We have all heard of superfoods, the fruits, vegetables and food items that scientists, or nutritionists (or whoever decides these things) claim are the best possible items for us to eat. Then, next thing you know food like avocados, kale, and blueberries are everywhere, they are featured on every restaurant menu, every online recipe, and every single food network cooking show. Food and health enthusiasts make these superfoods seem like magical answers to health and by eating foods you will look and feel like all of the celebrities society tells us to look like. Eat these foods on a regular basis, they say, you will feel strong, healthy, and beautiful.
Well, guess what? I don’t like avocados. I don’t like kale, or salmon, or many other superfoods. No matter how many times society tells me I should like these foods, and I should eat them, I don’t. But just because I don’t eat what society deems as some of my most healthy options, doesn’t mean I can’t be healthy.
What I have learned throughout the past few years of trying to eat better and to be more active is that you cannot force yourself to do something you do not enjoy. If you hate doing a certain activity, like running on the treadmill, or eating certain foods, like these superfoods, you are not likely to continue the habit and you will fall back into more unhealthy patterns. When I first to eat healthier, I forced myself to eat salads and fruits that I absolutely hated. Choking down these healthier foods just made me crave the unhealthy stuff more and more. The only way I was able to eat healthier was to find healthy food I loved.
I know, I know, there are a lot of skeptics out there that say there aren’t many healthy foods out there to love. And trust me, I was one of you. But over time, I realized that there are fruits and vegetables that I loved and craved, and as long as I loved them, it didn’t matter that they weren’t deemed by society as a super food. I still was able to obtain my end goal of eating healthier and cutting back on unhealthy foods without sacrificing my life, soul and taste buds to the superfoods I don’t enjoy. The important part of eating healthy is making sustainable choices that make you feel happy, and if certain foods don’t do that for you, don’t waste your time on them. It will just make you miserable and slow down your progress.
Now, be prepared, the pressure from society to try kale smoothies and salmon in every meal is still great. You have no idea how many people have asked “Why don’t you like avocado, it’s so delicious, and so good for you”. But you have to remember, not everyone is the same, not everyone likes the same thing, and not filling your plate with superfoods does not mean you can’t be healthy. For those who enjoy the superfoods of the world, good for you for finding healthy foods that make you happy. Just don’t make me eat them.
