Of Green Juice & Gin — AKA, Why I Think We All Need To Chill The Eff Out Around Food

May 6th, 2015 - filed under: The Food » Food and Health

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Last week I was tagged in an old friend’s Facebook status. She was trying to make sense of GMOs and organic labels, aspiring to feed her family a higher quality diet, and looking for advice and input from various friends. And a nice little thread had broken out, with many people weighing in. They were talking about the merits of Trader Joe’s versus the Farmer’s Market, the many standards by which to “measure” food, and someone had linked to an old Food Babe article.

And on that Facebook thread, I left this comment:

Oh I have so many thoughts!

Personally I love Trader Joe’s because it makes healthy (organic and minimally processed) food available to people at a *very* reasonable price. And for that I am forever grateful. Also, I eat a TON of beans and I love that their cans are BPA-free. Eating local is ideal but most people are not able to live the ideal, and I’m so glad that Trader Joe’s is there for them.

I do not trust Food Babe or anything that she writes. I feel VERY strongly about her, and I will mostly keep those opinions to myself, but yeah . . . she is not where I would be looking for any legitimate information. (no offense meant to the person who linked to her – definitely not trying to call you out or anything!)

As far as GMO and organic, anything that is certified organic is by default non-GMO, so that’s a good standard to aim for. IF it says organic, then it IS non-GMO.

When you can’t get organic, it’s hard to know what’s GMO or not. Basically I assume that ALL corn and soy that is not organic, will be GMO. Those crops just are soooo widely GMO that it’s safe to assume all non-organic products will be GMO. Yuck.

For me personally, I eat as locally, organically, and non-GMO as possible. And then I don’t sweat the rest. I believe that optimal health and wellness includes mental health (actually in my experience with clients, mental health/stress is probably the biggest factor in overall health), so for me, it’s very important not to get too focused on stressing out about every little thing I put in my mouth.

So that’s my novella, haha. I could talk all day about this stuff! ♥



And I realized, as I was writing this comment on my personal friend’s page, that I’ve written this, or something similar, dozens if not scores of times, all across the Internets.

But never here, on my own blog, where I’m supposed to be writing about health and holistic wellness!

So I wanted to go ahead and do that, I guess. I wanted to take a moment and share my thoughts on what I think it means to be optimally, holistically, healthy – and how that can best be achieved.

So here it is. A miniature manifesto:

I believe that the healthiest, highest quality food is fresh, local, whole, and organic. I believe that it is unrealistic to expect to eat the healthiest, highest quality food 100% of the time, and holistically healthy people are pretty much okay with that — because holistically healthy people have learned to chill the eff out around food.

I believe that the mental anguish you feel over eating the cookie is infinitely more damaging to your physical health than the actual cookie itself.

I believe in eating foods which make your body feel good, and avoiding foods which make it feel bad. Excessive cookies don’t make anyone feel good, but occasional cookies are delightful.

If you can truly make choices based on the way that the food will make your body feel, then it’s hard to go wrong. But eating this way requires tuning in to your intuitive self, which takes practice. More importantly, it also requires NOT scrutinizing and over-analyzing every little burp, bump, hiccup, and bad day — because that sort of hyper-focus will only breed anxiety. There is a balance there, and that balance is the sweet spot.

The sweet spot can only be found when you chill the eff out around food.

♥ ♥ ♥

This approach to eating, to health, to veganism, and to life — it means everything to me. So much so, that it truly influences every aspect and offshoot of the work I do here, in this space.

–> It relates to raising vegan children, because raising a healthy child means raising a holistically healthy child, and that means not accidentally burdening your little ones with feelings of deprivation, “otherness”, or fear around food.

–> It relates to deciphering this ex-vegan thing, because over-restriction and eating out of balance are some of the primary reasons that people cite for abandoning their veganism in pursuit of a more stable mental or physical state. We see this trend consistently in our research.

–> It relates to my Vegan Lifestyle Coaching, because food confusion and food anxiety is something I come across over and over (and over!) again with my clients. And in my experience, all the meal plans and recipes and tips and tricks would be meaningless, if I couldn’t help the person to really relax and find true pleasure in food and health again.

–> And finally, it relates right here, to this blog. Because whether I’ve explicitly stated it or not, this perspective is everything I’m trying to promote in this space. To share the idea of balance and joy, which I find to be so sorely lacking in the overall “healthy living” online community.

That’s all of it.

