This is a post that has been a long time coming.
I’ve said it many, many times on my blog. I’ve added a disclaimer to the right hand side of my blog, but I think it deserves its own post as well.
As a “healthy living blogger” I think many people assume that I, and therefore my blog, follow the same habits of many other bloggers out there.
I blog in the morning, afternoon and evening and my posts cover the meals I eat around breakfast, lunch and dinnertime.
But here’s the thing: I eat constantly. I eat a lot of mini-meals and snacks that never make it on the blog.
The food I feature in my posts just happens to be the food I eat around a typical person’s breakfast, lunch and dinnertime.
In my two years of blogging, I can tell you with 100 percent honesty that never one time has everything I ate made it onto the blog. Not even close.
As a blogger, I’ve opened myself up to comments about the content I put out there and, therefore, comments and judgments about my food. In the exact same post one person may say “I don’t understand how you can eat so much!” while another person will say “Girl, go eat a bagel, that meal is tiny!” This happens all the time… in the exact same post.
When I’ve received comments about my smaller portions, I try to respond saying that I honestly eat whenever I’m hungry and I always feel satisfied. And I don’t post everything I eat on the blog.
Many, many times I’ll make myself a smoothie around 11 a.m. and then eat lunch at 12:30 p.m., so my lunch will be smaller, but the smoothie never makes it on the blog because the simple thought of snapping photos of everything I put into my mouth exhausts me and just doesn’t interest me.
I eat too often and too randomly to whip out a camera all the time without it feeling like a huge burden. I love not blogging about everything I eat because it’s really nice not to feel like I have to snap photos of all the food I consume. It gives me a break and a breather from food blogging.
And posts filled with tons of snacks and every single darn peanut butter finger I consume would probably make you want to pass out from boredom.
Reading comments about how little I eat bother me because I feel like I’ve said time and time again that I don’t post everything I eat on my blog and, if I’m being totally honest, some of these more pointed comments (not all of them in the least!) seem judgmental as if they’re trying to imply that I’m dieting (which I’m not) or don’t eat enough to fuel my body.
I feel confident about my food choices and know that I never feel hungry. I feel satisfied and know that I’m a healthy person. I hate that I felt the need to publish this post, but I just want to dispel any of the thoughts out there that this blog covers everything I eat.
In my personal life, none of my friends, family or those close to me have ever approached me about eating habits that they thought warranted concern. My best friends have called me the “bottomless pit” and my sister says she’s baffled when people comment about me not eating enough.
I’ve never struggled with an eating disorder and know how serious these disorders can be because I’ve seen a couple of my very close friends struggle and hate that anyone would ever think that this is an issue in my life.
It’s simply not.
I know it’s an issue for many and that breaks my heart but it’s simply not something I am personally struggling with in my life. Even writing about this makes me feel ridiculous because it’s not something I’ve ever had to defend in my day-to-day life and not something I ever predicted I would feel the need to defend in my life.
On a positive note, some of these comments have been eye opening to me in that they made me realize that I may have not have been clear enough on this blog about not posting everything that I eat. I definitely don’t want anyone out there to skim over my blog for the first time and think that they’re seeing everything that goes into my mouth, so I am planning on linking to this post in the text under my “Disclaimer” on the right hand side of this blog.
I apologize for such a wordy post about something that I never thought I would ever feel a need to explain, but I just want you guys out there to know the real deal.
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I also do not post everything I eat. If I did, it would look like I ate nothing but brownies, cookies, and $10/ounce Italian chocolate.
Actually that doesn’t sound so bad.
ha! sign me up for THAT plan! 🙂
Love it Julie! Who has time to post everything they eat?! It is silly you need to justify this, but I guess as bloggers we have opened ourselves up to criticism.
If I posted everything I ate, I wouldn’t have time to do my blog! I usually only blog once a day, and even if I do include three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner – no snacks) I feel like it’s way too food-heavy for one post and probably extremely boring.
I love that your posts center around one meal, and then you have the rest of your post to talk about whatever’s clever 🙂
YES! honestly, i feel like food is secondary in my posts. it provides pictures and something to talk about, but it’s almost a “gateway” for what i REALLY want to talk about. 🙂 and seriously blogging about everything i eat in a day would zap all the enjoyment out of blogging for me.
