Stop Judging Food Choices

Stop Judging Food Choices

One of the areas I focus on in my work is nutrition myths. I did a podcast interview years ago referring to nutrition myths as the "original fake news" because as long as I have been credentialed and longer, nutrition myths persist. 

And these were around long before I became a dietitian. 

When I was going to school, I received a paper copy of the "Mayo Clinic" diet. This time was in the infancy of the internet, and it took 20 minutes to dial-up and AskJeeves about it, only to find out all the information on the paper was wholly untrue. 

I encounter nutrition misinformation every day, clearing up nutrition untruths, updates, and points of fact to clients and students. 

And I also must remind people that it is NOT their role, nor mine, to shame anyone for their food choices. 

It isn't anyone's business to tell someone else they should not drink diet soda. If someone asks me in a professional context, I answer truthfully. But I don't randomly tell people my thoughts. 

It isn't anyone's business to tell people that they should choose organically grown foods, or they will get cancer. First, that is just a dumb thing to say, and two, that isn't true. 

I do want to emphasize that we are often harder on ourselves. For example, this week, I saw someone say I am "being so good on my diet, but then find myself eating peanut butter."

I don't understand why peanut butter is a problem. And shaming ourselves for eating any food, let alone one loaded with nutrients, is sad. 

I am not making accusations against anyone reading this but pointing out that judging other people's food choices or inserting opinions about food under the guise of facts is normalized in our culture. 

Pay attention to your thoughts and words this week and see how often you judge your food choices and the food choices of others. 

And, if you want to get some myths and facts cleared up? We can chat!