An Interesting Paradox

I'm currently reading "Wired to Eat" by Robb Wolf (I HIGHLY recommend it by the way!), and the other day I came across an interesting paradox that I wanted to delve a little bit deeper into today.

In the book, Robb talked about an interesting situation that I'm sure many of us (myself for sure!) have been in the past.

Why is it that when people aren't making great choices with their food, we don't really say anything? A doughnut for breakfast, microwave meal for lunch, take out for supper - it's our norm, and we've become so accustomed to it that we don't even think twice about it.

But, the moment we try to eat better, bring our own food to work, skip the dessert, or whatever we choose to do, we are pestered and questioned and even heckled about the choices we are making.

This is something I've been passively aware of for quite some time, but to have it spelled out in a book made the paradox all too real.

For instance, everyday I bring my lunch to work and every. single. day (I mean EVERY day) someone asks me what I'm eating or makes some sort of comment (or basically hops on my shoulder to see what I'm eating). Because I'm in a gym environment, most of the comments are positive (although I have been in gym environments in the past that really put down my eating habits - who can argue with meat, avocado, and vegetables??).

However, this doesn't mean that comments about healthy eating outside of my situation are always positive.

Have you ever been the one to pass on dessert, only to have your friends guilt trip you into having some of theirs?

Have you ever tried to bring your lunch to work for an entire week, only to have people in the break room pushing candy on you all day long?

The situations are varied and diverse, but the point is the same. What is it about trying to do the right thing that elicits such a response?

Unfortunately, I don't have the answer, but I do think that this paradox is something worth thinking about in relation to your own life. Do we avoid making comments to those not making the best choices because we don't want to come off as judgemental? Do we make comments to those making healthier choices to feel better about ourselves or to somehow justify our choices? Again, no answers from me, just some food for thought!

xoxo Olivia