Flexitarian - The Tree That Bends Does Not Break

Growing up, I was predominantly vegetarian. My parents, brother and I would eat meat at friend’s homes or restaurants, but it was never cooked in our home. We enjoyed all sorts of seafood and meat, but generations of strict vegetarianism simply meant that we were not confident of cooking it ourselves. The most adventurous we got was frying up a couple of sausages once in a blue moon. Over the course of my life, as I travelled more, local foods and flavours appealed to my adventurous nature, and I would often have to loosen my belt to accommodate my taste buds!

In my late 20’s and early 30’s, as my interest in physical and mental health grew, I started becoming more conscious of what I ate. Always a voracious reader, where I once dove into autobiographies by chefs and food critics, I now focused on nutrition journals, articles on organic vs non-organic produce, the dangers of processed foods, and the environmental consequences of the food industry. I started cutting down on processed foods and store-bought snacks, stopped buying anything that listed palm oil as an ingredient, and switched to whole grains. As my ability to access and afford organic produce grew, I memorized the “dirty dozen” and ‘clean fifteen” lists. Slowly and unconsciously, my relationship with food changed. If I couldn’t buy organic apples, I wouldn’t eat any. If I couldn’t find unprocessed rice, I would spend inordinate amounts of time trying to locate some. I would rather starve and be miserable on a long car ride than stop at a fast-food chain and balance my blood-sugar. I attributed an allergic reaction to a chorizo pizza, underwent a fairly harsh cleanse, and turned completely vegetarian. I was inspired by friends and went even narrower, turning vegan. I was putting only the cleanest, healthiest, freshest, locally sourced foods into my body…and I was miserable.

I had started off eliminating certain foods from my life and had ended up eliminating my joyful relationship with food altogether. I went back to the drawing board. I read up on Orthorexia Nervosa – described as an obsession with healthy eating - and redefined what health overall meant to me. I am now mindful rather than careful. I still prefer certain organic produce over non-organic when available. I’ve started eating meat again and for the most part, cook it at home, because its lighter and I know what goes into it. I indulge in the occasional processed snack, while still steering clear of palm oil. I sample food off friends’ plates when they invite me to, rekindling a spirit of adventure. I eat the colours of the rainbow, finishing dinner by 7pm so my stomach can settle before I go to bed, and I turn the music up and experiment with recipes that sometimes end up in the compost bin. In short, I listen to my body. Using my definition of health as a guide, I eat what I want, when I want, and as much as I want based on what feels right on that day and at that time. I’m a flexitarian.

Leading off from Kim’s post last week – as we move into the new year with resolutions about health and fitness – let’s consider what health and fitness mean to us in the big picture. With that clarity, can we then be mindful and appropriate to what we need in the moment? Whether that’s a massage instead of a marathon, a video call with a loved one instead of a glass of wine, or a glorious vinyasa under a sunny sky? The tree that bends does not break.

Love and light, Prasi.