I read this quote in a fabulous oped titled “The 5 Pillars of Positive Nutrition”   by Laura Cirullo, RD yesterday.  I loved it so much I made a meme. I adored the entire piece, because it encapsulates all the things I believe about nutrition, i.e.: food is not “clean” or “dirty”.  No food is off limits.  It’s not good to be afraid of your food.  I highly recommend the read for some common sense, non-fear mongering approach to healthier eating.

I think many people might think that because I’m studying to be a holistic nutritionist that I prescribe to the “clean” food movement.  That I only eat organic.  That I won’t eat something if it doesn’t have a superior nutritional profile.  The truth of the matter is that I love eating mini Snickers bars once in a while.  I adore a lemon drop martini when I’m out.  And if a Pillsbury crescent roll is served to me at a friend’s house for dinner, there is a 0% chance that I will pass it up.

80-90% of the time I eat the foods that make me feel my healthiest and that I know will continue to help my body fight disease and chronic illness.  The other 10-20% is reserved for foods that probably won’t.  There’s a saying: “Everything you eat is either fighting disease or contributing to it.”  I think there’s truth in that.  But I also wholeheartedly believe that when you eat enough of the “better” stuff, you counteract the food that eaten in large amounts could be unhealthy. Life for me would be so boring without martinis and bites of candy and a baked good once in a while.

So, yes, I eat kale (loads of it).  But I certainly don’t believe it makes me a better person than people who don’t!  What do you think?