Just talk about what you really want to talk about then! I’ve also found that food is a crutch because it provides pics and sort of a backbone for a post, but it’s a great challenge to try NOT talking about your food and finding other things to photograph and ways to talk about your day! It forces you to be creative and helps you grow as a blogger.
You go girl!
I eat all throughout the day as well and could never imagine snapping photos of every bar, coffee or snack I consumed. Just keep doing your thing! 🙂
Hey Julie!
I have always (emphasis on the always) admired your take on fueling yourself until you feel satisfied. It is a simple notion but one that so many people struggle with. You don’t consider whether you “should” or “shouldn’t” eat something. You listen to your body. And your true readers that love you for you respect and admire you for that! <3
Stay lovely,
Heather
I can’t really say that I’ve ever taken much notice in how much or how little you post about your food! Probably because I never post everything I eat for the same reason: it’s boring and it becomes a burden.
I’m glad you wrote a post clearing everything up once and for all. The people who make judgements about your food are probably the ones who sadly have issues themselves.
meg, i think there’s a lot of truth to your comment. when i’ve talked with my friends about some of these comments they always say “who cares? and “most people who are 100 percent comfortable with their own food choices wouldn’t think twice!” i just never want anyone to think that what i post is any kind of a “diet plan” or is even close to everything i eat in a day.
It sucks that you have to defend yourself, even though clearly on the right side of the page you have a disclaimer..ON YOUR FRONT PAGE! I swear some people just never have anything nice to say & have to find something to write/ complain/ comment about. They really just need to find happiness in their lives.
Keep doin’ what your doin’ Julie because you are awesome & so is your blog!
Julie- I so admire you for your honestly and willingness to address such important and sometimes awkward subjects! Keep doing what you’re doing, I love PBF!
yes! very, very awkward. my heart was racing and my palms were sweating as i was writing this.
It makes me seriously sad that you felt a need to have to do this post, but I get it. Sorry you get so much grief over it, you’d think people would realize that while the blog is a big part of your life, it’s not your entire life. Too bad some people can’t find their own happiness and have to tear down others to feel better about themselves.
YES TO THIS: “While the blog is a big part of your life, it’s not your entire life.”
It’s tough putting yourself out there, because it does open you up to other’s comments. I’ve struggled with this lately on WIAWs, especially while being pregnant. It is partially my own fault because I post calorie counts on WIAWs, too. I’ve gotten emails about how I’m starving my baby and emails about how I’m overeating for my short stature. Really?
Overall, I think if you are upfront and honest, the people that have the issues with what or how you eat… well, it’s their problem, not yours.
It sucks you had to write a post like this, but I think your wrote it beautifully and honestly! 🙂
thanks for posting this!! I look at your blog a lot to get an idea of some good quick healthy meal ideas and its good to see that you don’t survive off of three small meals a day. Always a good idea to listen to your body! PS I was a kappa delta in college as well 🙂 AOT!
I remember you saying a long time ago in a post that you don’t post everything you eat, and I thought it was quite clear to everyone that you don’t. I guess not. It’s interesting that on the internet people are so happy to throw up a negative comment without doing any research on the person’s blog or past posts to see if their negativity is founded. Sad but true.
Just wanted to say that I love your blog, and I never once thought that the things that you posted were all that you were eating. I work out in a similar fashion to you, and I know there is no way anyone could survive on that amount of food. It made perfect sense to me that you were just posting some highlights from the day. Your blog is great. Don’t listen to the haters. 🙂
There’s no food in this post. Didn’t you eat lunch today???
I kid. I kid.
LOL!!!
thank you for that laugh, jen. i needed that!
Jen, this post was hilarious! Ha ha ha… such a good laugh when I’m reading through such serious (and wonderfully supportive!) comments. Julie, I love your blog! I use the “food section” of your blog as ideas for breakfast and lunch. (Jam and Muenster on a bagelwich = Holy Mama! Heaven)! Thanks for your tips and sharing some great meal ideas!
I’m so happy that you posted this! It’s rediculous to me that people take the time to leave nasty comments or continue to read blogs that they clearly don’t like or agree with. Life is short!! Why waste precious time on something you don’t enjoy? People are silly!
