Why do you eat the way you eat?

I think for me personally a lot of what I eat is directly related to the way I ate growing up. I eat my meals similarly to the way my parents would make them- balanced with. A carb meat and vegetable every night. It’s weird to me not to eat like that. I don’t focus on macros or anything like that. I just eat what I like (which involves copious amounts of dessert) and usually it all balances out.

That Salsa looks so good, I really wish we had a Trader Joe’s! I love those race outfit pictures, they crack me up.

Right now I eat the way I do because I know it’s what’s good for my body and if I expect the best from my body then I need to feed it the best.

Hope you have an amazing day Janae!

I choose foods based on what I know is going to make me feel the best. I know you are a sugar gal, but it makes me feel really sick, so I stick to fresh and healthy food. I dont choose anything that is processed, or has nitrates. In changing the way I eat, I have more energy, perform better at work and at the gym, and ended up losing 33 lbs…and I am NEVER hungry! :)

That’s a -good- question. I eat the way I eat because it makes me feel happy and healthy. I do my best to cater to my cravings, but I also eat things because of the nutrients in them. I have a huge sweet tooth which I know I can’t give in to 100% of the time because all the sugar would leave me feeling like crap, but I also know that I can’t deny those cravings because that just leaves me unhappy. It’s all about finding that balance between eating what you crave and eating what you know is good for you. Thankfully these days I actually do crave a lot of healthier foods, but indulgences are needed on a regular basis as well.

What an awesome question- I have to admit, most of what i buy is out of habit. it’s food i’m comfortable with, don’t have to think about, and know how to prepare. sometimes something new will catch my eye and i’ll buy it on a whim, or ill get something the blogosphere recommends, but yeah for the most part i stick to what i know.

So great you get to share your running passion with young people!
I think I eat what I do for a few reasons: health, taste, and ease, and whether or not my husband likes it.
Although I definitely eat sweets and junk, I’ve been trying to eat more for health/fuel for my body. And my husband is vegan, so that plays a large part in what we eat, too!

I eat the way I do to keep my weight up, as I have had Female Athlete Triad Syndrome. Now that I have a healthier balance between input and output, I am much happier in myself :)

I eat the foods I do because I enjoy them! Of course price plays a role and I try to buy seasonal things! I also want my family to be healthy so that’s a factor too.

Hmmmm…I don’t think I have ever really thought about it that much but I have actually been thinking more about since I have been reading blogs.
I eat what I eat for several reasons….I think a big one being habit. I have certain foods I buy and we eat all the time because we always have. I do buy based on cost quite a bit. I will buy stuff that is on sale and that I have coupons for.
Since I have increased my training I have tried to be consious of some of my nutrition needs, but I don’t put nearly the amount of time into that that some do.
Your meeting last night sounds fun….I would have loved it!
I am going to Trader Joes today and buying that salsa :)!!!
They make so much money from their little sample booths! I think we always buy the samples we try!

That’s me in the 80’s costume. I think it is awesome that I show up in the same post you talk about tomato less salsa. I have always despised tomatoes since I was a kid. They are my #1 most hated food. When I met my husband and found out he also hated tomatoes I knew he was the one for me. :) I must go get some of this salsa immediately! I used to eat just based on whatever sounded good. I have definitely started craving more healthy things since I started running. I started running just to lose weight. Two years later I have fallen in love with running and am eating new foods that help fuel me on my runs. No tomatoes, but I love my spinach smoothies!

I am a big believer of eating as much whole food as possible. I like my ingredient lists to be short and pronouncable. But I also don’t mind a bowl of Lucky Charms every once in a while ;) I also buy certain things out of habit and eat them regularly without any thought (eggs, bananas, bread, cucumbers, avocado are bought on almost every grocery trip).

I make 9o% of my meals from scratch because of food allergies. We don’t worry too much about calories, but we try to avoid fake food. Food allergies and label-reading have brought to light a lot of the crap that’s in packaged foods, and I firmly believe that the fewer chemicals, the better.
Plus, who wants chemicals when real sugar and butter taste so good?!

