Now that I run a holistic wellness business – with health and nutrition counseling as its primary service – people constantly ask me “is this food healthy?.” Increasingly, my answer is, “well, that depends.” On your age, your gender, your activity level, your genetic makeup, your current emotional state, the position of the stars (kidding!!), and a whole slew of other factors that vary from year to year, month to month, even from hour to hour.
So I’ve decided to stop using the word “healthy” as a definitive term for anything. The way I see it, what’s healthy for me may not be healthy for you. Whether we’re talking about food, sleep, or a particular type of exercise, what works for your body probably isn’t exactly the same as what works for me, your best friend, sister, boyfriend, co-worker, or parent. Rather than asking “is this healthy?,” I’m thinking we should ask “does this feel right for you?”.
I’m not talking about giving into every junk food craving you have (of course, that opens the door for another discussion about what qualifies as junk food…for another time). I’m talking about becoming aware of what your body wants…and honoring those cravings when they’re part of an overall balanced way of living. As far as I’m concerned, Ben & Jerry’s or a fried whatever is equally as healthy as a shot of wheatgrass if mindfully enjoyed in moderation. I love it when people act surprised that I downed a slice of chocolate cake, as if the Pilates instructor/health counselor/healthy food afficionado couldn’t possibly even want to eat something so “unhealthy”! For me, eating is one of life’s truest pleasures. Why on earth would I deprive myself of that in the name of “health,” an entirely personal term?
Only YOU know what makes your body function the way you want it to, what it can tolerate, what’s going to help you achieve whatever health goal you’ve set for yourself. So listen to it! And go on. Eat that slice of greasy pizza or that black & white cookie or that ooey-gooey brownie (or that pile of greens or brown rice salad or grilled salmon, if that’s what you’re craving). I won’t judge. In fact, I’ll join you at least half of the time.
What do you think? What’s healthy for you?
