I am not!
I know you may find it difficult to believe, but I'm really not a food snob! When I'm eating at a restaurant, at someone else's house, or eating something made by someone else, I really don't think all that much about what's in it. Partly because what I don't know can't bother me, but also I really do realize that eating something once isn't going to kill me or my kids. (If I love what I tried, I'll ask for the recipe and may try to make it a little healthier, though.)
Please don't tell me you use margarine though?
The only thing that shocks me sometimes is, for one example, if I found out someone used margarine in a recipe. And not at all because I'm freaked out about eating it once, but because I always find it hard to believe that some people still buy the stuff! (The way “they” have convinced us so strongly through the years that butter is bad and margarine is good, continues to amaze me. Read more about healthy fats .)
I just want you to know the truth!
My passion is getting the truth out there, what anyone does with that is their business–we all eat things we know we shouldn't sometimes. For example, I have a friend, Debi , who is trying to get off diet pop . She knows it's rotten for her, and she's slowly weaning herself away from it. In the meantime she'll still have one now and then. That doesn't bother me at all. (Not that she cares if it did bother me, since it's really none of my business!) But what really drives me nuts is when someone thinks they're eating/drinking something nutritious, but it's actually harmful to them!
Some examples:
- As mentioned above, those who drink diet pop because they think it's a better option–even though we have no idea what all those fake sugar chemicals are doing inside our bodies!
- Those who are cooking with margarine instead of butter because they think it's “better for your heart”–NO WAY!
- Those who are buying organic ultra-pasteurized milk–people may think it's great because it's organic, but ultra-pasteurized is SO BAD!
- Or others can't get past the “all fat is bad” mentality and won't buy whole milk, ugh.
I only worry about my part
Once I know others KNOW the truth, then I rest easy–I did my part. If they still choose to eat it/buy it or if they don't believe it…it's not my issue. I eat stuff I shouldn't sometimes, too. (Read about My Dark Secrets.)
80/20 rule
I read an article in the local paper once by my friend, Jeannie Weaver (who I first met at a local chapter meeting for the Weston Price Foundation), and what she said has stuck with me. She explained that her family goes by the 80/20 rule: they try to eat well 80% of the time, and don't worry about the other 20%.
The 80% for our family is when we're eating at home (although it is probably a higher percentage than that), and I just try not to worry too much about the rest. Even at home I don't always make things exactly how I should or stay away from the sweets I crave, but I don't beat myself up over it. I know we're still eating better than most Americans and I keep working on the rest slowly, but it all takes time. Go easy on yourself!
Do you want a good laugh?
Watch this video with a couple of major food snobs:
- Baby steps: read some Rookie Tips to help prevent you from getting overwhelmed by all this
- Tried my popcorn recipe yet?
- Have you seen these short Meatrix movies about where our food comes from?
- Eating healthy on a budget
- Scroll down through these healthy breakfast ideas
Ginny says
Kelly,
I know how easy it is for people to perceive us as food snobs when we tell them that we eat this or we don’t eat that. I’ve given up telling everyone everything that I’ve learned about food. If someone asks, I’ll tell them, but it is rare that I offer my opinion anymore. When we are invited to a friend’s house, we eat what they serve and let them know how good it is. The only exception is artificial sweeteners and food dyes, because we have reactions to them.
The problem I have are friends and family that actually sneak crap to my kids, because they know I won’t buy it for them. For example, McD’s and tons of candy. Luckily, my kids usually tell them that they aren’t allowed to have whatever it is. My friend told me that I think I am better than her because we don’t eat fast food often, and she goes 3-4 times a week. Of course, I don’t think that way…we ate like that before I knew better.
My main concern and obligation is to my family, and I make sure we eat the best we can as often as possible. Sorry for the long reply!
KitchenKop says
Wow, while disagreeing is all great for discussion and it’s how we learn, I don’t get many commenters with your tone. Yes, if you want to jump all over someone for what they’re eating and tell them how it’s going to kill them, that’s your choice. But do you think they’ll EVER dare come to you the next week and ask you a question about something they’re confused about? Might they instead think that “Real Foodies are all judgmental snots” and just go pull into the drive thru?
