Well how’s that for a chipper title on a Friday? Haha. But I think you know where I am going with this, especially after Wednesday’s Pillsbury Post.
So pull up a chair, a cup of coffee, and let’s chat. Shall we?
Here’s the honest to goodness truth… Our FDA food regulations suck. Yes, we have foods with dyes, GMO’s, hormones, trans fat, and High Fructose Corn syrup. Not to mention other chemicals and preservatives.
And you know what?
We’ve eaten them, GASP!
You see, I’d love to talk about how I grow my own garden, milk my own goat, raise my own chickens, always eat grass feed meat/dairy, and churn my own butter. But I don’t. If I had time and money, I think it would be totally awesome and I’d hire my whole family to help.
I’d also love to spend lots of money on buying everything local, shopping at farmers market on a tri weekly basis, and then buying out Costco only to donate all the food to those in need (like Food Bank).
But OUR reality is this.. WE DO WHAT WE CAN. 80% we try and eat organic. 80% of the time I keep our diet NUTRIENT dense and clean. 80% I buy pastured eggs and brew my own kombucha. 80% of the time I try to stay clear of preservatives, additives, and things that don’t make sense to be in food.
This week.. that 20% might have been a tad bit higher. Our week was filled with gluten free yo-yo’s, pastry cups, and other GF carb rich food. Oh and did I mention I happily accepted to any and all free gluten free product and coupons?
Yep. Guilty.
But.. like I said, we do what we can, with what we have. We adjust often. We REfocus on REAL food. We TRY.. BUT … WE are FAR from PERFECT eaters. And for me, that’s okay. For me (the nutrition manager who doesn’t practice what she preaches) and for my kiwi husband (the Pro triathlete who doesn’t always eat like a PRO athlete), that is okay. Our well being sometimes means letting other things slide and enjoying the moment. It also sometimes means having to budget on food (for the time being) and eating rice porridge, teff, and breakfast tacos for a solid month.
If we lived in a perfect world and had a perfect diet, I’m pretty sure raw cookie dough would be the new super food, am I right? 
Now.. excuse me while I go make up for my lack of vegetable consumption this week.
Cheers to not being perfect! Cheers to learning good health, and then learning how to not sweat the small the stuff.
If we lived in perfect world, what would be your super food?
LC
p.s.
Be sure to check out Laura’s Strange But Good link up for some tasty, and creative, dishes.
We are far from perfect and personally, we try to focus more on eating local as opposed to organic. I would rather eat an apple grown down the street that doesn’t have the organic label than an organic apple from Costa Rica, if you know what I mean 🙂
Pizza would be my superfood, and not the healthified kind 🙂
I love the look of those tacos and that bowl of porridge! Eating perfect is not cheap, can be exhausting, and time consuming. It is about balance though and just like in life, we have ups and downs, we do what we can, with what we have, and make the most of it. Enjoy those greens woman! XOXO
So true Lindsay. We do what we can, give it our best shot, and move on. If we lived in a perfect world, I think my superfood would have to be dark chocolate. MMM!!! Anything dark chocolate would work for me.
what’s that song? ..Hit it with you best shot! LOL! yes, so perfect!
Leave it to you to say all of the above so perfectly. <3 I can't imagine that there's a single person out there that lives perfectly, whether it's in regards to working out, eating clean, treating others the way they wish to be treated, you name it. None of us do anything perfectly 100% of the time. You know what? Scratch that. There's one thing we each do perfectly, and that's be ourselves – flaws, mistakes, setbacks, and all. We place so much pressure on ourselves to do things perfectly, and I've noticed that doing so actually makes it so much harder to be "perfect". Thank you for this.
You’re perfect just the way you are and I love you for you!!
I’ve totally been living the 80/20 rule.. but 80% eating the wrong stuff! But thats ok. It’s all good 😉
Well said lady! I know there are days that at the end I have to think, did I eat a vegetable today? Those are not my good days but I always make up for it by binging on kale 🙂 Glad I’m not the only one! Hope all is going well with you and James, the sherpa gig and your tummy!
Nicole
love this post!! I obviously think it’s important that we aim to eat whole, organic (when possible), real foods, but there will be times when we don’t. Those time are rare, and that’s okay! It can be so easy, for me at least, to beat myself up about those not-so-ideal treats, but when we look at the big picture it’s really about what we eat MOST of the time, not just SOME of the time.