And also, that’s me! I drink lots and lots of green juice, and sometimes I drink gin. I eat a lot of salads, and I also eat store-bought vegan cheeses. Last night for dinner I ate these incredible all-raw tacos with walnut chorizo, and then I ate peanut butter pie with cookie crust for dessert (thank you dear friends for feeding me well). And this . . . is why I will probably never be big and famous in the “healthy living” world. Because really, people don’t want to hear, “balance“.

People want a quick fix, or a straightforward equation. People respond to black and white. They want to hear, “this is always good, and that is always bad.” People respond to drawing lines.

Because it’s easier to put things into discreet boxes, and it’s much more work to think in terms of nuance, and intuition, and relativism.

But that, of course, is the very truth of it. Wellness is nuanced, and intuitive, and relative. Which . . . is not something you can sell. Oh well.

I’ll keep saying it!

And now, I’ve said it here. Now you have my thoughts on what it means to be holistically healthy, and why I believe that your physical health is so, so much more than simply the result of diet and exercise.

I have to be honest, I’m really worried about hitting publish right now. I feel like this might be the most controversial thing I’ve ever written . . .

Thoughts?

♥

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  • Linda Everman

    I love it; we do our best at being healthy and sometimes a bit “o” gin is our best. I love to read you thoughts. I am not vegan but you always inspire me to eat more healthy!!

  • Veronica

    This is an amazing post. I sincerely hope that it is not the source of any controversy, because it seems pretty dang reasonable to me!

    And this. This. A thousand times THIS:

    “I believe that the mental anguish you feel over eating the cookie is infinitely more damaging to your physical health than the actual cookie itself.

    I believe in eating foods which make your body feel good, and avoiding foods which make it feel bad. Excessive cookies don’t make anyone feel good, but occasional cookies are delightful.”

  • http://klean-slate.com/ klean-slate

    Girl, I’m a green girl and a gin girl. It’s all about the balance ;)

  • Sarah

    I could probably write a million things in response to this post, but all I really want to say is this: THANK YOU. This is exactly why you’re my favourite vegan blogger; it’s so rare to find such honesty, pragmatism, and common sense in the online vegan community, and I’m so glad that you found the courage to press ‘publish’ on this post!

  • Sarah Sylvester

    I don’t think this post is too controversial. I agree with you on most except I don’t understand why gmos are bad. Also, Still wishing I could afford all organic produce.

  • Bel

    Completely agree, and a great post!
    My attitude is similar – After many years of stuggle, I now take the relaxed view of “eat to live, don’t live to eat” which is a common saying for dieters, but interpreting it outside of this context, I use it to mean ‘live in the best way you can and therefore eat in the best way you can, but don’t make it an obsession’. And I say that as someone who has recovered from an eating disorder, when food, the thought of food, and concentrating on what I put into my body (or didn’t) completely ruled my life – and it was (obviously) the most unhealthy I have ever been in mind and body. The healthiest I’ve ever felt and been is when I don’t care what I eat, providing it is in moderation and tilting towards healthy, without examining it too closely.
    For the record – yesterday: Pizza, Today: Tarka Dal. Representing the devil and angels on my shoulders!

  • Lindsey

    BRAVO!! This is by far your best post. I 100% agree with everything you wrote. Thank you for being so totally awesome.

  • Kevin Talmadge

    Great post… I love whole grains and kale followed up by a super fudgy brownie! vegan, of course tho…i never chillax on the cruelty thing…

  • Helen

    Thank you for writing this and for hitting “publish”! I really loved when you said “Excessive cookies don’t make anyone feel good, but occasional cookies are delightful.” It’s such a simple, but powerful message. Thank you!

  • http://sweetloveandginger.blogspot.com/ JC Carter

    Great post! I don’t know why this would be controversial it seems like common sense to me. However I know that many people have a hard time with the concept of moderation, so the more it’s said then maybe the more that will sink in for people.

  • Angie Smith

    Balance is a major key to a healthy life, and not talked about enough so thank you for sharing this! Would you be willing to share some of your thoughts on Food Babe? I had a friend recommend her Facebook page, but otherwise have no real opinion on her. Please share what you disagree with!

  • theresa

    I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. Wow. Yes. Even as an omni still figuring stuff out, all the yeses for this manifesto! Especially around the mental anguish over food vs. physical effects of ~bad~ food. One of these things is not like the other.