I have a gluten intolerance so I mainly stay in the produce and dairy aisles at the market. Actual gluten free items have a ton more sugar in them so to stay healthy I stick to naturally gluten free foods. I am also a vegetarian so for me its veggies, veggies, veggies! If I do buy anything in a box or can, I don’t buy anything with ingredients I cannot pronounce, as they are in all likelihood chemicals! It’s a pretty good rule to make sure all natural food goes Iin my body !! :)

I eat based on how things make me feel, and the nutrients! I generally eat whole foods because they make me feels my best, but I definitely buy things for my sanity, too. ;)

Haha I go with what sounds good. Sometimes that is a week of “healthy” food and sometimes cookies for every meal of the day. As a recovered (?) anorexic it kind of has to be that way though, or I slip back into food control obsession.

I eat the foods I eat because it’s the foods I enjoy and I like the way it makes me feel. I pretty much stick to whole, healthy foods because those are the foods that make me feel the best

Please keep the running outfits going! I love it! I also love TJ’s Corn and Chili Salsa!

I can’t wait to read the comments– I love understanding why people eat the way they eat!

I eat gluten free (because I have celiac disease). I used to be a vegetarian (for animal rights), but I recently (like three weeks ago) added some meat back to my diet because an RD recommended it so that I didn’t eliminate too many food groups.

Also, I like whole foods because my body seems to thrive on them (imagine that).

great topic…ultimately, I eat whole foods, meaning things that just have that 1 ingredient: fruits, veggies, whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, barley, etc.), nuts and seeds, and eggs. But, I definitely believe in having a treat every once in a while when I’m craving it! (hello, dark chocolate!)

I eat what I eat based on a different one of your reasons each time. Sometimes it sounds good, other times I know it’s good for me, my family likes a certain meal…I think it keep things in perspective.

I normally base the foods that I eat out of habit and convenience. I have changed some of that now that I live with my boyfriend and we trying to eat a little healthier. We have started planning our dinners before we go to the store so that we have everything on hand. It has worked and we have been ordering out less and less.

I choose my food based on several reasons:

1. Does it taste good? I like to eat healthy but if it doesn’t taste good, I don’t want it. Simple.
2. Is it good for me? I try to eat healthy 80% of the time and save the treats for the other 20%.
3. Convenience. I am a mom of two so I don’t have time to make crazy elaborate meals several times per day. Breakfast and lunch MUST be simple and I save the more time consuming meals for dinner and the weekends.

By the way, how did you get your chicken so thin? Did you buy it that way or pound it down? I dislike thick chicken so I really need to know!!!

For many years I’ve had a lot of trouble regulating my blood sugar. I’ll be fine one minute, then suddenly I’ll pass out. If I eat sugar to get my glucose back up, I’ll end up with levels that are too high, a raging headache, and nausea. So when I finally figured out how to keep things stable (multiple small meals, no white flour by itself, lots of fiber, heavy on the protein) I stuck with it!

I’m LOVING the worst costumes–I’m definitely in support of doing them year-round!

I eat the way I eat for a few main reasons. One, they help my body feel its best and perform its best. Two, I do try to get my servings of fruits and veggies in every day so that my body has the vitamins and minerals it needs. Three, they satisfy me mentally. The last one is a huge one for me, as I’ve struggled with eating disorders in the past. If I don’t eat something that satisfies me psychologically, that tends to bring out the eating-disorder part of me and then the whole restricting-binging cycle goes off. And that never ends prettily.

I try to eat a pretty healthy diet as much as I can. I would much rather have a salad and veggies than a burger and fries, so eating healthy for meals is not an issue. However, once I have eaten a nice and healthy balanced meal…bring on dessert! All in moderation right???

