My diet is none of your business. There, I said it.
This week alone I have been told to cut down my salt intake, count my calories, cut out corn and potatoes, limit rice and pasta, stop eating sugar (as if), eat anything I want as long as it is organic (organic donut anyone?) and cut out caffeine. None, I repeat none of this advice has come from my doctor.
This advice has come from a friend, a family member, another family member, yet another family member, a writer, another friend and a celebrity….in that order. Some has been to my face and the rest through dramatic articles and ‘news’ stories. I mean, really, the advice is constant and contradictory. It’s endless and confusing. Apple juice contains arsenic (thanks Doctor Oz)…even dieticians and doctors can’t decide what is right.
Every few weeks I have a panic attack about what is in my fridge and pantry. I’m killing myself and my kids. It’s my fault. I have to take control. But which advice do I follow? If my kids and I are mostly healthy and at a reasonable weight do I really need to do anything at all?
There’s something to be said about society when we can critique each other’s eating habits. Eating is very personal. When did we become so comfortable with commenting about what we are eating? At least fifty per cent of the advice I’ve received in recent week has been from people who could frankly stand to lose a few kilos themselves.