Do You Label Your Current Eating Habits?

February 11, 2013 by 24 Comments

label
Do you label yourself? Why or why not?

We all do. Maybe not forever but we all have at some point in our lives. And I’m not referring to the obvious ones like being a mother or father. I’m a brother and will be an uncle to 2 newborns in July.

I am referring to labels where there are multiple interpretations of what it means to be this or that. This is very common when it comes to politics (democrat or republican or libertarian for the United States) and religion. Us human beings think that it’s not right to talk about these topics because there can be a lot of hate. I love talking about it all as I remain open-minded and realize that I can learn something from everyone no matter how crazy their beliefs may be.

If you are a republican then your way of thinking is without a doubt the right way. If you are a democrat then your way of thinking is without a doubt the right way…

Wait… that’s not possible!

This is why I’m an independent when it comes to politics. Instead of saying that I am a republican and then blindly believing everything that republicans stand for, I prefer to look at each issue separately and decide how I feel about it.

Religion is an entirely different mess. It amazes me how folks can be so sure that their belief is correct when there are countless different religions and every individual interprets said religion differently.

I LOVE thinking deeply and so I do; sometimes out loud to my self or while in a conversation with another human being. I refuse to say my way of thinking is definitely correct when it comes to how the world got started because we will never know! It’s fun to think about and discuss and be amazed at how awesome life is with those that are open-minded…

Where the hell is this going?

DIET!

Are you Paleo? Primal? Low carb? Low fat? Low calorie? Vegan? Vegetarian? Grain free? Dairy free? Gluten free? Legume free? Fruit free? Vegetable free? Calorie free?

Maybe you do weight watchers and have to keep track of every morsel you put into your body. Maybe you are on the South Beach Diet or Jenny Craig! Or perhaps you look at the dozens of diet books and are clueless as to what to do. Or maybe you are like me and enjoy buying books on Amazon and notice more than 39,000 books in the diets and weight loss category. Yikes!

I personally went ‘Primal’ on April 5, 2010 so I am no stranger to labels! I have used Paleo and Primal interchangeably since that date for good reason. Why separate them? It never made any sense to me. Let’s all be friends!

Well, I am now ditching both of those labels. I am NOT against Paleo. I repeat: I am NOT dismissing Paleo in any way, shape or form.

I love the Paleo community to death. It’s changing the world in a massively positive way (for the most part as it’s definitely not 100%!) and will continue to do so. But it’s not just those who eat Paleo and thus basically avoid grains who are changing the world. It’s those who follow the WAPF eating guidelines too. And even vegans. Yes, vegans! Perhaps a small percentage but there are those who are making a positive difference and who are NOT against those who choose to eat grass-fed beef from local farms, etc.

There are also folks who don’t dismiss any food group who are changing the world. And I mean making a positive difference in hundreds, if not thousands (or millions!) of lives. And isn’t this what matters in the end? People like Matt Stone via 180DegreeHealth.com come to mind.

I don’t want to label how I eat. Ever since I’ve dropped the label from the way I’ve eaten I have felt more free and have literally been less apt to go after junk food. Why? Stress! I have definitely eaten oatmeal a few times while here in Hawaii. Why? Because I can! Oatmeal nourishes ME. My body does not seem to enjoy nuts too much yet oatmeal makes me feel gooooood. Wait. Nuts are Paleo while oatmeal is a grain.

You see?

I’m done with that. I’m going to venture out and try buckwheat pancakes. And sprouted bread. And I’ll continue to eat wholesome cheese that does not cause me problems. I’ve learned that specific cheeses make me congested while others don’t! So perhaps you would thrive, yes THRIVE eating sourdough rye bread that you make yourself… try it!

What about PaleoFX in March?

I suspect that most of you don’t know that I am speaking at PaleoFX at the end of March. It’s no 45 minute presentation but I am on the community pannel. Perhaps you think this is ironic. PaleoFX is less than 2 months away and I am launching a new website this month while having already published letters to the Paleo Police and coming up with labels like Primleo.

I believe that starting anew will open more doors for me. It will allow me to positively influence choices that other human beings make that will possibly turn their health around for the better. Isn’t this what matters in the end? A lot of folks have immediately dismissed what you have to say when you put a label on it. It’s just the way it is.

By ditching labels you become open-minded and so do those you talk to. At least this has been the case for me. I was known to push Paleo onto family and friends during the first year. And then I backed off. Guess what? Now they are more curious than ever and eat more towards a Paleo approach than not. But they don’t say they eat Paleo and I respect that more than ever since I am now in the same boat as them.

I don’t always make the right decisions but the right intent is always there. I will do what I think is best for me to make the most positive impact on the world.

And so I am beyond stoked for PaleoFX. I always have been but I am more excited than ever to connect with the community in the best way possible.

And when Paleo restaurants open up? You can bet your ass that I will eat at them! The main reasons being that I know real food from local farms will be served and cooked in REAL fats and oils like butter, tallow, lard and coconut oil! I hear one or two are in the works in Austin, Texas!

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. I respect all opinions. Every word I read influences how I view life so keep that in mind!

