthyMaven (@thehealthymaven) on Oct 2, 2016 at 11:53am PDT

I ask you to do the same. To keep whatever judgments you have about other people’s diets to yourself and keep your eyes on your own plate. If you lead a life that makes you feel happy and fulfilled, people will notice. And when they feel up to it, they will ask you how you do it.

And if they don’t, unfollow. Don’t invest your time and your energy on trying to change people’s minds. And similarly, please don’t waste your time and energy on trying to change mine. This is my home and I won’t tolerate you passing judgment on the choices I make.

The takeaway here is simple, let’s be more respectful of each other. You are not a god for drinking green juice everyday and you are not a sinner for eating McDonalds. Everyone is on their own path and their own journey to health.

Be respectful, be encouraging, be tolerant.