It occurs to me that people who eat healthfully are constantly ridiculed, sometimes mercilessly. They live in a state of defense because of what they eat or don’t eat. The remarks range from snide to hurtful and the same people who deliver those remarks, do so relentlessly.
It’s curious that these people rarely take an interested in a healthy person’s diet or ask why you've make the food choices you do. They show no interest in nutrition or health. Instead they shun you because of your diet.
Finally, after years of abuse, I’ve decided to respond. When ridiculed about my diet I started saying, “I’m only trying to stay alive.” That stopped the banter for the moment, but it really was not the full story.
The truth is that most of us who care about nutrition got into a place of eating healthfully because of illness. We didn’t have a choice and most fought hard to hold on to those traditional and favorite foods that hurt our bodies. Given the option, most of us would not have made the change.
I didn’t really “get” how much those negative comments affected me until a local restaurant’s marquee said something to the effect of “No Gluten-Free Here; Not Now, Not Ever.” It was funny to everyone, but with some thought, I decided I was tired of defending my food requirements.
People don’t laugh at cancer or heart disease, so what makes it ok to laugh at someone who has decided to save their life with food? It was time to take a stand.
I emailed the restaurant saying that their sign was cruel and offensive. I explained that sick people eat healthfully to stay alive and when one is a celiac there is no option except gluten-free. I explained that everyone would rather eat pie and that we make food choices not to be different, but to control the pain and to heal the body.
There was no response from the restaurant. Maybe the message didn’t change anything, but it is past time to set the facts straight with the truth about those who live a healthy lifestyle.
In my eyes those who use food to heal themselves or to sustain a healthful life are the courageous. They are bombarded by advertising that directs them to pharmaceuticals instead of nutrition and they resist. They are disrespected by family and friends who don’t understand, but they continue. They live in a world that is different from others because they have values that they have chosen to respect for themselves.
It’s curious that these people rarely take an interested in a healthy person’s diet or ask why you've make the food choices you do. They show no interest in nutrition or health. Instead they shun you because of your diet.
Finally, after years of abuse, I’ve decided to respond. When ridiculed about my diet I started saying, “I’m only trying to stay alive.” That stopped the banter for the moment, but it really was not the full story.
The truth is that most of us who care about nutrition got into a place of eating healthfully because of illness. We didn’t have a choice and most fought hard to hold on to those traditional and favorite foods that hurt our bodies. Given the option, most of us would not have made the change.
I didn’t really “get” how much those negative comments affected me until a local restaurant’s marquee said something to the effect of “No Gluten-Free Here; Not Now, Not Ever.” It was funny to everyone, but with some thought, I decided I was tired of defending my food requirements.
People don’t laugh at cancer or heart disease, so what makes it ok to laugh at someone who has decided to save their life with food? It was time to take a stand.
I emailed the restaurant saying that their sign was cruel and offensive. I explained that sick people eat healthfully to stay alive and when one is a celiac there is no option except gluten-free. I explained that everyone would rather eat pie and that we make food choices not to be different, but to control the pain and to heal the body.
There was no response from the restaurant. Maybe the message didn’t change anything, but it is past time to set the facts straight with the truth about those who live a healthy lifestyle.
In my eyes those who use food to heal themselves or to sustain a healthful life are the courageous. They are bombarded by advertising that directs them to pharmaceuticals instead of nutrition and they resist. They are disrespected by family and friends who don’t understand, but they continue. They live in a world that is different from others because they have values that they have chosen to respect for themselves.
We are indeed much more than what we eat,
but what we eat can nevertheless
help us to be
much more than what we are
Adelle Davis
but what we eat can nevertheless
help us to be
much more than what we are
Adelle Davis