Today is one of those days when I wonder what happened to the saying, "If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all."
When did we, as a people, stop supporting one another? When did we begin shooting down other's efforts to better themselves? When did it become offensive to choose a different dietary path than the one with which a person was raised?
What it really boils down to, for me, is why others judge first and close their minds to new foods rather than asking questions or sampling new foods before forming their opinions. If one does not understand my choices in food, ask me about them. I have worked very hard to study nutrition and cooking techniques in order to make healthy and great-tasting food. I will not feed guests in my home foods I know they do not like, but I also expect them not to ridicule my choices in food for the rest of my family.
Junk food is not "normal food." My children are not suffering. They do not live some sort of sad existence where I only feed them dandelion greens and parsnips. They do enjoy eating organic foods a lot more than they ever did processed foods. They do learn about new vegetables and from where their produce came. They do take part in preparing meals. They do feel better and act better.
Good nutrition is not a form of punishment to others; it is essential to clean living. At some point, I hope that our extended families will accept that we are just living our lives in the way we deem best and not in defiance of them; they never entered our decision matrix. It was not as if my husband and I looked at each other and said, "What can we do to our diet that would offend and impose upon our families the most?"
Eating organic, mostly-vegan food just feels right. I love the way I feel, I love the way I look, and I love the clarity of thought I have now. This is a choice. MY choice. This is me.
So sorry to hear that you're meeting such opposition. I am SO GLAD to hear that you are finding what works for your family. I also love following your journey as we are beginning to make some similar choices (eating better, more whole foods).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sara. It's really only from a few members of my extended family, but it's frustrating when someone says, "Where is the nearest McDonalds to your house?" or "I'll feed you a *good* meal before you head home." It's like my extended family cannot accept the fact that I am an adult, capable of creating lovely food without processed or dairy-based ingredients. They don't understand the food I make, because they're loathe to try anything new, so they lash out. While I know this, I cannot help but to get irritated sometimes. I feel strongly about lowering the risk for a whole host of life-long illnesses for my children, myself, and my husband, and I would appreciate their support instead of ridicule.
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