    Sayward, I’ve never been sold on the “why GMO’s are bad” for individals (except in that they allow Monsanto to control food production which is some creepy dystopia-level neocolonization stuff!) – if you (or other commenters) have research-research saying why they’re not good for people’s individual health please feel free to comment. I feel like all the things I’ve seen say “Signs point to “We don’t know, we need more research”", but I guess maybe folks are basing their decisions off that? (Which I’d love to have the cash to do someday for sure!)

    Thank you again for your wonderful blog and for keeping this balanced, real-real, joyous little corner of the internet alive <3

  • Racquelle

    Exactly!!! This has always been my philosophy and what I share with people when I have the opportunity to do so . There are things, like soy and corn, that I’m ‘rigid’ about. There are certain things like chocolate that I take a firm ethical line on when it comes to Fair Trade and cruelty free. For the rest, I do the best I can and do not stress out about it. I love food, I love heathy food, but I also love me some of the yummy vegan convenience foods and I do have a sweet tooth. I indulge both quite often, in small amounts. Thank you for saying it so succinctly.

  • kmb2030

    I don’t often comment, although I always read your blog, and I often come away incredibly informed (as in my newfound favorite natural healing product, Oregano Oil). After reading this post, I feel compelled to say something. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I came to your blog for your heartfelt statements, your honesty, your convictions, and your balanced viewpoint, I stay for those same reasons. Thank you for putting yourself out there, even when it may not be the popular choice, and helping a 50 year old grandma in a small southern town navigate this vegan and holistic path.

  • Kat

    Wonderful post! I agree with all of the above except for I (like some other commenters I see) am not necessarily sold on GMOs being bad for my body (though agree that Monsanto is the devil). I would love to read your thoughts on that!

    I am particularly troubled by our society’s language around food, especially the idea that eating a certain way makes you “bad” or “good.” In my opinion, thinking of yourself as “being good” for eating healthful foods and “being bad” for eating the cookie or drinking the gin is harmful, and as you say, probably more harmful for your wellbeing than engaging in the “bad” behavior once in a while! I prefer to reserve the notion that I’ve been “bad” for behavior that I think is morally wrong – maybe I’ve been bad if I said something hurtful to a loved one in a moment of anger or failed to follow through on something important. Let’s all just calm down!

  • http://lightweighteats.com/ Michaela@The Lightweight Eats

    I think that’s why I like this blog so much.

  • http://veganandbeyondcoaching.com Marissa

    “The sweet spot can only be found when you chill the eff out around food.” Amen to that.

    “I believe that the mental anguish you feel over eating the
    cookie is infinitely more damaging to your physical health than the
    actual cookie itself.”

    and a big amen to that, too!

    I’m in total agreement with you on this whole topic. It really is a shame that so many people want quick fixes, hard divisions, and clear dichotomies when just relaxing into healthy lifestyles would be so much more beneficial. I think it’s one of those things that people think couldn’t possibly work out because it “sounds too easy”. hehe.

  • Felicia Neese

    “chill the eff out around food” I want this on a button to stick on my lunch bag.

  • Sammie

    ALL THE YES! Great post :)

  • emily

    Thank you for posting this! While my husband and I went strictly clean eating over a year ago (we thought we ate healthy until we started researching) and more recently vegan –it is all about balance and listening to your body. My 36 yr old husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer a little over a year ago……..perfectly healthy except for the dreaded C word. We have been sticklers to a T and as of last week got our first clean scans. We know this journey will be long but we also know God is guiding us every step of the way. Listen to your body/Balance–all key! While we aren’t jumping off the vegan bandwagon anytime soon as we’ve NEVER felt better………….if we have a treat every now and then, we will do it with a smile…………..thank you again for this post!

  • http://thegreenpenn.blogspot.com LIndsey at TheGreenPenn

    THIS is perfect. I’m one of those people who will drink green juice all day and then eat half of a raw pie for dinner, and that’s just fine with me. I don’t think that what you said is controversial at all. It’s 100% truth. Striving for aesthetic perfection ruined my health, and I only recovered once I found veganism and a healthy outlook. I may be ten pounds heavier than I was back then, but my shoulders sure do feel 50 pounds lighter. And you know what? I eat whatever my body is telling me I need, and I never gain OR LOSE an ounce. I feel great and I’ve learned what I need, physically and mentally, to be at my best all of the time. Happiness is a big parts of feeling healthy. :-) Thank you for putting this out there to the world.

  • Sarah C.

    Well, I honestly hope this isn’t that controversial, and that it’s just how most of us live and think–we just get drowned out by the loud-mouth extremists (NO OIL! NO CARBS! NO SUGAR! – whatever it is, they’re yelling it). Most of us live in balance like this, but we’re told we should aim for an extreme and then beat ourselves up for not meeting that ideal. Pah, I say.

