I Wish I Didn't Know!
Howdy folks, it's Karen here. As a dietitian, I happen to know the good, bad, and ugly about a lot of foods. Sometimes I know more than I want to. And this can be really frustrating. How do I enjoy that "fill-in-the-blank" food when I know it has "xyz" ingredients, calories, etc.? Maybe you feel that way too. Have you ever found out the nutritional composition of a food and thought "Ugh! I wish I didn't know that!"? Well, you are not alone. But I remind you that it could be worse. You could be married to a dietitian. My husband Andy coined a now infamous phrase in our house: "I hate what you've done to me!" By this he means, "Now I look at the nutrition labels and see what's really in food...and I hate that I can't enjoy it in ignorant bliss anymore."
But the here's the thing. I view this kind of information as empowerment. There is no one (but yourself!) taking away permission to eat any food. There are plenty of foods I know the nutrition information about but still choose to eat because I love them (hello deep dish pizza). But there are others (like Cold Stone ice cream concoctions) that simply aren't worth it to me. Perhaps with a few exceptions in life, I tend to think more information is better. As humans, we have a tremendous ability to analyze information and assess cost-benefit ratios. This superpower allows us to navigate a complicated world of wants and needs that often seem in conflict.
You've heard the phrase "knowledge is power." I genuinely believe this when it comes to nutrition. How can you perform your own cost-benefit analysis if you don't have all the information? True empowerment comes from being able to balance your wants and needs, even if the facts make it difficult to square those two things. But you don't have to choose one or the other. We cannot, and should not, choose between "eating to live" or "living to eat." We have to find that uncomfortable (but so liberating!) gray area in-between. It is not easy, but it is worth it. Next time, I will share some tips for how to give yourself permission to enjoy foods you truly love.
PS - I'm gonna go make some plans for an upcoming deep dish pizza night ;)