Food Bloggers are Normal People
I’m stealing this post title from a similar post that Megan wrote at the beginning of the month — because it’s so true. Food bloggers are normal people!
One question that I was asked at the Healthy Living Summit was:
Do you ever feel pressure to eat "perfectly" or "complete dinners" because of your blog?
The answer is, of course, yes! I display my meals for thousands of people each day; I naturally think about how it will be presented. I strive to eat enough veggies, plant-based protein, and whole grains and to limit discretionary calories to a balanced amount. All in all, blogging has made me a cleaner and more balanced eater. Hooray!
But sometimes… sometimes I just don’t care about vegetables. Or whole grains. Or any of that nutritional jazz. 
When I have a bad day, my natural response to stress is to eat, eat, and eat. Before I realized that my stress eating was actually bad for my health, I kept things like cookies, potato chips, and ice cream in the house. I would promise myself that I would portion control these goodies, but then stress would hit and I’d inhale three servings of cookies before I even realized what I was doing.
Now, one of my life philosophies is: "Don’t set yourself up to fail." Since the Husband is also a huge stress eater, we don’t keep a lot of junk or treats in the house — maybe one or two things at a time. When we want ice cream, we go to the ice cream shop (which is about once a week!). This isn’t "depriving" ourselves ourselves at all. It’s basically a smart way to manage one of our bad habits (stress eating).
It’s rare that I "splurge" (I hate that term, by the way) at home because — seriously — it’s kind of hard to splurge on health food. For one, it’s GOOD for you, so it’s not a true "indulgence" (I also hate that term!). And two, who wants to eat stuff their faces with carrots after a crazy night at the bar?
This is a really tangential way (is anyone even still reading?!) of saying today was a stress-eating day, as much as it can be in my house. I snacked my way through the afternoon — but it was, luckily, all healthy snacks! I don’t get all worked up about stuff like this because I know it all balances out in the end. And sometimes, a little comfort eating is exactly what I need!
Here are my afternoon eats. Pickles:
Nuts (times three):
Crackers (times two, at least):
Watermelon:
And a huge bowl of granola + Greek yogurt (SO GOOD):
Obviously, I straight snacked away my appetite for a "real dinner"! And yet I did feel pressure to make a "real dinner" for the blog, but then I thought how silly that was — I’ve eaten a tons of healthy foods today and more than enough calories to maintain my active lifestyle.
So there you have it — food bloggers are normal people. Sometimes, I really would rather eat several servings of pickles, nuts, crackers, granola and yogurt, and watermelon than a "real" dinner.
Posted by: Caitlin 49 comments
Posted in: All Posts
on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
You can't be perfect every day and I really don't think we all expect that anyway.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I have days where I just want some snacks instead of a meal! And we are normal
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
keeping good snacks is key!
I love potato chips (especially when I'm pms-ing), so i never keep them in the house. it's rare that i'm going to be motivated enough when i'm all hormonal to go to the store just for chips, so it makes me find a healthier snack instead….
it was bad when i nannyed for a family that always had chips. bad.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I'm a stress eater, too, and I can't keep certain foods in the house either!
Kudos to you for being honest in your imperfection!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
i'm so glad you posted this. sometimes i feel so much pressure to eat more like the other bloggers. but i have to tell myself that i am ME and whats working for me right now is not the same as everyone else. as long as i know i'm working towards being healthier and happier i shouldn't worry right? but there is pressure.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
All I gotta say is… Word. Girl, you nailed it. No one's perfect.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I had peanut butter cookie dough (and then finished cookies) for dinner tonight… with a veggie/hummus plate for dessert. LOL Stress eating here today too. We're human!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I think it's important to remember that a lot of bloggers don't post all their eats like you do too. I don't photograph every cracker or pickle that enters my mouth, but it happens! No one is perfect, nor should anyone be perfect
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I hear that! Today I gave in to goldfish at the office. Not a bad food at all, but not something I normally go for. But for some reason, 3pm hit today and I didn't think I could make it without some carbs in a cup!!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I've found that going out for ice cream versus buying a carton and keeping it in the house has helped me and my husband so much! If it's not in house, I won't go overboard. It's easy to grab a kid's serving of ice cream!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Great post chica! I agree with the setting yourself up to fail concept with junk food! Josh really enjoyed certain treats so we do keep some in the house (luckily Josh and I have VERY different taste in treats!) I think your dinner looks fab…I could go for a giant bowl of granola right now
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
i'm not so much a stress eater as much as i am a bored eater. but everyone is different.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Thank you for always being honest! And I agree with the motto about now setting yourself up to fail- so true!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Great post, thanks for sharing!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Amen sister!
Loved this post. I am also a stress eater and generally turn to carbs! I had a stressful day today too, and realized after I had eaten my second LaraBar that while it was NOT that bad for it – I didn't enjoy it or even realize I what I was eating. That is the point where I know I need to stop, breathe, and reevaluate.
The granola. Drool!!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Hope everything is ok! Good job avoiding junk-y stress eating!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Haha I am totally with you girl!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I totally agree and that bowl of granola looks so yummy!!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Love it! You're totally real!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Yes! I love this post! I normally want a series of snacks instead of meals, so I love to see that on others' blogs too. You gotta do you, I gotta do me. To put it eloquently
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I have days where I'd rather snack throughout my evening instead of preparing dinner. I think it makes for a tasty evening!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I have been thinking about food blogging for awhile but I was concerned about all the 'imperfect food moments' that I have.
thank you for being honest…I really needed that!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I love that you posted this. I agree already that blogging has made me more aware of what I eat (and I only started a few days ago), but you're right.. we're all human, and we always need to "splurge" sometimes. No one can be perfect all of the time!!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Great post Caitlin! Of course you are normal, and we don't expect anything else
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
By golly, I wish I could be perfect as well… I gave up sweets until Halloween, but I've been eating other weird food in their place… so yeah, we're human!
