My Loving Relationship with Food

My relationship with food has always been a passionate one. I would consider myself a foodie. My idea of a good time is always centered around food, so, does that count?When I was a kid I was a chubster, now I'm not saying this in a self deprecating way, but genuinely, I was a chubby kid that ate really unhealthy fast food & packaged foods all the time. It was fucking great.

Almost exactly 6 years ago, I decided to become a vegetarian (ok, I know any non-veg people are probably eye-rolling expecting some rant about how meat is murder, blah- no, this isn't the case). I read the book "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer and not eating animals anymore just made sense to me, he was reasonable and had scientific evidence- boom. I can't tell you what stemmed the epiphany but it was strong enough to last me this long. Anyway, I was a really shitty vegetarian for about two years before I actually started to understand and be grateful for food. From that point, I started taking initiative to cook and learn what food actually does for your body. I didn't know why it took me 22 years to make the connection that food fuels our body, but like, different foods fuel us in different ways. Even now I'm thinking, that's such a simple thing to know, why didn't I know it? I think it all lies in the fact that I was fixated on what tasted good even if it didn't make me feel good. Sure, meat made me feel heavy afterward, but what about that grilled cheese? That also made me feel sick and bloaty... how was that any better for me?

Anyway, I've had another moment of learning when I had 48 hours of hell due to consuming too much dairy. I'm not FULLY lactose intolerant, just over the years I've had to really watch the dairy I consume because it messes with my stomach. Recently, cheese has been the culprit... (ugh, pizza is bae). However, I've been dabbling in a 90% vegan diet and I have to say the moments where I feel bloated and sick have been reduced exponentially. Everything that I've been eating I can trace back to the source of it. It's quite amazing, actually. I have a lot of pride knowing that. I think since food and I will probably always be the most passionate relationship in my life I think I should start giving so many fucks about it that it's kind of life changing and consuming... in the healthiest way possible...

I'm not saying you should go on a plant-based diet, but, I'm just saying listen to what you're body is telling you and what makes you feel good. Stick to that and just give a fuck about yourself. You're worth it. And if you don't think you're worth it, eventually your body will make you realize it by ruining your life for 48 hours... on the toilet. HOLLA!