What a bummer for you to feel like you had to address this, especially given that you’ve ALWAYS had it right here on your page. It just goes back to the comparison trap. Every body is different and needs a different amount of fuel. As long as you are comfortable and satisfied, food is working for you, and you shouldn’t have to answer to anyone. It just goes to the whole “non-judgemental” thing I like to preach about. 😉 Everyone is different!
It’s sad that people feel the need to be negative about every little thing. You have repeated tons of times that you don’t post everything you eat. Haters gonna hate!
…if people cannot see the clear and distinct DISCLAIMER that is to the right of every single one of your posts, then i’m inclined to think it’s a “lack of comprehension/attention to detail” problem on THEIR part, and not “unclear blogging” problem on your part.
keep doing what you’re doing lady.
When I first started reading your blog, now and then I’d think, oh my goodness, that bowl of oatmeal has like 500 calories..how does she do that. Or I’d think, a smoothie for breakfast, how does that fill her up? But as I read more and “got to know you” I quickly saw that you have an incredibly balanced approach to eating for your active lifestyle. I love that you indulge, but also incoporate so many healthy elements into your meals.
As you said at HLS, “you do you!” 😀
pauly d is so wise. 🙂 thanks, shanna.
Having a “healthy living blog” seems so stressful!! I feel like you are always under a magnifying glass and people analyze every single thing you do. I love how confident you are about your choices and I think that you just have to live the way you feel is best. Great post!!
Love this post. I just did my first post that included all three of my daily meals here
http://healthyhipster.ca/2011/09/07/falling-back-into-routine/
However after reading a post of yours I made sure to include a disclaimer to clarify that it was NOT a comprehensive list of my food intake. Thanks for the clarification post, and for your daily inspiration. 🙂
Posting EVERYTHING you eat would seem a tad ED to me. I like that you post what you want to post.
Don’t listen to the HATERS! You cannot post everything you eat that is just crazy and frankly it is no one’s business but yours. You are a healthy beautiful women and know one knows what your nutrional needs are except yourself. I love your blogg and I feel bad that you recieve negative feedback, it’s BS! Keep doing what you’re doing!
I don’t understand why people are so critical of what you eat. It’s cool to post pictures. I like it because it gives me ideas on different food combinations, but portion wise it all looks fine. In fact, most people tend to overeat. Then again there’s nothing wrong with some gluttony once in a while.
I’m really glad you addressed this issue. I just wish people would understand that a blog isn’t some 24/7 detailed diary of someone’s life and although they’re entitled to their opinion doesn’t give them the right to rain on your parade. Keep doing what makes you happy 🙂
ps- i’m sure if someone saw all the stuff I ate theyd think i was a 12 year old boy.
Haters gonna hate- sad truth of life! I tried the whole photographing my meals thing once or twice and boy it was exhausting…the fact that you even showcase as much as you do is commendable! Even if you did post everything you ate, who cares if its too much or too little?? You look great, feel great and are full of energy!
I’ll be honest, Julie, the only thought I’ve been thinking is: I’d like an entire day’s post dedicated to what Sadie eats in one day.
Kibbles, spare chicken chunks, peanut butter that’s been smeared on her nose for your amusement as she attempts to lick it off, bites of pancake, plate licking of sausage.
IT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED!
But, on a serious note, cheers to being upfront and honest. I never really thought much about the food on your blog, but because I knew it wasn’t a “eating” blog it was a “living” blog.
Now that we’ve cleared the air, you can get on the Sadie-diet post.
hahhaha yes! but you know what would happen then? people would kill me for feeding her so much people food. 🙂
I’ve never believed that dogs need to be on a commercial dog food only diet. My dog has consumed a ton of people food in her life, mostly meat, potatoes, some pasta and peanut butter. At her recent vet visit, the doctor said she was one of the healthiest 11.5 year old Siberian Huskies he’s ever seen 🙂 Aside from some arthritis she is an energetic and happy lady.
HOW could you even eat again after having a smoothie? If your smoothies are anything as rich and filling as mine are – you’ll be lucky to eat an apple for lunch and be able to finish.
Good for you for dispelling the rumors but it is a shame that you had to! 😉
Keep up the great blog!
Standing round of ovation!!!
