Back in 2005, when I was training as a Nutritionist… I became something of a ‘wholegrain bore’ - a self-professed title that I can’t now reflect on without wincing slightly!
In hindsight, it was kind of inevitable really, as when you’re immersed in studying the intricacies of ‘food as fuel’, it’s almost impossible not look to look at white bread with new, scornful eyes!
That said, I now appreciate how ‘healthy eating’ can easily become a stick we use to beat ourselves with, and while 'knowledge is power'…I would be inclined to say that sometimes, knowing too much about the sorry-state of your favourite food’s vitamin profile… it’s not a good thing.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say ignorance is bliss, but what I would say is this…
Knowing your omega 3s from your omega 6s is great.
But…
Having the tools to detach from this knowledge, and the subsequent intrusive thoughts of trans-fats clogging your arteries every time you dig into a tub of ice cream… that is just as useful. And just as important.
It’s safe to say, I’m no longer IN the ‘nutrition is my life’ bubble, and not just because I refuse to buy into any narrative that paints my beloved Tiger Loaf, as the root of all nutritional evil.
Quite to the contrary, I might even now go so far as to say, that I see more ‘therapy’ in a slice of freshly baked white butter toast, than I do in any multigrain equivalent…even with its armoury of B Vitamins!
Maybe it’s the connotations of convalescence (on the Maternity Ward - there truly is NOTHING better!!) or perhaps it’s rooted in the ‘a little of what you fancy…’ adage which I’ve witnessed first hand, serving older generations so well.
As well, it could be that during these times of heightened mental health awareness, I’m much more aware of the grey area between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food, where the emotional benefits of breaking the cardinal rules of ‘healthy eating’, can sometimes outweigh any so-called 'anti-nutrients' imposed on the body in the process.
Of course, there are many nutritionist-run accounts on social media which DO champion clean-eating, and often with solid scientific basis, it has to be said.
On occasion, I might well be one of those accounts. However, thanks to now being able to reconcile my better knowledge with some all-important autonomy, you should know that for every herbal-tea peddling post you read on here… a chaser of #coffeeislife will probably never be far behind.
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