###

Did you like this post? Subscribe to the newsletter for free updates!

Photo Credit

Filed Under: Nutrition
Toadally Primal Newsletter

Toadally Primal Smoothies Junior (30 recipes) is yours free if you join today!

Join 4213 subscribers!

About Toad

Is my name Todd or Toad? I'm a world traveler seeking true wellness. I'm not a fan of labels but the following describe me best: minimalist, foodie, entrepreneur, adventurer, writer, cook.

  • http://www.facebook.com/andrea.l.groves Andrea Lauren Groves

    I like this a lot! I like being free! Doing more and more research, I’ve been discovering how beneficial carbs can be, and seeing how healthy and happy these WAPF people are. I’ve come to the decision can see that there’s no black and white like I thought when I began on the primal diet 1.5 yrs ago. Everyone’s different. Grains don’t have to be bad. Someday, after I heal my gut, I’ll be trying my hand at some sourdough gluten free bread (still wary of gluten, but that’s not the point) and drinking raw milk everyday.
    So here’s a toast to not locking ourselves in prisons, and eating whatever the heck it is that makes us feel good!

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      Cheers Andrea! Yes, carbs are VERY beneficial. Just because there is no requirement does not mean that eating them is bad! There is no requirement for saturated fat either since we can make it from… carbs! Ha! I am a big believer in that nothing is black or white. :)

  • http://twitter.com/eatsandmoves pbo

    “I don’t always make the right decisions but the right intent is always there.”

    This is key. I wish more people would own that. So many of us make decisions that deep down we regret, yet due to ego stubbornly continue on the path same path in fear of what others will think.

    Life is trial and error. It’s how we evolve and adapt. It is what makes us human.

    Paleo is great, I agree with you, but the reason some feel the need to label themselves is beyond what they put in their mouth. Health is more than just diet. The paleo community should recognize this (one reason why I like Sissson’s new book).

    Good to see folk like yourself free themselves from their diet. We can do this, still eat healthy, still THRIVE, and most importantly BE human.

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      Right on. I could not agree more! And I love this: “Life is trial and error. It’s how we evolve and adapt. It is what makes us human.”

  • http://www.facebook.com/jfriedland Jackie Stone Friedland

    I never fully went Paleo or anything else…however, I’ve been researching it for over 3 years as well as other ways of eating. All I know is that when I pulled out a good chunk of grains/dairy/sugar, I felt better. No more upset stomach every day and I’m actually wide awake all day instead of drowsy by lunch. My philosophy at this point is that I will eat what makes me feel good. Those darn cookies, as much as I love them, kill my stomach. So if I do eat one, I eat one knowing how I’m going to feel. When people ask me what I’m doing and what I recommend, I often throw all of my Paleo books at them and tell them to read them to get a different view than the SAD view of food. Then I tell them to try pulling all that stuff out for 30 days to see how they feel. THEN, add stuff back in and see what happens. I have a few friends trying it now and I’m hopeful it helps them with some of their issues they just can’t seem to get rid of.

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      “My philosophy at this point is that I will eat what makes me feel good.” – I love your philosophy!

  • Keaten Adams

    I’ve been considering ditching labels meyself. I’ve been completely “primleo” for a month and I’ve jut reintroduced full-fat dairy. Unfortunately it’s illegal to buy/sell raw dairy in my state. But anyway, you’ve given me a lot of food for thought (see what I did there?!)! I’ll continue to expand and find out what works best for me an see where this all goes!

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      Finding out what works for you is the best approach out there so kudos to you for recognizing that. Also, be aware that what works for you changes overtime. This is what life is all about and what makes it so awesome :)

  • rdl

    good message, i think people get too wrapped up in what “is” and “isn’t” paleo/primal and causing themselves way too much stress (which actually “isn’t primal”). That’s why I am a big fan of sean croxton–just eat real food. and call it a day.

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      I love the just eat real food approach too. It resonates with me well.

  • Sharon

    Good words Toad! I have been seeing more and more of this attitude in the ‘food community’ on Facebook and in the ‘blog-o-sphere’. I agree whole-heartedly. Labels really do get us into trouble just like trying to live up to someone’s expectations. We can’t…so let’s all do our best to figure out what works for ourselves and give a helping hand to those around us who are seeking…

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      “let’s all do our best to figure out what works for ourselves and give a helping hand to those around us who are seeking…” – YES! Reading and responding to these comments on this post has been such a blast.

  • David L

    I don’t label myself (what is a self anyway?). I do say I am striving to live a Neolithic lifestyle in a contemporary context. By the way I say Neolithic instead of Paleolithic both to keep people thinking and because I think cooking food and having more social structure makes us advocates of the later (new) Stone Age rather than the old Stone Age. Neo doesn’t sound as cool as paleo but I think it is closer to what is being suggested.

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      Ha too funny but I definitely get where you are coming from. The social advantages of neolithic times are definitely a huge part of human “domination” of planet Earth. Or destruction? Lol. I whole-heartedly agree that cooking perhaps made us human but it was done a loooooong time ago…

  • http://www.facebook.com/max.gazzara Max Gazzara

    I label myself as “Mostly avoiding toxins”

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      I love the simplicity behind that!

