First picture that I ever posted on an old-school food blog. Location: McDonalds. Year: 2007. Food Choice: 1/2 of a southwestern chicken salad.
Second picture I ever took and posted on a blog. Location: Back yard. Year: 2007. Food Choice: 1 lowfat hotdog on a bun with mustard.
If you would have asked me three or four years ago what I defined as healthy eating, I would have given you a completely different answer than the one I give you today. I would have felt proud of the fact that my hotdog had only 2 g. of saturated fat. Proud that my McDonalds lunch only contained 350 calories with milk included. I was eating light. Low fat. “Healthy.”
And I wasn’t always a fitness gal at heart either. I wasn’t out running the miles during highschool. I thought strength training was only for a few vain Hollywood stars. My parents dragged me for morning walks or day-hikes in the White Mountains, NH, because they liked being active and healthy with their family. Sunday afternoons revolved around going for a group bike ride. I hated it. Absolutely hated it. The pepperoni sticks and icecream treats only made it tolerable. 😉
And then, slowly—over time—I began to fall in love with the outdoors.
I don’t know why or when it happened, but I haven’t looked back since. Who was that outdoor loathing, fitness-hating girl, anyways? I took up running, hiking, biking, backpacking, walking. I craved the sunshine, a warm summer breeze, and the joy of a crisp morning run in the fall.
Before I knew it, I was also falling in love with gardening. Local produce. Natural, wholesome foods that I could actually recognize and call by name.
I soaked up the delicious pleasure of cooking. Eating. Socializing.
Sometimes it’s fun to look back. To see how much we’ve changed. From then (light hotdogs) to now (loving life, food, fitness) I’ve gone through a whole lot of change in my life. Just goes to show you that sometimes it’s not such a bad thing. 😉
Food is more than a number. More than a gram. More than a percentage.
Food is more than just the sum of what you see on a nutrition label.
Food is meant to be savored. Enjoyed. Appreciated.
Food is not meant to be analyzed, and it should never—ever!—be responsible for making you feel guilty.
Food is not meant to be feared or taken too seriously.
Food should make you feel your best physically and mentally.
Question: How have you changed over the years in regards to your cooking/eating habits?
Running To Slow Things Down 
I absolutely love this! It is really great to hear stuff like this in the blogging community, because a lot of the time I fail to realize that the bloggers I look up to haven’t always been the perfect visions of health that I make them out to be. (Please don’t be insulted by that.. if anything, it’s a compliment. I frequently look to your blog when I need motivation when it comes to balance. I admire your outlook on food and exercise so much!)
I have definitely changed.. and completely for the better. I’m not exactly where I would like to be when it comes to food – I still struggle – but at this time last year every single bite was a struggle. Since then, I’ve learned to actually love and enjoy my food. I’ve learned the importance of healthy fats and I’ve learned to eat a proper amount of carbohydrates. You know what? I’ve never felt better physically!
That’s awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing and keep rocking your positive, healthy attitude. 😀
I used to be the same way! I thought that “low fat” was healthy. I thought splenda was healthy. Oh man I have changed…
Like you, “healthy” to me used to mean low calorie, low fat, just low. I didn’t care what was in a product or what it did to my body – I just didn’t want it to make me fat. Now I eat what I want, it tastes better, and my body feels 100x better than it ever has. Strong and truly healthy in my opinion!
I’ve changed SO much. I used to eat so much fake and processed stuff and now I really don’t. And I don’t miss it at all. I also eat a lot less meat in general and a ton more vegetables. The key for me was learning how to cook, and loving to cook.
Through blogging and recovery. I have learned a lot about nutrition and my interest in healthy living has been sparked, I’ve just yet to put it fully into practice, x
I think I’ve changed in similiar ways. I used to eat the low-fat this and the reduced fat that, but it was all processed junk. Now, I’d rather eat all-natural foods and then occasionally eat fattening things that are real… rather than all the processed foods that have ingredients I can’t even pronounce.
I think I have evolved similarly to you. Eating “lowfat” and watching fat grams and calories to now enjoying food, even if it’s high fat or whatever.
We sound exactly the same! I used to think Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice frozen meals were “good for me”. Now I’m into real food – grown from my garden or the local farmers markets.
I’ll still eat the low-fat or low-sugar sweets in moderation just b/c I like a bigger portion, though!! 🙂
It looks great!
It’s crazy to see how much your photos & food have changed!! I think everybody who decides to embrace healthier eating first do the “fat-free” thing & calorie counting. Then everyone realizes it’s about the real deal! 🙂
Can I quote you?
Definitely! 😀
sweet 🙂
Wow, this was awesome to read. It’s crazy (and fun) to think about how my thoughts on healthy eating have changed over the years, as yours have, too!
I used to also think that low-fat meant healthy. My mom was always telling me that as a kid and I guess it stuck. I also used to eat a lot of sugar-free stuff and now I don’t at all.
Ya know, remember how you, mom, and I got McDonald’s salads for lunch in 2007… the day I bought my weddin dress? I wonder if that first pic is from that day? 🙂
hey girlie!!
I love this and agree with you on every whole fod loving aspect! I hope you have a great weekend!
xoxo!