Kimberly, you’re right, at restaurants it IS good to start asking more questions and help get the truth out. I’m much more able to do that now than when I wrote this post a while back, it gets easier!
Kelly
Denial much says
Well that is just plain weird! Of course eating poison “once in a while” can kill you! Worse it can give you beginning stages of cancer, which will kill you slowly and irreversibly, how’s that for the next time you’re playing “what I don
Kimberly Hartke says
Kelly, the point you make here is very important. We who follow the WAPF diet can appear rigid and dogmatic to others. This would be a big turnoff and make someone NOT want to investigate these principles. I think a light hearted friendly approach is always to eat a little of something that you are offered at a friends home, without any negative comments.
It is our enthusiasm for these foods and not our carping about what is wrong with our food supply that will be most persuasive, anyway. And, this is someone who has written a lot of commentary on the subject. I notice my recipe posts get a lot more attention than my political posts!
Restaurants are a different matter, and I do vette my food and shun ingredients like soy oils and transfats. I feel it is important to let restaurants know that public opinion is changing back to an acceptance of animal fats!
Emily a.k.a. Smoochagator says
Hi Kelly! I ended up here via Conversion Diary, and I’m probably going to be a regular reader now! I’ve long been suspicious of “healthy” foods that are overly processed and full of chemicals. Margarine is a big sticking point for me – I WILL NOT cook with anything but real butter thankyouverymuch. (Okay, actually, I do SOMETIMES use “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” or Splenda when cooking for a friend who has had gastric bypass surgery and can’t tolerate real fats or sugar. However, when I’m cooking for myself? It’s gotta be real, baby.) Still, my eating habits need a LOT of work, and I look forward to benefiting from your research!
Kelly says
Hi Maryann,
Sorry I’m answering so late, but probably because I didn’t have an answer – I don’t know about that (regarding Jane Brody) – sorry!
Kelly
Maryanne says
Kelly–I’m loving your blog
on the soda pop front there was an article this week 2/10/09 by Jane Brody that trashed HFCS and even sugar [!] but went on to recommend aspartame. I am always amazed that someone as well published and thought of as JB is such an idiot around someof this stuff…also heard she has the classic chronic-itis from following her own dietary advice. She is quoted so often would love to know if this is true to offer as an “oh yeah”.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Katrina,
Ruh roh, you got me going now! That is for SURE going to be another post – look for it soon!
Thanks,
Kelly
KatrinaD says
Check out this commercial I saw this morning, Kelly. It really never ends, does it?
https://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/01/28/multimedia/1194817109334/meet-the-buttertons-30-seconds.html
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Julie,
I needed to hear your good reminder that it is often much more about our example than our words!
Julie says
Hi, I relate very much to Samantha and so many out there who are concerned for family members eating right in order to stay or become healthy. I think that actions speak louder than words. I have given my share of lectures over the years (I’m 55) but I now realize that people notice more about you do than they let on. Any more I try to stay quiet and only will say something if asked. One time I was eating with a friend at a salad bar and she said to me “I notice that everything on your plate is dark colored–dark greens, red peppers, orange this, yellow that” and her plate was ice berg lettuce with ranch! So, I just said that the brighter the colors the more nutrients. She said wow, I didn’t know that. If people eat at your house and are enjoying and nourished by your tasty food, that speaks louder than a lecture and it can serve as a source of inspiration. It could be that people have a notion that eating right is way out there in some sort of an unreachable realm. It really is doable, and I think by our actions we can in a calm way show them this!
Holly says
Kel, thanks for the link. I think the soy stuff is going to hit the can and I will stick with the product I am using now. No sense in upsetting the applecart for something that won’t be any better for us!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Samantha,
I love “meeting” new commenters!