It depends – sometimes I have to grab what is convenient – when I am in a rush or on the go – but that usually fruit or nuts. When I buy food for our house I do look at the serving size (I want the most bang for my buck, you know) calories and protein and minimal ingredients on the list. That way our house is stocked with good food. I don’t count calories, but I know about how much is in everything I buy…does that make sense? I always eat what sounds good. Eating is to be enjoyed – I am not going to eat something I don’t enjoy just because it is ‘healthy’. I make dinners that I think sound good, but will also be good for me and my family to eat. I think I do a really good job at that….and then the hours of after dinner time roll around. Oh man. Let’s not go there. I was really good for the last 7 weeks while my family and I did that challenge, but then my mom felt the need to give us a bunch of CRAP and if it is here, I will eat it. I can’t have all the temptations in my house! Aaaaahhh. I don’t think having treats is bad…but in the amounts I can pack it in, it most certainly is. By the way – those watermelon oreos (my mom gave us some) are surprisingly good. Now come get them from me!

I eat what tastes the best to me…. Or what my body is craving the most at the time… Last night it was eggs. I’ve recently been totally turned off of sweets! So strange… The other night I went for frozen yogurt and declared right after that I am done with it!?! Made me feel gross and didn’t taste as awesome. Never thought that day would come.
I’ve also studied nutrition and manage a health food store so I technically “know” what I “should” eat but the stress of the “should” takes the joy out of it all and hampers the digestive process.
I’d love to eat like an old school Italian :)

Ugh, I have that conversation with someone at least once each day. Garbage in, garbage out. I don’t understand how people don’t get that. I buy what I buy because it is food that my body needs. Fruit, veggies, good fats, some starch. I have the same thing for breakfast usually, because when I have it, I feel good, full, and slender. So why change? I eat useful food for lunch becuase I don’t want to be tired around 3pm at my desk, and I don’t want to be hungry and go snacking. I make filling but light dinners so that I’m not overstuffed, but not starving before bed. If my body has to digest food while I’m asleep with no outward physical help from me, then it had better be food that my body can deal with and use!

I’m also a label reader. If I can’t pronounce it, spell it blindly, and I don’t know where it comes from, it shouldn’t be in my body. Unless it’s in wine, and then that’s permissable.

I could never run far in a costume……I wish I could

I have been clean eating for a year now. I just started doing the paleo diet. I love it and feel amazing. It’s expensive and hard to find grass fed beef though. I’m still getting the hang of where to shop for what. Basically if it is not fed corn and is a whole food I eat it. Its not easy to figure out what the best foods to eat are. I have been researching for a year and still learning new things.

Those unicorn costumes are awesome! We try to eat healthy, balanced meals & snacks in our house. I want my girls to grow up loving all kinds of different foods and never want them to be afraid to try new things. I also want them to be realistic about their eating and never go to extremes. While I understand the importance of whole & wholesome foods, I also believe it’s OK to eat a less-than-healthy dessert or grab a quick convenience snack when you’re on the go. Life’s short. Eat dessert! After your veggies, of course!

I do a lot less home cooking than I’d like- running around NYC all day makes it hard to bring food along. But I usually choose my meals by listening to my body. If I stop and think for a moment, I can usually recognize what my body is craving. Yesterday, that meant GREEENS galore. And a chocolate muffin.

There’s a few factors that go into choosing what I eat. First factor is nutrition. I focus on having a nutritious balance at every meal. I really make sure to have fiber-rich foods and protein at every meal. Second factor is budget. The healthy/natural/whole foods tend to be more expensive but I would love to stock my home with this stuff if I could make it work within my budget. Third factor is my family, more specifically my husband. I don’t want to buy food that only I will eat. If I don’t have food he wants to eat in the house then he’ll probably go get take-out which also hurts the budget. I’m also trying to get him to prefer healthier foods so I need to find healthy foods/meals that he’ll like eating. Lastly, the food needs to be easy to make because I really hate cooking. Wouldn’t it be great to have a personal chef?

I grew up in a Taiwanese household, where we would eat homestyle every night. Each person got a bowl of white rice, and on the table, there were maybe five or six different dishes that we would all help ourselves to and eat with the rice. Even though I’m too lazy to prepare five different dishes for myself, I do still have to eat at least three or four different kinds of things for dinner, otherwise I’d feel funny. I couldn’t eat just one thing! Last night, I had a big salad, then an omelette with hummus, and roasted Kabocha pumpkin drizzled with honey. Two spears of dill pickles. Then watermelon. Then my current addiction, yogurt/strawberries/dried wild blueberries/Kashi cereal/honey. And then my second dessert (Second Dessert is normal, right?) was ice cream and a piece of Kit Kat. Wow, I eat a lot. So I guess I eat relatively healthy, because it makes me feel better and helps me run! It’s all about how you feel now, not about living until 100. But still, I just can’t quit you, ice cream!

that’s a really good question! I eat what tastes good and sounds good in the moment, what is easily accessible, while keeping nutrition at the back of my mind.

