Spam Queen

Good Morning Friends 🙂

I’m glad I’m not the only one on Earth without a Garmin. Maybe I’ll get one someday, but there are many things I would rather get first, like a new bedroom set. Jason and I are saving up for a new set and I hope it looks something like this:

I will not apologize for my love of cabin type furniture. I live in MN and that’s what we like here! 🙂 I would love to have my whole house decorated with wood logs, pine trees, bear pillows, canoe bookshelves, etc. You get the idea.

I wasn’t sure if I would post this or not, but after thinking about it, I decided that I had to put this out there. I had to get it off my chest.  I have written to a few companies expressing interest in trying their products. Most companies have been thrilled to have someone try their products and to write review. I recently heard back from one of the companies. Here is their response:

–

Dear Holly,

Thank you so much for your request to review Bragg products on your blog. One of the requirements for us is that we share the same health philosophy –
or a similar health philosophy. We usually work with healthy lifestyle bloggers on reviews, not so much giveaways.

Are you familiar with the Bragg Healthy Lifestyle Philosophy?

How many readers do you currently have on your blog?

I looked at your blog and as much as I enjoyed it, I noticed that a lot of the food you write about on your homepage is processed and on the unhealthy side and I know that Patricia might have some concerns about that. But it might be a way to introduce and inspire a healthier
lifestyle to your readers?

Kind Regards,
Susanne

–

This email pissed me off. Am I just being too sensitive? I never claimed to have a perfect diet only full of whole foods and unprocessed ingredients.  Are my foods on the unhealthy side? It bothered me to read this, because I don’t agree with her, but at the same time, is she right?

If the post she looked at was my State Fair post, then sure, you could say my diet is full of processed foods. But that was one day out of the whole year! I don’t eat that way every day. Does she consider peanut butter processed? I do, but I wouldn’t put it in the same category as a Snickers bar. “Processed” to me could be interpreted differently, but to me “unhealthy” cannot really be taken the wrong way.

This letter infuriates me because it is this kind of talk that results in me feeding into my Holly Monster. I let in self doubt when I read this email. I went back to those feelings of “I’m not healthy enough to have a blog, what am I even doing?” Once again I had to constantly remind myself that I am doing the best I can. I am moving forward towards my goal of peace with food and my body.

Why should I let a complete stranger (who has seen only little snippets of me) define me? I shouldn’t, and yet I do. I never claimed to be perfect and I refuse to completely deprive myself of any food. If that isn’t good enough for this woman or her company, then I certainly don’t want to give her any business.

But seriously, this needs to stop, I can’t give anyone power over me and my feelings. I know who I am, I know what I eat, I know my feelings. This woman knows nothing, and passed (what I think is) an unfair judgment on me and my blog.

So I eat processed foods now and then. I drink Diet Coke most days. I ate a Deep Fried Reese’s PB Cup at the MN State Fair. I eat chocolate chips in my oatmeal. I’ve eaten at McDonalds (THE HORROR!!!). But I also eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean proteins and nuts. I aim for balance, not perfection. If I eat some foods that are not “whole and clean” does that throw away my whole diet? I’m trying to get away from that all-or-nothing attitude and yet that email feeds right back into those feelings.

For now, I suppose I should take my seat as the Queen of Processed Foods on my Spam Throne 🙂

I may not be the healthiest blogger, but I try to keep a balance, and I try my best. That is all I can do!

Psst: check out Tina’s 30 DSLR today!

Questions:

How would you describe your diet? My diet is all about balance: getting in fresh produce, lean proteins, healthy fats with a splash of indulgence now and then.

Are you a saver or a spender? What are you saving for, or what do you like to spend your money on? I am definitely a saver, and Jason and I are saving towards a new bedroom set and hopefully a nice vacation in the Spring.

Holly