Of course the first thing that came to mind when I read your comment was, “Tell her about my blog!” Maybe she’ll be more open to hearing this stuff from someone not related…just a thought. 🙂
But your problem is a universal one, no matter what it is that we’re trying to help someone “see the light” on (faith, eating better, etc.) – until they’re ready to hear it, they just won’t hear it. (I wrote a little about this here: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/02/life-changes-five-ways-theyre-all-same.html)
Also, just today I got this e-mail from a friend with similar issues…
“I was cracking up when I read your post today, and I’m thinking to myself, “I’m a bit of a food snob!” Only because of my concern for the fam, which you can totally relate to. Do you feel that your mom/mom-in-law are on board with you? I feel sometimes that I’m a soldier in the nutritional battlefield and people just think I’ve gone off the deep end a bit…I always hear from my parents, “Well, we fed you that way your whole life and YOU turned out just fine!!!” I try to communicate (gently!) that evidence of nutritional deficiencies don’t always surface until later, when they turn into degenerative diseases, but then I find that before the end of the sentence they’ve left the room or cut in with something else. 🙂 Ahhh, the life of a passionate nutrition-gal. :)”
That probably happens to you a lot too, I know it sure does with me. We’re definitely the “odd-balls” sometimes!
Keep fighting the good fight! Don’t forget to pray that they’ll be open to hearing the truth! If He could break through all (some) of my bad eating habits, He can surely do it with anyone!
Thanks again for commenting!
Samantha says
Kelly,
I want to thank you for this post – it resonates with me as well. I have to be careful when pointing out the crazy things I’ve learned about processed foods for example – it’s hard!
I was wondering if you have any advice about how you go about sharing the truth i.e. about diet pop or margarine? My boyfriend’s mom is constantly making comments about her weight and it frustrates me to no end to see her with her huge diet pop (and serving herself mini portions of meals that HAVE healthy components (like broccoli, carrots, celery – she could eat a whole plate before matching the calorie count of her “snacks” later but that’s besides the point!)
She buys “I can’t believe it’s not butter,” white bread, a zillion kinds of crackers with “enriched” flour and I want to help her…but obviously not hurt our relationship! HELP.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Holly,
I’m not a fan of soy and recommend avoiding it (just those two words together, “soybean margarine”, freaks me out a little!), but there’s a big divided camp on this topic. I’ve read enough about it to not touch the stuff – I only use fermented soy sauce in a recipe now and then. (Fermented is very different than regular soy.)
Here’s a site with info, it’s called “myths & truths about soy”: (you’ll have to cut and paste this web address) https://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtsoy.html.
Just so you know though, those who are “pro soy” think the WAP people are full of you-know-what…
Also, most soy products you see are highly processed – never a good thing.
Roxy says
Don’t forget that over 90% of soybeans are genetically modified. There haven’t been that many studies on humans but the studies they have done on mice and the one study they did on humans did not have very good outcomes.
From: https://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com
Hasn
Holly says
Hmm. Butter sends my man to …well never mind, but he can’t eat it! I bought some soybean margarine the other day, but haven’t ventured to try it yet. I usually use Fleischmann’s Olive Oil spread. Am I gaining anything with the soy stuff?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’m glad you guys jumped in, because I didn’t have a clue! (I haven’t looked into lactose intolerance much.) Thanks Julie & Anna!
By the way, “Mary’s Oil Blend”, that Julie mentioned, is a good mixture of oils to use when plain coconut oil might be too strong – a very healthy combo!
Julie says
Hi Holly, you could also try a recipe for a spread from “Eat Fat Lose Fat” by Mary Enig. It’s equal amounts of coconut oil, butter and cold pressed sesame oil (NOT toasted sesame oil). You mix these together and use as you would butter as a spread, also in cooking.
Anna says
Butter has very little lactose. Most lactose-intolerant people I know (including my mother and a very good friend) have no problem with butter.
Holly says
What is your recommendation for a butter substitute for someone that is lactose intolerant?
Stephanie says
You can buy raw milk butter (maybe depending where you live make your own) If you use Raw milk you will not be lactose intollerant….when you pasturize it you distroy the lactaid in it in which helps you digest it! So enjoy your Raw Milk (which is amazing!!!) and your Raw Butter too.. check out http://www.realmilk.com and http://www.westonaprice.org for more details and where you can purchase raw milk.