This is a hard question for me to answer due to certain circumstances, but I am on the way of eating the way I eat because… It makes me feel good to give my body what it needs and to supply it with the nutrition it needs. I eat what I eat so I feel healthy and energized to live a long and happy life. Also, I eat what I eat because I’ve been to a place where I didn’t supply my body with enough and I paid for it. Now, I realize how important nutrition – and candy, cupcakes, and chocolate – really are for my soul. <3

PS. Unicorn picture is my favorite so far! HA

I am trying really hard to ‘eat with purpose.”

After going through a bout of cervical cancer three years ago, I completely eliminated as many chemicals, gmos and processed foods as I could from my body. I believe in the body’s ability to heal and making sure what I put in is wholesome and real is very important to me. Not to say that I don’t imbibe in some swedish fish every once in a while.

In a lot of ways, I eat the way I do because that’s how I was raised. I’m southern, so most of our meals weren’t the healthiest. Plus I was raised by a working mom who didn’t have time to go to the farmer’s market and focus on all whole, all healthy stuff all the time. She did the best she could, but I’m not ashamed to say that I ate mac and cheese and McDonald’s more than once as a kid. Now I’m trying to improve my diet and eat healthier. It’s hard because my taste buds rebel at the thought of broccoli. My philosophy is moderation at this point in my life – I don’t want to give up my cheeseburgers, but I also want to incorporate healthier options into my diet.

I, unfortunately, have to admit that my choices are often based on “safety.” (As I sit here with a plate of raw veggies . . .

I’m an all or nothing kind of person, and I have a bad habit of going overboard with sugary/cheesy/rich things. Even cereal is tough for me . . . one bowl ALWAYS turns into the whole box. But my safe foods don’t give me the adequate calories I need for my runs (10-15 miles), so I often find myself eating all of my “unsafe” foods at the end of the week due to poor fueling.

It’s a shame, but I love food so much that I can’t stop at one bite.

I was always overweight as a kid and teen, and became obese in my last two years of college and first year of graduate school. I joined Weight Watchers in 2010 (my 2nd year of graduate school) and lost 80 pounds over the course of 2 years, largely from “just” eating well (I lost 60 in the first year, I didn’t lose the final 2o as quickly because I had a serious medical issue and didn’t follow the plan for 6-8 months)

I don’t strictly follow WW currently, but a lot of the food choices that my husband and I make are based on what would be “WW-friendly”. I specifically try to eat foods that will keep me feeling full and energize me long-term, and I do my best to exercise portion control on foods that are not so healthy for me!

First of all, let me just say that I love the 80’s outfit.

And here’s why I eat the way I eat…it’s really pretty simple: If I eat crap, I feel like crap. If I eat whole, minimally processed foods, I feel good. I don’t like to feel like crap, so I don’t eat it! :)

I try and get a meat, fruit and veggie daily. I feel so much better when I eat well!! I also have a small cup of coffee in the morning because it seems so relaxing to just chill with a hot beverage!

My eating has definitely changed a little since I’ve started reading healthy living blogs. I’ve learned a lot about new foods/recipes/ways to prepare food (overnight oats, greek yogurt, spaghetti squash…) and it’s taught me how delicious whole foods really can be! I’ve never really been an UNhealthy eater… however, I don’t eat as much processed food as I used to growing up. This is probably due to how much I’ve read and learned about processed food not being so great. I’ve always loved fruits and vegetables and grew up with my family having a vegetable at every dinner. I always genuinely like the food I eat, I don’t just eat it because I think it’s good for me. Eating whole foods just makes me feel better than eating processed foods :)

I eat what I eat because of training, what my parents taught me, what I’ve learned, and sometimes what my body is craving. I try to eat healthy to fuel my body correctly. :-)

I think I eat the way I do because of all those reasons, honestly. The majority of the time I aim to eat “clean” and make sure I’m fueling myself for all the working out I do. I also fall into ruts because I’m a creature of habit and I like it that way. Money does come in to play- we are trying to save for a future and make smart decisions but at the same time I would rather spend money on GOOD food than nice clothes because it’s more important to me. I’m always intrigued by how other people eat, it’s fascinating how such a basic need is something so personal.

