Check out my progress on “Normal” Eating
Now here’s a statement you wouldn’t expect from a food blogger: I’m self-conscious about my eating habits. Within the blogging world, amongst foodies who appreciate the joys of unique and/or healthful fare, I clearly delight in sharing my daily meals—and I’ve got 700+ posts to prove it. However, when it comes to social situations, I become a different person. I become apprehensive that others are judging me based on the contents of my plate; I fear that somehow they will think less of me because of my non-traditional food choices: “Who’s that weird chick eating tofu?”
Perhaps it’s a vestige of my eating disorder—those two years contained plenty of uncomfortable eating situations in which I felt I was judged by my eating (or lack thereof). Regardless, I now find that I alter my food choices depending on who will be present. Today, for example, I knew that I would be eating lunch at work. Although I craved a big salad with grilled vegetables and tofu, I instead opted for a more “normal” hummus wrap with trail mix and crunchy accoutrements. According to my admittedly delusional thinking, a harmless-looking wrap is far less likely to solicit questions and judgment from my co-workers than an elaborate plate adorned with soybean curd. Oh, and you better believe I took my meal pictures before work—explaining my food blog would be akin to admitting I have three heads.
I realize that this mode of thinking is not healthy—it’s something about my personality that I am working to change.
Do you ever alter your food choices depending on your company?
Now, foodie friends, I will happily show you today’s meals, without fear of judgment:
Before heading to work, I made a delicious, melty grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich. Next time, I think I’ll use Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter.
Onto my “normal” lunch…
A few weeks ago, I caught an episode of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef with Anne Burrell in which she made wheat germ and almond-crusted baked chicken fingers. Did somebody say wheat germ?? Yes, please! I used that recipe as inspiration for this evening’s Walnut-Crusted Tofu Fingers (recipe to come). They were pretty delish, although I wish I had pressed the tofu prior to baking.
Alright I am now off to kick back with a viewing of 500 Days of Summer. G’night lovelies.
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
I definitely strive to eat “normal” when I’m with people if I can. I hate to have them feel like they need to go out of their way for me; I don’t need organic potato chips! I just need ones that aren’t going to bloat me for 5 days with gluten! =-0
I am right there with you. Whenever I eat with other people, I always feel like they are judging me. So what if I am not eating McDonalds for lunch?
I’m with you! I’m a super picky eater and always worry when eating out or eating around others in case they judge what I do/don’t eat
Your grilled PB and banana sandwich looks delicious!
I used to be the same way about being afraid people would think I was weird. I bring some pretty weird stuff for lunch but I usually eat at my desk so unless someone walks by, they wouldn’t notice. It took a while but I’ve loosened up and honestly I get more comments from people who are afraid I am judging them for what they are eating (which is oftentimes unhealthy). Interesting!
Honestly, I just bit the bullet and ate whatever I pleased in front of my company – wierd or not, if they love me and matter enough in my book, they;d accept it, and they’ve ALL gotten used to it
Those tofu fingers look amazing! Reminds me of fish sticks
I can totally relate. I have no shame at all eating health-consciously around my family nor sharing these eats with the food blogosphere (<3). I even hesitate to actively tell my friends about this food blog of mine, though it's linked on my facebook.
I don't know. There's just something about eating salads that elicits looks of suspicion and unneeded curiosity from others. Sometimes it's as if my salad-chomping and tofu-nibbling makes them feel bad about their own meal, which is obviously not my intention. Why can't I just eat what I want without worrying about it being too "weird" or too healthy? Heck, I think that if I got over that hurdle, I would then be delighted to even explain *what* I was eating (you see, these are called wheatberries, and that's kabocha, a type of squash/pumpkin….).
I think this is something a lot of us struggle with. You're not alone!
Yikes! I have the same problem as you! Depending upon who I’m with, I get really self-conscious about my eats. Especially when I’m around guys…I hate ordering salads in front of them!
Since I am reading blogs all the time, I never realize how ‘abnormal’ my snax/meals are until I am out with my old high school friends. It just makes me want to hang out with fellow bloggers all the more!
I watched 500 Days at school actually…a bit quirky but entertaining nonetheless.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong in altering your choices to blend with the social atmosphere…if everyone is getting pasta in a place famous for pasta, then I’m getting pasta. It just depends on the situation and mood. Unless you have dietary restrictions, of course.
I don’t really change *what* I eat when I’m around other people except I might have dessert or something like that but I do change how much I eat. Usually I don’t go more than 2 hours without eating but when I’m with friends, meals are much more spread out. Anyway, though tofu fingers look awesome! I’ve made something a lot like them before but using wheat bran..I bet the almond bits taste amazing though!
Great post, Ms. C. I used to feel that way, until the day I said to myself “one long bout with an eating disorder and two relapses have earned me the right to eat in whatever way gives me constant pleasure — and if people think it’s odd, they can keep it to themselves.”
And obviously, your wrap was yummy looking, even if it was a concession to “normalcy!”
this post resonated with me SO much. i feel like people are either 1) commenting on how i eat like a bird/only eat rabbit food/need to eat something with “substance” or 2) commenting on the LARGENESS of my salads/veggie portions. i hate the former because it makes me feel like they’re assuming i’m anorexic (or if they know me a little better, suspect i’m relapsing), and i hate the latter because it makes me feel a bit greedy/weird. usually i just try to joke that i am a broccoli-eating machine and brush it off…but yeah, it’s awkward. the worst is going to un-veggie friendly restaurants, where my order is inevitably a complicated mishmash of sides and special requests–and then i’m *that* person. gah!