<3 you!
You have always been more that clear that you do NOT post everything that you eat. I don’t know too many bloggers that do, actually. I sure don’t. Some people just spend far too much time worrying about others instead of themselves. You rock.
You and your blog are absolutely perfect! =)
As I said on twitter, I LOVE the honesty of this post. For me, what I do NOT love about blogging is that it often opens up our judgemental side – where we feel it’s totally ok to tell someone else how WE would do something vs. appreciating one another’s unique perspective and/or approaches to blogging, eating, working out, running, living. I say – to each his/her own. Nobody should be left feeling judged simply for sharing tidbits of their day out here in bloggy land for all to see. That’s not the point of blogging. At least not for me. Blogging is about relationships, shared passions, inspiration, support, and friendship. Judgmental attitudes don’t fit very well in there, now do they?
You definitely seem to have a VERY healthy relationship to food. Plus, even what you do post seems filling 🙂
Sorry you have to deal with that! It must be so frustrating. But people will always say things like that… probably b/c they can’t imagine someone so fit can eat so much and still be in great shape!
Maybe you could try posting a disclaimer at the bottom of each blog post?
Keep doing your thing, Julie! I love your blog. Honestly, my favorite posts on your blog aren’t even about the food, but about your house style, your family, and Orlando life (I lived there for so long, so it feels like you’re writing about my home 🙂 ) I have been reading your blog for over a year and will continue to do so.
thank you, angela! to be honest blogging about what i eat is usually my LEAST favorite thing! 🙂 i like the random stories, discussion topics… oh, and sadie. 🙂
I agree, I skim over your food paragraphs and like that it’s not the main content of your blog. I actually don’t read ‘food’ blogs for this reason! I’ve never once thought about analyzing your meals each day, some people are so disordered to comment on that. Keep it just like it is Julie, and ignore the weirdos! 🙂
You’re a wonderful blogger! Continue to be yourself and blog as you always have. You blog because you love it… stay true to yourself.
I’m so happy that you wrote this! It’s so sad that so many people have criticized you for something that is so blatantly untrue. But, I think that you are doing a great service for the women who struggle with eating disorders by pointing out that this is not an accurate reflection of what you eat in a day. (And thank God because that would get so boring, I can’t even get myself to do WIAW).
Don’t forget the best part of a stressful (to write) post like this- you then get all of us who are supportive of you saying “you go girl!”. Thanks for being an awesome, real blogger.
that’s truly my hope. i would never want any one out there who IS struggling with an eating disorder to think this blog covers everything i eat.
I don’t think it has ever been implied that this is all you eat in a day. I mean, all one has to do is read and they’ll hear all about your snacks. I recall many times when you sent me into peanut m&m cravings with unpictured m&ms 🙂
I agree with some of the others. I think it’s sad that you have to defend your eating habits but I understand why you wanted it out there, once and for all. Does any blogger really post EVERYTHING that happens to them EVERY DAY? I doubt it. If they do, who wants to read that? Certainly not me. You highlight what’s important or what you think deserves to be addressed, whether it’s a healthy living blog or not. I’m sure a post describing my entire morning routine and drive to work would be riveting but I’ll keep that to myself!
I knew you meant business when there were no cute Sadie pics and captions! Keep being you Julie!!
HAHAHA! no sadie pics = serious business. 🙂
I have been reading your blog since March and I have always known that you don’t post everything you eat because you have made it clear several times.
I have come across a few negative bloggers that have written posts that seem directed at you and your eating habits and it always annoyed me that their perspective was wrong. That blogger is not longer on my blogroll.
Keep your chin up. There will always be people that “don’t get it.”
i’ve read them too and they really hurt me. i wish they didn’t, but they do. i just want to scream “I DON’T POST EVERYTHING I EAT” at the top of my lungs sometimes. i guess this post is me doing that… but hopefully a little less screechy. 🙂
Less food, more Sadie.
(I’ve never worried about your eating. =p)
I LOVE that you don’t post everything you eat on your blog! One of the reasons I love your blog is that you are so genuine and I never feel like you’re trying to justify your eating habits (or anything else in your life, for that matter)…you’re just being you! So many other “health living” blogs out there post literally EVERYTHING they eat and it drives me crazy! I don’t care if a blogger ate half a peach on the side, or an apple on the road, and writing about those little snacks seems so disingenuous to me, and makes the blogger come off as insecure about her eating habits. I really appreciate your approach to blogging, which is why I am totally hooked on your blog everyday. Keep it up!