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I love this post. I think it's really important to remind some readers that you are a real person with a real life and real emotions.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I really appreciate the honesty of this post. We don't all eat in meals and our days vary depending on schedule, mood, appetite. So, it's nice to see that the seasoned food bloggers don't have perfectly planned eating schedules and beautiful meals all the time.
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on Aug 25th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Well said (or written)!! The actual definition of "healthy eating" says that you can overeat at times, undereat at times, eat until satisfied, sometimes eat until uncomfortably full – it's normal to occasionally stress eat!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I love pickles!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 1:49 am
I'm not so much a stress eater, i'm more of a bored-eater. If I'm home all day, if I have to do work I dont enjoy, I immediately reach for the food. Good planning with having no junk at home!x
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 2:34 am
It also must be SO stressful and frustrating to know that if you post the "wrong" thing, you're going to get a nasty comment. Half the jerks will say that you're eating too much or that the food is unhealthy, and the other half will say you're starving yourself. (Just look at the comments Kath and Cristin get — it would be enough to make me stop blogging altogether.)
The reason people read your blog is because they love YOU, regardless of what you eat, and possibly because you're so relateable and fun. A good role model, but not an example of extremism. I especially love that you don't ever punish yourself for what you might think are food or exercise mistakes — you just move on, and balance it out. I just LOVE that about you.
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 4:00 am
I think initially I fretted about trying to avoid writing a word which people would misread or would "trigger" people—-and then after blogging daily I realized I simply had to be ME and let the proteincards
fall where they may.
love your honesty.
love your blog.
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 4:03 am
oh man thanks for the support guys!
anon – hahha its funny you mention that because FOR SURE i thought this post would make the nasties come out (i get bad comments too, like kath, i have a strict deletion policy when people are being directly mean to me). it was a nice a pleasant surprise to wake up to sweet comments instead. thank you for reading!!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I think a lot of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves to eat well *all the time*, and as you point out, it's just not realistic. For me, it's about balance. When I had a child, the pediatrician told me to look at what she eats on a week-to-week basis, not just a day-to-day basis . . . and you know what? Makes sense for us grownups too. If you derail, best thing to do is to get back on ASAP!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 4:26 am
Sounds absoultely perfect to me! there is no rule that says you have to eat real dinners all the time. One of my favorite comofort dinners is a big bowl of cereal and cold milk. So sue me!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Looks like a wonderfully balanced "meal" though, still, I have to say.
Some days are just like that…snacking here and there rather then one main meal. It all works out!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I am the same way and sometimes just don't feel like eating a very balanced meal. Sometimes I just want cereal for dinner.
It is good to show your imperfections…we are all human!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Your "bad" ("normal"?) days are better than most peoples' good ones! You deserve a pickles-and-granola night once in awhile too
It totally balances out in the end. Good for you for having a balanced perspective.
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Great post Caitlin. The pressure must be tough sometimes, but I think you handle it just fine. It's impossible to "eat perfect" anyway. Everyone needs an ice cream cone sometimes! Have a great day!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Wow! I too was just having a discussion with my husband about being a 'normal person' too! That's one of the reasons I don't post everything I eat–you deserve credit for doing so. Thanks for the reminder that I'm not the only one.
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Great post! I love the fact that you can be imperfect it makes the blog much more easy to relate to.
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Ha! My "afternoon snacks/dinner" last night was frozen berries, popcorn w/carob chips, half a box of Annie white cheddar bunnies and a smoothie! Way to represent the random food attacks.
I hate the term "splurge" too…
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 7:23 am
This is one of my favorite posts of yours yet! It's inspiring to know that you actually craved/crave different things but that you're makng the choice to eat healthier calories. I think that I sometimes assume that the only kind of people who can eat as clean as you generally do just don't have a sweet tooth like I do.
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 7:59 am
love the post girl! you got some great points there!
bloggers ARE normal people!
jenna
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 8:33 am
id much rather have snacks for my meals most days!
i dont let myself buy granola too often because i could very easily eat a cup or two like nothing! and at 220 calories per half cup….that's not so good!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 10:33 am
ahh yes!! Thank god for this post!! Thanks for reminding us all that even our "idol" bloggers have stressful days and don't always eat "perfect". if there is even such a thing! It really should be what works for your body and your lifestyle no?? Totally agree with you on hating the fact that "splurging" is impossible for healthy food. *sigh* when did society reach this point of being so judgemental and so critical on something as important to our health as food??
I love big big bowls of cereal for dinner sometimes…once in a while it hits the spot!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Love this post Caitlin, it's a good reminder for all of us readers out there that those we look up to aren't perfect and make all sorts of the same choices we do.
Hear hear on keeping healthy foods in the house, I have my chocolate stash but other than that we go out for treats if we want them. Good post!
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I love your idea that it's silly to get worked up about snacky afternoon. Especially when they're such healthy snacks! I really appreciate your healthy and realistic comments- it makes it easier for me to stay motivated about and committed to a healthy lifestyle
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on Aug 26th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
well said, Caitlin! I think i used to be so caught up in being a "perfect blogger" that i began buying things and eating things with my readers in mind rather than myself. Though it's great to share recipes and new foodie finds, i thin it's really important to make sure our wants and needs are number one priority
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