500 days of summer is one of my favorite movies.
I think we all need to work together to make healthy the new mainstream. Then, whoever doesn’t have a big green salad will be the weird one!
Im the same, I dread someone saying “Whats that youre eating?” and “Ew, thats gross!”. Its soo embarassing, I, like u, feel ok with sharig meals on my blog but with friends, its harder. I have made wheatgerm encrusted chicke before and its amaaaazing, but wheatgerm rocks my socks anyway! so, i knew id like it. Hope u enjoyed the movie! and thanks for that recipe link.
x
during residency, free (CRAPPY and totally unhealthy) lunch was provided every day, and i always brought my own. i was annoyed by the comments from everyone at first, but they got used to it. and then people would always say, ‘oh i wish i brought my lunch, too!’
i understand the self-consciousness, though. but the more you fake being confident of your choices, the more i bet the feeling will become real! and they’ll EVENTUALLY get used to seeing tofu
I totally understand what you mean… the weird look, specially when they’re not friendly. I used to care, but not anymore… because why should I justify to others what makes me happy anyway, right? But I know it’s hard and sometime when I’m with new people, I also tend to adjust a little bit and feel bad about it.
I think all the food in this post looks great (and both of the lunch choices you mentioned sound lovley)!
Totally feel you, my family and friends are constantly making comments about what’s on my plate. I got tired of defending myself so now I just merely smile whenever they say anything. They’re not going to change my views and I’m definitely not going to change theirs, so why bother? I try very hard not to let others influence what I eat because hey, it’s my body and I’ll eat what I want
I get self conscious about what I eat around other people – typically in the cafeteria, I create “odd” creations that people look at – I just tell myself they are jealous of my creativity. It makes me feel better.
I completely change my eating habits in front of people…but I guess I’m the opposite. I never eat junk food/unhealthy around people, because I’m afraid that they will think I’m overweight because I pig out all the time. I strive to only eat healthy around people.
The people you’re around might be impressed with how great you are eating/what you are eating. Show them, in hopes to inspire
You obviously have a ton of us that love seeing your meals each day. There are no doubt more of us out there in person that you just haven’t met yet 
Thank you for sharing your feelings here. That takes courage
And thank you for still posting your lunch pics! 
I do not care what they think, never have, since I became ‘ nutrition uber alles’.
In fact, sometime feel a tad sorry for them.
Keep up the great work, Caroline.
I used to have the same. exact. anxiety. I mean, *I* always knew that my eating habits were fine and I was healthy…but at the same time, I’m naturally thin. Always have been. So I feel like people look at me and then see I’m eating a salad and make all kind of judgements. But after a while, I realized…who cares? Judge me all you want…cuz I enjoy what I eat so what do I care what people might think of me??
Those walnut-crusted tofingers look soooooo good
Hey Caroline! I love your blog!
looks soooo good! tofu is one of my fave foods.
MUST try walnut crusted tofu
I try to stay true to what I like to eat, but I do sometimes worry that if I whip out a tupperware of yogurt, almond butter, banana, and oats in the middle of the library people will think I’m a weirdo, hehe. But, I think I need to remind myself that I eat what I eat because I love it and it makes me feel good and it has nothing to do with anybody else.
Be proud of your tofu loving
I completely understand and have in the past changed my eating due to company. Heck, I even snuck food at home with my husband there. Thinks its the vestiges of life as a former “chubby girl.” Still trying to shake it off though I’ve been a happy healthy weight for years now. Takes patience and practice is what I continue to tell myself.
Love that PB and banana sandwich!
The tofu fingers look so tasty..how inventive!!!
xx
So I am new to the blog world and you should have seen the looks when I pulled my camera out at the office for the first time during lunch. I wanted to disappear. I just have to remind myself it is something I’m passionate about and enjoy hence I shouldn’t care if people think I’m crazy for it.
I always stress out about what to pack in my lunch for school. Sometimes I want to pack something “not normal” but I don’t because I’m worried people will judge me by my food choices. Also, I’ve been known to bring a bag of baby carrots with to a friend’s house if we’re having a pizza party. I sometimes get weird looks for that, but by now my friends pretty much accept that I like to eat healthy!
Ahhh, I can TOTALLY relate to you as far as being embarresed about being a nutrition/ foodie dork. I get $7 a meal at my work….which doesn’t give you a lot since it’s expensive and although i’d like to get salad and tofu (which I do a lot of the time), I often go for the safe “foods” like twice baked potatoes or rice (with my tofu) that people won’t think i’m weird about eating…. I just wish some people would get it! Not everyone does, there’s only a few of us “foodies” out there
And how funny is this– I JUST had tofu fingers (courtesy of YOUR recipe, thank you!) last night. They were delish, thank you! Although I just stuck to the recipe, but added a bit of rice vinegar, not the walnut and wheat germ recipe– that looks amazing, recipe PLEASE. I had zucch and a sweet potato with coconut oil, cinnamon and cashews along with my tofu fingers. Quite yummy indeed….
I usually try to stick with my plan, but sometimes at work or when I’m out with people I don’t really know so well, I go with food choices that seem a little less wacky.