    It’s actually funny, I had this kind of conversation in my own head this morning. I found some conventional grapes (from Chile! the horror!) in my crisper this morning, that my MIL had obviously put there weeks ago while visiting. Some were still decent enough to put in my smoothie, but I almost chucked them because I, personally, would never buy conventional produce from Chile (at least none that I eat the peel/skin of). But then I thought about how much conventional produce I ate growing up, and how no one thought much about it then, and decided that one handful of grapes in my smoothie was better than wasting food and money. (But honestly, I didn’t give them to my child–even though I’m sure at school her snacks are conventional more often than not).

  • Rachel Goldstein

    Brava, brava, brava! It makes me so beyond batshit cray when people are freaking out that a molecule of dairy might have once touched a machine that is now making their spirulina powder or whatever. Or someone posts a recipe they’re excited about and someone HAS to comment on the health factor of it. Dudes, you aren’t going to win some sort of healthy vegan eating award! chill out and enjoy! Couldn’t agree more and glad you posted. this!

  • Sarah C.

    I’ll tell you why I personally want to avoid GMOs. It’s because we have NO IDEA whether they’re good or bad in the long run–and I want to be able to make the choice to either take that chance or avoid them. I want the control over my own choices (thus, I support GMO labeling) on the presumption that in 10-20 years there will be science either telling us they’re harmful or not (and, in the event that research determines they’re aren’t optimal for health…well, then, I’ll be years ahead in having avoided them for myself and my family).

  • Gem Wilder

    Thanks for this. The reason I read and love your blog is because you honestly advocate for living a balanced and happy life. I am grateful to you for that.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    I try not to “bash” people publicly, but I will say this – I believe that Food Babe is a fear-monger. She is not qualified to be the authority that she presents herself as (and this is very clear in the way she talks about science – she doesn’t understand it). She promotes an absolutely unattainable ideal, and this makes people feel guilty and shameful when they can’t live up to it. Her business model is to make people afraid of food – that is literally what she does. I believe that she leads people into an unhealthy, neurotic, anxiety-ridden relationship with food and health. It’s basically the opposite of everything I’ve written here. Which is funny because I know that behind closed doors Vani Hari and I eat a VERY similar diet. It’s just the attitude that we come from that’s very, very different.

    Here’s an interesting article:
    http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/12/04/364745790/food-babe-or-fear-babe-as-activist-s-profile-grows-so-do-her-critics

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Sarah expressed essentially how I feel. It’s not that there’s a mountain of evidence saying GMO’s are bad . . . it’s just that there’s no research at all. There’s no long-term studies on the implications of GMOs in human health. And I would rather not make me or my kid the test subject. That’s why I avoid them as much as I can (and don’t worry about the rest!)

    That said, there are compelling reasons not to support GMOs totally aside from the potential human health implications. My main concern with GMOs is in giving power to chemical companies, in losing genetic diversity, and in disrupting the natural evolution (and resilience inherent in that) of these crops. Plus genetically modifying animals and then releasing them out in the wild is just too much for me to accept at this point. We just don’t know enough!

    Barbara Kingsolver wrote a really beautiful essay on this many many years ago. It’s still one of my faves: https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/gefood/SmallWonders.php

  • http://thewh0lestory.com Vanessa

    Yes, yes, 100x YES! I speak about this topic quite a bit in real life as well as on my blog. Food noise is so prevalent in today’s society and it’s doing so much harm to our spirits. Being vegan is a beautiful and enlightening experience, so why ruin it by demonizing foods on such extreme levels? As someone who has struggled with body image and food issues, I find so much peace in just letting it all go. Yes, I feel the best when I’m eating more plants and less processed junk, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love vegan ice cream or a big fat vegan burger once in awhile. Loooooove this post!

  • http://www.juliehasson.com Julie Hasson

    Love this post Sayward!! xo

  • Angie Smith

    I think intelligent dialogue about different points of view isn’t at all bashing. And you explained your thoughts beautifully. It’s not uncommon for people to get in over their head if the money and momentum are there. Which is why it’s important to put all the info we receive through a reality filter. I appreciate your thoughts – thanks for sharing!

  • Lindsey

    This is just what I needed right now. I’m working on transitioning to a vegetarian and eventually vegan diet for moral (not primarily health) reasons but I was going crazy reading different health articles. One says don’t eat any olive oil, another says some olive oil is fine. One says dried fruit isn’t any better than eating Skittles and another puts dates in everything. I was feeling like pretty soon I wasn’t going to be able to eat or drink anything!