  • nichole

    I had to stop eating gluten 2 years ago but before that I had discovered WAPF and was starting to eat that way. After finding out that I am extremely sensitive to gluten I went off gluten but still tried to eat real whole foods. I did GAPS last year but bombed on the intro. I will be trying again as a method of healing not as a way to restrict. As a former anorexic I find that it is important for me to NOT put labels on my eating or feel like I cannot have something. If I choose to have a glass of wine then I enjoy it. If I decide that I would like to have some gluten free bread then I do. I have a lot of Paleo cookbooks because I like the food and it doesn’t contain gluten. But for me when I try to restrict and say I cannot have something then I go overboard and stop eating all together or get back on my eating disorder bandwagon. I want to be able to respect people who eat all types of real foods whether they eat grains, meat, dairy or what not. I also don’t want to be nasty to people that like junk food and are hung up on calories or counting points. My sister does Weight Watchers and she has lost over 100 pounds with them and she is happy. While she does tend to love artificial sweeteners, she also enjoys cooking real foods. I don’t want to be judgemental of others. I want to help people to realize they will feel better if they honor their bodies and feed it what it needs. I used to eat only junk when I did eat. I naturally have the taste buds of a toddler. I like peanut butter sandwiches and grilled cheese but they make me feel nasty. So Cheers to you Todd for taking off the label and putting on the tolerance! We all need to help each other and enjoy our foods and our lives instead of being obsessed with whether or not something is “allowed.”

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      Yes! I talked mor about this with the post I published today. You love Paleo foods so you buy the cookbooks but that does not mean that you label yourself Paleo because you eat more foods too and realize that some people can THRIVE and be happy with eating grains, dairy and even legumes! It’s just the standard bread and big bowl of pastas and avoidance of meat and fat that get’s just about everyone into trouble.

  • Dara

    Great post! I have struggled a lot with the whole labeling thing over years- trying to be one concrete thing or another, ascribe wholly to one particular way of eating. However, I believe very strongly that nutrition is extremely individual. There are so many variables that factor into how our body processes and deals with food- far beyond just the actual food. There is great freedom and strength in listening to the intuition and wisdom of our bodies. Oh, and your cocktail party napkin is great!

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      My sister found that awesome photo!

  • Jacqueline

    I really love this. I did a Paleo experiment recently, and while I definitely noticed some big improvements in my well-being, my digestion just would not run smoothly. I have been adding a bit of soaked quinoa and other odd grains into my diet, and I think it’s doing me good. I personally like Paleo as a foundation, but I think I may be discovering that I do better with a more middle-of-the-road approach, with a bit of grain in my diet. I am also in the midst of trying to heal my diet from a multitude of food sensitivities that I recently discovered I had. I am SO looking forward to when I don’t have as many food limitations, and I can do more experimenting (I really want to see how I do with dairy, for example, after my sensitivities clear up).

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      I am glad you are able to use Paleo as a template and that you are not afraid to consume grains if they make you feel good! This is what I am all about.

  • http://diniscorreia.com Dinis Correia

    I’m nodding my head in agreement while I read this. My story is exactly the same: started eating “paleo” (geez, can’t even write it without the quotes now) about two years now. For the past year I’ve been expanding my diet more and more: lots of carbs (potatoes! fruit!), dairy (kefir, cheese, yogurt) and even honey on a regular basis – and I’ve been doing great. I still love the paleo community, the local meet ups and online groups – but this label no longer fits me. And although I still respect Robb Wolf and Mark Sisson’s work, I have no idea what paleo even means! Because it’s not eating like paleo man did, because they sure weren’t having chicken and broccoli. So why this story? I guess stories make it easier for us humans to grasps things like diet – I know it did helped me. For years I tried to “eat healthy” but our mind will just make excuses for buying crappy food (“well, this is just frozen meat and pasta, it can’t be that bad”) – so an understanding of why certain foods are bad for you might be the kickstart you need.

    Anyway, how do you respond to people when telling them how/what you eat? I still use paleo sometimes because it’s easier do say them “evolutionary-informed, whole foods diet”. Heck, most times I just say “I eat weird” and that’s the end of the conversation. Ancestral? Is that any better? I don’t like labels too, but sometimes they’re useful.

    • http://primaltoad.com/ Todd Dosenberry

      Kudos to you! I drizzle honey on my eggs and my potatoes! I’m so bad! Lol. I also respect their work so much and have met Mark Sisson. He definitely means well which is obvious. And I love how Mark talks about so many other aspects of life. His new book The Primal Connection is one of my top 5 all-time favorite books now! I just tell people that I eat real food. Bread from the supermarket is not real to me but homemade sourdough bread is. Yoplait yogurt is not real to me but well-prepared yogurt that is made from the milk of a grass-fed cow is. If i sense that the person may know what Paleo is then I ask them if they have ever heard of it. It turns out that many folks in their 20′s have. I’ve been in Hawaii for 4 weeks and out of the 5 real friends I’ve made, 4 of them know what Paleo is. Luckily I am where I am at now and was able to tell them to ignore those who are strict with it.