SUCH a great post! And so well said my beautiful friend. I feel the exact same way. In a perfect world I’d eat so called “perfect”, but to be honest, I probably wouldn’t be that sane without my wine, drinks, or the occasional chocolate 😉
This is beautiful, honest, and REAL. I think as healthy living bloggers, we often succumb to the pressure to serve as flawless nutrition (and fitness) role models, then feel like failures when we don’t live up to that standard. The truth is, though, that nobody can live up to a standard of perfection! We all have our vices (Reese’s peanut butter cups are just *one* of mine), and can live more peacefully when we fully accept that perfection is impossible in an imperfect world. <3 Sure, Pillsbury dough contains ingredients that I'd rather not put in my body every day, but that dough has the ability to make baked goods taste pretty darn delicious in a pretty darn short amount of time. For those reasons, I'm sure I'll be picking it up in the grocery store from time to time!
Sending lots of hugs and love! <3 xoxo
Raw cookie dough would totally be my superfood. In fact, I’m pretty sure it will be in heaven.
And oh how I WISH we could afford to buy all organic, local food! But we can’t, so I do what I can, and I keep it simple. I want to eat to live, not live to eat. Been there, done that. No restrictive diets, not even any cleanses or detox (gasp!) for me. Food is fuel, food is nourishment, and food is fun. We need to eat to live, not live to eat!!
can i get an AMEN!!!!?!!
Speak for yourself, I ALWAYS eat PERFECT…………………………… But I eat TOO TOO MUCH ALL THE TIME – lol! I wind up with a bowling ball in my stomach come days end. Whoops. But I just want food in my faceeeeee, it’s sexy??
My superfood = SALMON!!! Hands down…. NO JOKE. I am doing a salmon dance right now. lol
Your 80% is a bajillion times better than 95% of the rest of America, so I don’t think I’d be too concerned if I were you. Just eat. And invite me to dinner, because it all looks good to me!
come for dinner, but bring half your garden and cookies, k?
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!! I tweet out my cookie pics & like you have discussed that I do my best but balance in life & I am far from perfect & really don’t care! 😉 My mom died not being able to enjoy the simple things in life & that includes foods that people like to label bad.. life is to be lived! YES, I eat great most of the time but I am certainly not going to NOT eat something cause it has a few of those “bad” ingredients. You have to eat like that non stop for it to hurt you. Indulgences are fine.. I wish people would understand that! 🙂
Yes to fun! 🙂
Amen!! We can strive for near perfection, but perfection in itself? not going to happen, ever, so we do our best and aim for health and happiness!
Nope we’re not perfect but that’s what makes us perfect (does that make sense?). Food is never right on, we do the best we can do. I am right there with you, try to eat healthy and buy the best but sometimes it’s just not possible. i type this as I am looking for vegan cookie recipes…
Cheers!
I can’t have a super restricting diet… I’ve tried that and I only crave (and eventually indulge) more.
I love all your early a.m. coffee selfies. They’re fantastic.
P.s. ain’t nothin wrong with breakfast burritos
Cheers to the 80/20 combo! That’s what I try for, and my guilty pleasure is home baking and Pepsi (only on the weekends).
Have a good weekend!
Completely agree! But we know we are doing what we can. It’s not like we blatantly disregard healthy and sustainable food. Having the knowledge of what is good for us let’s us consciously make decisions about what we eat. So much of eating is social too, that sometimes it’s difficult to always eat the foods we’d ideally like to.
Our well being sometimes means letting other things slide and enjoying the moment. <— I couldn't agree more.
i knew you would understand. xxoo
Perfect timing for this post. I spent a week at the lake for my little brothers wedding and lets just say that my diet wasn’t my typical diet. Way too many sugary foods!! Thanks for sharing
Potato chips and wine would be my superfood choices!!!
Thanks for sharing such an honest post about food and food shopping!!
i like that superfood choice. hehe
I’d love to have the time and money to do everything myself, too!! Alas, it just isn’t the case. And I really don’t mind having a fro-yo splurge at my local shop or eating my Mom’s best desserts once in a while–it’s part of living!!
