Recently, I’ve come to terms with the fact that while eating healthy is one thing, loving junk food is another. My attempts to find a balance between the two are a constant struggle, admittedly full of defeat more often than not. While most of us are well aware we should be eating things like vegetables, whole grains and leaner proteins, we also crave the things we shouldn’t like candy, fast food or, in my case, chips. This struggle between knowing what I should eat and what I actually want to eat seems never-ending.
The problem isn’t just the temptation that “junk food” provides. It’s the way it surrounds us everywhere. It’s all over our social media pages, in our advertisements and at the checkout lanes in our local grocery stores. I couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve watched people try that Dubai chocolate bar on my for you page when it was popular.
There’s also the emotional comfort that these snacks provide us. We’ve all partaken in eating our feelings, or we’ve at least watched someone else do so on television. Stressful day or going through a breakup? Ice cream is suddenly your best friend. We can also attach our memories to food. I love to grab a bag of hot fries and an Arizona tea due to my childhood memories. This makes giving them up even harder.
The struggle just gets worse when we feel guilty about it. After a “cheat day”, we promise we’ll do a better job tomorrow. This results in us overcompensating with things like salads, smoothies or restrictive meals, which don’t satisfy me at all and lead me right back to my snacks. This cycle creates endless frustration. Eating healthy should feel amazing, but sometimes it feels like a punishment.
Balance is the key. I have learned that it’s possible to enjoy the snacks without feeling guilty by being mindful about how much of it you’re eating. For example, I used to take down a big bag of chips without a problem. Now, I go for the miniature ones instead. This prevents me from overindulging myself while also maintaining my health journey.
Ultimately, eating healthy while loving junk food is about moderation and being patient with yourself and your own desires. Life is short, and food is a part of what makes us happy.
