I didn’t eat vegetables until my early 20’s. No joke! And to top it off, I had to sneak them into smoothies like a child because greens have always been “ew” to me.
My earliest memories of eating healthy food are pretty comical, looking back on them now. I remember when mom was in this healthy phase and made chicken, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. We’d all sit down at the table as a family and Dad would say, “Yuck! Healthy food! Let’s go to Krispy Kreme.” And, uh, who turns down Krispy Kreme? Not me. ESPECIALLY if the hot doughnuts sign is on. Dad and I always made a pact to get hot ones even if we weren’t hungry. Healthy eating in Bristol, Tennessee, wasn’t an option at the time unless you were extremely disciplined, and I wasn’t.
I was active and was never considered to be overweight. I just had the worst diet possible, wasn’t educated on food, and didn’t want to be. I assumed that adding tablespoons of sugar to Rice Krispies cereal was normal, and white bread was fine for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Clearly, sugar was a problem for me. But honestly, food in general was a problem for me.
I even worked at a gym and still ate junk food. The personal trainers and sales reps would eat their sweet potatoes and chicken, and there I was with my Which Wich sandwich, piled high with double roast beef, double pepper jack cheese, and some ranch dressing. WOW. I can’t believe I’m admitting it, but I ate that for lunch all the time, or Chick-fil-A.
Fast forward to the time I tried to be vegan, which was terrible for a steak lover. Oh, and gluten-free, which resulted to me eating gluten-free cookies, bread, and so much more. I, unfortunately, will never forget all the” cleanses” I did meal replacement shakes; the list goes on and on. I tried everything in my attempt to be healthy, which resulted in me being either tired, energized, sick, or just all over the place. Until I did Whole30 with my friend, Teresa.
Whole30 in East Tennessee was the hardest thing EVER, especially when your accountability buddy lives in Los Angeles, walks outside and it rains kale there. I was a little jealous, but I thrived on Whole30.
When I started, I snuck spinach into smoothies because that was the only way I would eat it. I experimented with vegetables and cooked them different ways until I found what I liked. Spinach sautéed with garlic and some salt was a game changer for me. I made it and asparagus all the time. I just kept trying new things. I had a lot of energy, leaned out, and wanted to move more and do more things.
It took years for me to learn to discipline myself and really find what foods work best for my body. We are all completely different, and what works for me may not work for you. Treat yourself, too, and don’t make drastic changes, just small, realistic, gradual changes over time to help you reach your goal. That’s the beauty of this journey — it IS a journey!