About three years ago I decided to overhaul what I ate. I was overweight, tired and had no real idea what I was putting in my body. Today I am 60 pounds lighter and very active. I eat very cleanly and most closely watch my fiber intake and sodium. I have never felt better and never loved food more.

So fun!

I eat what I eat because I like the way it fuels me well–both for fitness & life. And of course, helping my baby girl grow well too. I eat what I want, when I want & it works fantastically for me!

After a lifetime of high-stress living I developed what some categorize as an auto immune disorder. Certain foods exacerbate the symptoms. I eat mostly an anti-inflammatory diet. No gluten. No dairy. No soy. No eggs. Lots of fruit and vegetables and fish and poultry. When I’m really paying attention I don’t eat sugar. That one is the hardest for me to completely eliminate.

I eat to be healthy, keep weight controled and feel good. I am all about checking the ingredients on everything I buy to ensure there are no additives, as well as checking the calories/fat/sugars/fiber/protein. All important to me!
I try to ensure all meals are protein & veggies and min. carbs.(sweet/reg. potatoes, wheat pasta, brown rice, barley)
I eat about 90% whole foods and make all my meals (and snacks usually)
The only ‘spluges’ are Sprouted bread, tortilla chips (usually made from beans or w/flaxseeds) and dark chocolate.

I definately need to get better “control” over this area of my life…because lately it seems like I have been eating what I “feel like” at the time…that does not always lead to very good choices

I try to eat whole foods as much as possible, at least on a normal day. While I love love love to eat junk food sometimes (parties, bbqs, etc.), I never feel good afterwards. So why would I want to feel that way on a daily basis? That’s just the way I see it. I also used to be really into “sugar free” food and drinks but since I cut out diet coke and diet iced tea for New Years, all my stomach issues have gone away! Now I will have them sometimes, but for the most part I want to feel good so I steer clear. I think life is best spent, as many people have said, eating a balance of foods. So frosting is good one day, but broccoli can be just as satisfying the next!

Haha the unicorn costumes are awesome!

This is a very good question. I honestly eat first because of nutrition. I have been ill before because of food so I am pretty careful. But there are sometimes it is just straight up emotional eating. However, I always pay the price of emotional eating with the worse heartburn ever, so that alone has significantly decreased my emotional eating habits. :-)

About 9 months ago I gave up sugar, gluten and processed foods. I wanted to finally get back to my prepregnancy weight (my youngest is 6!) and just feel better generally. I lost the weight easily (15 lbs) after giving up the junk and feel great. No more sugar swings, no more feeling tired at 3pm. I eat when I’m hungry and focus on whole unprocessed foods (lots of veggies, nuts, eggs and dairy). The downside of eating this way is we rarely go out to eat anymore but I am cooking a lot more and really enjoying knowing everything I am putting in my body. I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years for ethical reasons.

I try to make things from scratch when it’s reasonable. I always try to make our meals include lots of fruits and vegetables, without including ingredients that are not overly priced or “weird”. I feel like I eat we’ll forbygevawrsomw must part, and I’m physically active so I allow myself treats when I want one.

Most of the time I try to eat for health and fuel:
-focus on whole foods, avoiding processed
-balancing every meal with protein, carbs and healthy fats
-watching portion size
-trying to add veggies and fruits as much as possible. Mostly veggies though.

But I also grew up in a family where cooking and sharing meals was a way to connect with others. I have my fair share of indulgences, and most of them are sharing meals or drinks out with friends one or two times a week. It’s a healthy balance that keeps me feeling satisfied and far from deprived.

That tomato-less salsa is amazing! I tried it last week at Trader Joe’s and my boyfriend and I are now addicted to it!