So true, Lindsey! As you said, we do not live in a perfect world – just take a look as the so-called “food” that is allowed on the selves of food stores. Unless you live on a farm (or in a bubble) and grow/raise your own foods, there is no way to avoid GMO’s, preservatives, etc. It is very easy to stress out when trying to “eat clean” 100% of the time – and the stress can cause just as much damage as whatever food it is you are avoiding. Just do the best that you can without driving yourself crazy! Happy Friday! 🙂
you spoke my every thought! YES!
If we lived in a perfect world I would make watermelon a year round grown fruit. (and peanut butter a guacamole serving sizes would be much larger).
I am with you, I hate that so much crap is in our food, while we are able to spend a good chunk of our budget at Whole Foods, I know not everyone has that option and that makes me sad. Especially for kids that don’t have a choice.
If I had all the money in the world I would have the same farm and garden as you, I would also bribe the FDA to change the rules for school lunches, because a pizza DOES NOT cover all the food groups.
preach it girl! I love it! and wine would be a food group, right? LOL!
I definitely do not eat organic, “whole”, or nutrient-dense all day, every day. I’ve lived through the days of eating nothing but fruits, veggies, and eating only foods society deemed as “healthy”. It’s not fun and I never want to go back. Baked goods are what the heart loves lol <3
Good way to spend a friday (rainy) morning “chatting”over coffee with you! You’re right, the world isn’t perfect but we do the best we can. You lead an incredibly inspiring healthy lifestyle and I hope you know I really get inspired by that.
In a perfect world, time would stop each morning and night so I could cook healthy, homegrown meals and not worry about how much time it’s taking, how much it cost or any of those things. I’d be able to sit down with my fiance and chat over healthy meals and enjoy the moment rather than shove food in my mouth as I am running out the door for work or some other obligation
I loveeee this post so much. Likely the best thing I’ve read all week. You articulated this so beautifully and I could not agree more. We definitely do what we can. If we tried to eat perfectly we would go crazy! (<–guilty) Finding this balance, learning to let go and loving yourself is all part of this wonderful journey we call life. Have a lovely weekend!
I am going to read the comments on the pilsbury post, but i feel like i probably shouldn’t.
it makes me so upset when people judge others for what they eat or do. one of my other blog friends had somebody leave this comment one day: “no wonder you’re not losing weight — you’re eating cheese.”
Really?
Really.
Hi. I’m human. I am eating to live and sometimes that means I eat non-food food-stuffs. Am I going to die? No. Am I going to get really fat? No. Am I going to feel like crap later? Maybe. But I also will feel like crap from eating some “approved” healthy foods, so I kind of don’t really care what anybody else thinks.
Amen to everything you’re saying here! I personally feel like the occasional indulgence or processed food helps MAKE a perfect diet, because you need some of that “comfort food” every once in awhile for the soul, you know?
yup.. i like the way you think Ash!
This is a great post! We all would love to eat organically and local all day everyday but it certainly isnt feasible for me social worker pay check. I will be the firs to admit, I like sugar and I will certainly eat it when I want it. We are not perfect and that is perfectly fine!
I love this post. I think that with blogging there is also an added sense of pressure to be perfect in so many ways – especially eating. No one wants to admit they don’t buy organic everything *gasp* or that yes, they do eat canned tomatoes *gasp*. If it was up to me, sure, I would have a huge garden of amazing veggies too. You do what you can though right? You eat as healthfully as you can and realize that sometimes you aren’t perfect. And that’s ok. No one is perfect. In fact…what is perfect? I wish pizza was the ideal clean, healthy eat 😉
Love this post girl! Sometimes I feel bad that I don’t shop at the farmers’ market more or that I don’t buy grass fed meat from a local farm – but the reality is I don’t always have time for that… and that’s okay! It’s all about doing the best we can.
I wish triple chocolate brownies and ice cream were superfoods. 😀
Being perfect all the time would be so damn boring! I love having more coffee than I should, enjoying a white flour + butter cookie or a real piece of chocolate cake and drink a glass more than I should if the occasion just asks for it. But hey as long as it makes one happy it cannot be that wrong 😉
Yup…I totally agree! My husband and I try our best to eat healthy and organic foods. I try to cook most of my meals and incorporate lots of fruits and veggies, but it’s not always easy to do those things. Time and money are definitely the big key factors. We too do what we can and I’m okay with that!
