I was told yesterday that drinking green smoothies for some meals was a bit full on, too strict and not very much fun at all. This person spoke to me about deprivation, enjoying everything in moderation and about trying to hard to make something happen. Now. I’m all for living life. I’m all for everything in moderation. I can even, just maybe get on board with the not trying too hard to MAKE something happen. But to say that drinking a smoothie entirely made out of fruit, vegetables, seeds and water is deprivation is madness.
What exactly am I depriving myself of?
I’m waiting.
Apparently the answer is fun.
It’s not much fun to drink green smoothies or exist on salads and whole foods {which, can be pretty much anything if you go about it right}. It turns out that unless I am willing to subject myself to high trans fat, sugary foods then I’m just not doing life right? Why is that? Part of me believes it has to, in some way, be the pushing against people’s little stereotypes in their minds. Fat people sit around and eat cake all day, with a side of potato chips doused in some sort of French onion style dip. Right?
Apparently not.
In fact, if your taste buds aren’t a mess of confusion you will find that whole foods is rich with flavour and colour and guts. It tastes like something. It does something. It IS something, real. When we added some mango to our smoothie the other night, it was amazing. Like a green, blended up Weis bar. When I added a tablespoon of 100% peanut butter {roasted peanuts blended up, only} to my oatmeal smoothie it was ahhhmazing.
There is not deprivation there, let me tell you.
Another part of me actually agree, to some degree. I agree that sometimes it is fun to have coffee and cake. Sometimes it’s fun to have popcorn for dinner. And sometimes it’s fun to have an icy after coming home from the beach. But I don’t think that I’d be doing the best thing by myself if that became an every day thing. In a lot of ways, it’s how I got here. A boozy drink or fifty here and a serve of hot chips there. Living life with blinkers on to the actual requirements of the body that carted my butt around.
So if I want to feed my body whole foods, even in the form of a green smoothie, I will.
You my friend can do what YOU want to do. But if you insist on raising an eyebrow or rolling your eyes, I will return the favour. I have enough information crammed in this reformed dieter, whole food eating, rapid internet article searching, research reading head to bore you to tears. I will watch what you put in YOUR mouth like a hawk and run a commentary for you. I will speak of the dangers of fructose and processed foods. I will remind you that the bread you eat is so tumbled and squished that it no longer offers you any goodness. I will tell you all about how your low fat yoghurt has more sugar than full fat because they STOLE the tastiness of it…
Each to their own lady.
You don’t want to get me started.
Hi! I’m Suger and I’m the Chief Blogger here. I make stuff for the internet. Which means I take photos, build websites, write copy and create social media plans for people. This is my blog where I share my life and the things that interest me. It’s been living its best life on the interwebs since 2009.
BAZINGA
Haha. Thanks!
Who was this person? Ignorance wrapped in righteousness is always ugly. Stay beautiful, gorgeous.
xx
The manager of expectations and dreams. Obviously. 😉
I’ve been having green smoothies once a day for around 2 months now and I don’t feel deprived at all. In fact, I feel good that I’m putting all those nutrients into my body instead of crap. And they taste good…
I think so too. My Dad recommended we start, I hadn’t even seen ALL the stuff online. He’s been doing some reading and was concerned that perhaps we still weren’t getting the nutrients we need. After a WEEK, I feel great and less prone to craving other salty or sweet foods. So I’m taking that to mean that my body is now getting what it needs.
I had my first green smoothie yesterday (yep, late to the party this one), and it was delish! However I’ve noticed in the last 48hrs there seems to be a green smoothie backlash on the internet, resembling a lot like the interaction you had.
What gives? Surely you are the only person responsible for what goes in your bod… Thankfully I haven’t had to defend my choice of putting spinach into a blender (so far, I haven’t had time to tell too many people yet!), but I already feel a bit on the defensive. Bleugh.
On another note, am loving your new year blogs and writing atm! So fresh and vibrant… Your “voice” is in fine form!
And ahem, I just re-read your post. What exactly does one mean by “trying too hard to make something happen”?!? Can you try too much to live a healthy lifestlye if that’s what make you happy & content? Or do they (as you suggested) believe that overweight people are a lost cause, and shouldn’t even aspire (or continue to in fact) have a healthy lifestyle.
WTF?!?!!!?!??!?!
I think there could be a little context missing for that, I was speaking how after 12 months of building muscle and getting fitter I was interested in shedding some kilos this year. I mentioned conversations with people gathering advice. I was excited and WAY chatty about it. I think they were trying to tell me not to get my hopes up, actually. Which is sad in itself. So you were pretty close. Well read lady.
Does that clarify a little?
Um, yeah sorry, I totally misread and saw it that someone else was telling you not to try too hard to make something happen and got ranty on that point. Totally missed what you were saying, but that’s my issue, not your writing 🙂
I’m going to blame the weekend heat here in Melbourne for that one! x
It really was me, not you. Promise. 🙂
Enjoy! Lots of great combinations out there from REALLY green to slightly to get you started. As a general rule I tend to ignore internet backlash, it’s usually all hype. 😉
Exactly. What I am wondering is WHY everyone has something to say now, when for years I treated myself badly and no one ever said, how you doing there, you ok? Do you think that’s a good idea? Not that I even encourage that, but wondering what gives too .
Thank you. THAT means a lot. But yes, I feel fresh and I think it shows.
Wow, some people just try to justify their unhealthy life choices by bringing you down. Heck, we’ve all done (well I certainly have). You just keep on keeping on babe! x
I’ve been thinking about it over the past year and I think they feel judged in some way. Like if I don’t eat it, they shouldn’t either or should too. And no one likes to be judged. So either they have a confidence issue or I’m putting off a judgey vibe sometimes. Both possible at once. Do you think? It’s a theory I’ve come up with. Will keep you posted.
Well done to you and to me! Here’s to a great 2013!
Just love your sassy attitude. It feels real. Good on you. And in what world does drinking green smoothies have to be all about deprivation and not moderation anyway. Go girl
Let me tell you, it is real. Haha. My thoughts exactly.
Proud of you Mel 🙂 xo
Thank you.
You are so right about this. Whole foods are the only foods that are even food at all. I get the looks too, when I talk about real food and such, the “you only live once so eat what you want” comment. But if you do that, that one life you have won’t be as fun or as long. But we can’t convert everyone at once, right? One step at a time 🙂
I’m not sure why exactly but that you only live once thing drives me crazy. Sure, you only live once, why wouldn’t you want it to be one wonderful, amazing, loooooong time? Or at very least eating foods that make you feel satisfied, healthy and full of life?