  • Lonnie

    Well here’s my thought, since you asked. It’s easy to tell us to relax around food, peanut butter pie, blah, blah…when you’re feeling well. And lately, according to your blog, you’re feeling great. For those whose health is suffering, eating healthy the vast majority of the time is essential. And yeah, a whole foods, plant based diet will suffice. I remember a time not too long ago when your health suffered miserably after your pregnancy, and you detailed the eating plan you were on…it sounded pretty strict to me. So, healthy eating is relative. For someone with cancer, maybe eating that peanut butter pie would make them feel like shit. So yeah, it’s easy to say “just relax” when you’re feeling great. Just saying.

  • Jenn

    hey Seyward, i think you took a chance to be vulnerable here and i think you did the right thing so thank you and i think you’re right; we have a national eating disorder with not knowing what to eat and then being brainwashed about it. i do have the opinion that we all would do ourselves good by trying to eat a more sustainable plant diet. :)

  • Evolotus PR

    It’s sad that this would be considered controversial, but it’s also sad how many bullies there are on these dietary bandwagons avoiding oil, sugar, salt, soy, gluten, nuts, etc. Those who perpetuate restrictive diets really must stop publicly shaming perfectly good and sometimes healthy foods, and they create a lot of confusion about what’s vegan and what’s not. Following a restrictive diet for therapeutic reasons is one thing, but most of us are just trying to do something for nonhuman animals, and animals don’t care if you have a vegan cupcake now and then. (Or gin.)

  • Agus

    There is a quote in Spanish that goes: “Lo perfecto es enemigo de lo bueno” (the perfect is the enemy of the good), and it’s a great mantra to tell oneself, because obsessing over perfection generally leads to either misery or inaction.
    And there’s another quote, by the great Ze Frank, that goes: “Perfectionism may look good in his shiny shoes, but he’s a bit of an asshole, and no one invites him to their pool parties”. Balance might not make as much money to afford shiny shoes, but who needs shoes at a pool party? ;)

  • Philippa Barter

    Brilliant post! You’ve done it again Sayward. You have thoughtfully articulated what I think MANY people need to hear! Thank you!!!

  • Janet

    Sayward, Food Babe is an activist, you’re not. S’okay.

  • Stephanie

    Love all of this!

  • Violet

    Yes!! I have been waiting for this post ever since you dropped a few hints about avoiding “orthoexia.” I am so prone to anxiety and wanting to do everything right, and THAT is my worst health habit. It’s so nice to read someone someone that I trust agreeing with my philosophy of aiming for the best and relaxing about the rest. Thank you!!

  • yogadogwalker

    Thank you for such an amazing post. I am very happy you hit publish!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thank you Linda!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thanks Veronica! And I’m glad it hasn’t been as controversial as I worried it would be. Whew!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    You know it! Didn’t we meet over Mac n Yease and decadent dessert?? ;-D

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Aw, thank you so much Sarah, this comment means so much to me! Seriously, you don’t know how much it helps me to hear things like this. Thank you! ♥

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Food Babe is not an activist; she’s a business woman. And a very, very good one.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Hi Sarah, hope you don’t mind me copying and posting my comment re: GMOs from below –

    “It’s not that there’s a mountain of evidence saying GMO’s are bad . . . it’s just that there’s no research at all. There’s no long-term studies on the implications of GMOs in human health. And I would rather not make me or my kid the test subject. That’s why I avoid them as much as I can (and don’t worry about the rest!)

    That said, there are compelling reasons not to support GMOs totally aside from the potential human health implications. My main concern with GMOs is in giving power to chemical companies, in losing genetic diversity, and in disrupting the natural evolution (and resilience inherent in that) of these crops. Plus genetically modifying animals and then releasing them out in the wild is just too much for me to accept at this point. We just don’t know enough!

    Barbara Kingsolver wrote a really beautiful essay on this many many years ago. It’s still one of my faves: https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/gefood/SmallWonders.php“

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Exactly! I’m so glad to hear you’ve found the balance, Bel. It can be very hard to do. And I love this because it really describes me as well – “The healthiest I’ve ever felt and been is when I don’t care what I eat, providing it is in moderation and tilting towards healthy, without examining it too closely.” YES!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Aw thank you Lindsey!!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Ditto Kevin on the cruelty, but that part doesn’t feel at all restrictive to me. ;-)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it, Helen!

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