Such a great, honest post! Yes- we can’t do it all… we just do our best. I’d live on cereal and chocolate if I could. 🙂
amen! I think learning to be ok with the fringes is part of having a balanced life in general. If our focus was on being 100% food perfect we’d be neglecting other areas
So honest and so truthful, we’re not perfect! I do my best to eat clean the majority of the time but sometimes that’s just not possible, realistic or fun! I’m not going to turn down a couple of chocolate covered pretzels from the candy bar at a friend’s wedding, but when I get a tummy ache the next day I’m going to remind myself why I don’t eat that way everyday!
Coupons/free stuff is my #1 reason for not eating cleaner. I think I do a decent job – most of the time I’d rather have homemade. But who am I to turn down free treats?! 😉
My super food would be chococlate cake. And balls.
I love this SO MUCH. Really. You’re right…I try my best. I do what I can and when I can. But it’s not always possible. And honestly, it’s not always necessary.
Buttercream frosting would be my super food 🙂
I feel your pain! I mean….I feel you. I know what you mean. I sometimes feel guilty eating not-so-healthy, but then I remember that this is what I preach to clients; you can’t be perfect! Like you, I try to eat organic and nutrient dense ~80% of the time (I’m not really keeping track, but that’s my guess), and I feel pretty great about that 🙂
Instead of all of us working about perfection, we should start working towards acceptance of ourselves and each other. Love this message!
I am working on eating better…it’s hard & can be expensive, but totally worth it, right?
Love this post. I was just ranting about it on IG the other day as I sat and ate milk and cookies. Sometimes, life’s not about having the perfect diet.
AWESOME post!! i would looooove to grow (or even buy locally!) all organic fruit and vegetables and make all my own dairy products but yes that’s not really reality. and if cookie dough were a superfood that’d be freakin’ awesome. haha
Beer would have magical powers and have ZERO carbs – the good ones anyway 😉 I hear ya though, I try to behave 99% of the time, even yesterday indulged in WAY too much sugar, but it’s hard and you have to forgive yourself now and then right
Absolutely true and a great reminder. I’ve been having one of those weeks (couple of weeks?). Tends to happen when I’m stressed or traveling, surprising huh? We do what we can, yes? I totally make up for the lack of greens with a green smoothie all the time. ha!
Amen sister!! I couldn’t agree more on this. When I thnk about how many Reese’s Cups I ate while in the US, I would propably totally fail the perfect eating. Bur hey – I was in the US and these babies were only available for 2 weeks for me!
I am all about letting go sometimes – it just makes us appreciate the clean and organic deliciousness even more.
My superfood? Raw cakebatter. And cookie dough. With chocolate chips.
Love this! What is perfect, anyway? That would be a pretty boring life 😉 I honestly don’t eat too much organic, grass-fed, etc. I try my best, but I usually don’t have the finances to justify it. And that’s okay!
I love coffee chats. 🙂 It happens. You’re still a pretty clean eater to me, and the other stuff’s just good for the soul now and again.
Happy Friday!
I was recently talking to a friend of mine and mentioned my biggest food vice lately was drinking too much coffee. She was floored and said, “You have food vices?! From reading your blog I assumed you just eat perfect all the time!” GAAAAAH! Not the impression I have tried to make at all. So I feel you. Blogs are tricky creatures and sometimes people don’t realize that there is a difference between the ideal world and the real world we have to live in every day.
Logic from my favourite Sherpa is a great way to start a Friday 🙂 This. Very much this. It’s be great if I had the time and money to invest in eating pure, local, and organic, but after spending years with my life revolving around good and trying to eat the cleanest I could, I just can’t justify it anymore… especially since I wasn’t exactly the healthiest for it. I think that having some wiggle room and not stressing about it are more important than trying to be a food Nazi. I’ll just keep dreaming of a perfect world in which chocolate cake is a super food 🙂
I tripped up yesterday too… After a great few weeks of healthy foods. I know it’s all about balance, but I still feel a tad guilty (if I’m being honest!). Now the challenge is to jump back into healthy foods and avoid another cookie 😉 thanks for the reminder that life just happens,