YES!! the day i start to freak out about forgetting to blog about that apple w/ pb i had with my lunch is the day i stop blogging!
I think it would be rather tiring to post EVERYTHING you ate on your blog. I’m happy to read your blog because it’s a little different than most healthy living blogs. You keep doin’ your thang!
Great post! I don’t blog, but feel like I’ve been targeted with unfair comments about how much I eat before so I can understand your feelings.
As a long time reader, I feel like you’ve always made it clear that you do not post everything that you eat (and why should you!). I love the blog and don’t think you should change a thing – keep it honest 🙂
Great post! People have said things like this to me just in real life, usually at a dinner with a group of friends. The slightly condescending, “no wonder you’re skinny” when they see me eat a salad at a restaurant is just not justified! I’m a total grazer, and probably ate a snack a half hour before dinner, not to mention the hour workout two hours before. I’ll never forget the shock on the girls faces when I once walked into a study group with my protein smoothie…they couldn’t believe that I ate! …What now?!?! 😉
Those sort of comments can be definitely disheartening, but nobody has the right to criticize someone else’s needs. So you need an early lunch or a small dinner or a crap ton of snacks? So be it! And like you said, it’s crazy to expect a blogger to document every single morsel that goes into our mouths. I’ve actually gotten emails referring to my prior eating disorder, that I have discussed on the blog, asking if I’m starting up long-gone habits because I’m not posting a “healthy amount of food for one day”….I feel you on the frustration. It’s your body, your blog, you have to do what’s right for yourself!
Ignore the haters. Keep on doing what you do Julie.
I think this is a great reminder. I honestly skim over the food parts and dont really notice portion sizes, or calorie counts. I like the food posts for new ideas like jam and cheese, or liverwurst(not brave enough for that one!)
liverwurst ROCKS! 😀
I commend you for writing this post, Julie! A blogger’s life is a public one kind of like a celebrities, so people draw all sorts of assumptions. I think its great that you clarify that there’s a “real” life going on behind your blog posts, and that not everything makes it onto the blog! Keep up the yummy and fun-to-read blogging 🙂
I love this post because I think it is so important! As much as dieting can become an obsession, I sometimes think that food blogging can become that way too…by that I mean when people DO post every single thing they eat in a day. I think that it’s great that when you blog you have a purpose and a reason and that it’s not ONLY about food. Blogging should always feel fun, that’s why we do it…so keep on doing it in a way that is fun for YOU!
From reading your blog for awhile now it is clear that you have a very level head when it comes to food and fueling. You seem to live a very balanced, healthy, life style and just the way you handled the comments you receive through this post reflect that. Keep it up!
Wait you’re telling me you don’t live solely off smoothies? JK!
I understand why you made this post but I wanted to let you know I think it’s silly! You always have an explanation of your meal in your text and lots of times you tell us things like breakfast was late, or you had a big snack, or you ate too much granola during the cooking process. Silliness I tell you. just straight silliness!
I never post all that I eat — I’m not a breakfast, lunch, dinner type of blogger but I do know that when I post a plate of my food I get comments about how little it is — hello you have NO IDEA what I ate or did that day.
I don’t get how people have the nerve to say something like that!
Brava! I cannot imagine having to post everything I eat. I even just started blogging and as soon as I take a bite of an apple while I’m out walking around without a camera I start feeling guilty like maybe I should be photographing this for the blog. Then I shake my head and continue eating it because, like you, I do not want my blog to become about documenting EVERY thing I put in my mouth.
A blog doesn’t necessarily have to be about showing someone your diet. It can be sharing your meals and thoughts about eating or recipes in general but you never should feel like you have to prove anything to anyone about how much you eat! I hate when people make judgements about others diets or how much one eats or whether it’s enough or too much.
Your blog actually inspired me that I could start blogging because it made me realize you don’t have to obsessively photograph or put 1,000 pictures of the SAME bowl of oats in one post. Thank you for putting this post out there!