Look at what Alice (my mother-in-law) has:
Alice was into chia seeds way before I was...how cool is that?
I’ve been reading the book pictured – so interesting! I’ll have to share some chia facts with you in another post. Anyway, these chia seeds got me thinking, and then things just kind of snowballed in my mind. So many things to share, and I apologize if this post seems somewhat scattered, but that’s the way my brain works.
If you haven’t noticed, I tend eat the same things over and over. The day after CD and I arrived in Arizona, we immediately went to both Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s for fresh veggies, oat bran, and almond butter. I was beyond excited to see Alice’s stash of chia seeds, and y’all already know my suitcase was stocked with plenty of Jay Robb love.
Often, I’ll claim to be in a food rut and try eating different foods for a while. However, a few days later, I’ll back to my same old eats. The question is why do I do this? I mean, I never get tired of the food I eat. Is it because I feel my body needs more variety? Is it because I feel I’m deficient in certain vitamins or minerals? Is it because I write a food blog, and don’t want my readers to get bored? For whatever reason, why do I constantly feel pressured to eat a more diverse diet? Oat bran every morning? Yes please, but should I be eating something else? My question to you: Is a diverse diet truly necessary?
As long as I’m getting all of my nutrients and eating healthy, why shouldn’t I eat my same simple foods over and over if that’s what I want? Our ancestors ate this way, and I don’t remember reading anything about obesity or diabetes in Little House on the Prairie, ya know? Seth Roberts made a really good point in this blog post yesterday:
Plenty of communities in excellent health eat diets that American experts would describe as not balanced at all — no fruit for example, or too much dairy. Eskimos and the Swiss in isolated villages studied by Weston Price are two examples. Price found that a wide range of diets, most violating one or more popular nutritional precepts, produced excellent health…The human diet became a lot more diverse around the time of the “broad-spectrum revolution” — broad-spectrum meaning wider range of food. Around that time human height decreased. Apparently the new, more diverse diet was less healthy than the old diet.
Something clicked when I read this, and I made a decision, and my belly, brain, and heart are all in agreement. I’m going to eat what I want when I want it. Simple healthy real foods from the earth…what more do I need? 
On that note, I leave you with my breakfast:
Chia protein oat bran. Just what I wanted.
CD’s Random Comment of the Day:
Sorry folks, no comment today. I took CD’s batteries out. (Anyone watch The Office last night?)
{ 54 comments }
Also, supposedly it’s easier for us to maintain our weights when we have less variety. Dr. Oz recommends we have the same breakfast and lunch every single day, with a few different choices for dinner. That’s why it’s so hard not to overeat at a buffet or something, because our brains want to try everything! It’s Evolution, Baby! (To paraphrase Pearl Jam.) Anyways, you’re eating healthy, why mess with it?
I never thought of a simple diet that way, but it is an exciting idea! I would love to read more opinions on that. Thanks for sharing = )
Hmm.. I thought I’d get bored with a simple diet like that, but it turns out, I already DO that! Interesting!
It’s so true about the pressure to eat a diverse range of foods. Of course, you don’t want to limit yourself intentionally by labeling foods as good or bad, but why force yourself to eat something in the sake of diversity.
I think it might be a North American phenomenon (which is spreading as other countries are influenced by our eating habits). We are spoiled in the food choices available to us (both processed and unprocessed foods). We are also spoiled by our dining options. We can eat whatever ‘ethnic’ food we desire (Mexican, Indian, Japanese, etc). I like your view, eat what you want. I try and do this every day at dinner (the only meal I don’t plan for). I honestly ask myself out loud, what tastes are you craving? Since I always do the ‘healthy’ version of most everything I can satisfy myself and not feel deprived all at the same time.
have a great day.
I completely agree with everything you say, but I have to point out one teensy little thing: Little House on the Prairie DID have an obesity ep. Check it out: http://www.tv.com/little-house-on-the-prairie/for-the-love-of-nancy/episode/71270/summary.html
I know, I am a HUGE loser for knowing that.
Amen sista!! I tend to get hooked on certain things and eat them over and over, but I just love to cook and try new recipes too. Some of my variety is because of that reason. However there are days when I just want something simple that I KNOW will be good and satisfying. Oats are one of those meals for me, I never get sick of them and sometimes eat them multiple times a day.
OOH, and I want that Chia book! Does it have recipes???
ahahha oh CD… i actually thought of you while i was watching the office last night because you are my pam look alike, and it was cracking me up!!
I agree that if you are getting all of the nutrients you need, as well as a sufficient amount of calories, it shouldn’t matter whether there is variety or not. thank heavens, your pretty blendy things can live on!
So with you! I always feel like I should “switch it up” more often, but in reality- I’m very happy eating the foods I eat! And if they work for me and are healthy, why not just keep on doing what I’m doing? I’m glad your trip is going so well!!
BTW- we all love your blog and the things you eat- don’t change!!
Great post, HEAB, as always. I think as long as our repetitive foods have adequate nutrition (i.e. NOT crack wraps, but probably Hugh Jass salads) then we have no reason to “switch things up” just for the sake of doing so. BUT, sometimes I find that when I do try new things, I come up with something fantastic.
Hmm…maybe its all about that BALANCE word again. Shoot.
Have a great weekend Heather!
Interesting thoughts on the diet diversity! Something to ponder.
that’s so interesting, and i can totally see how diversity makes me eat more than I really need… but i like trying new things
maybe once i try it all i can settle down–hehe!
SO TRUE!!! SOmetimes I force myself to try something new, or to eat something different. BUT WHY? I don’t want that! I want my plain old peanut butter and banana oats, ya know? SOmetimes I think being a food blogger drives me to eat something different, to keep it fresh. But I’m feeding MY body and it is MY blog and MY space…I don’t need to impress anyone right!?
Thanks Heather, for sharing your thoughts! You are such a gem! I have a feeling we would get a long beautifully =)
I don’t think a diverse diet is a bad thing and from all that I’ve read, it’s quite the opposite. A diverse diet ensures that you get a variety of nutrients from different sources. I think it also can be a combatant against cancers and other diseases that may be linked to too much of one thing. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a routine. I think the body naturally prefers a routine with regards to exercise, sleep, food, etc…routine provides balance, structure and security. So, I guess my theory would be that eating the same types of foods everyday is ok so long as they aren’t the same EXACT foods each day. A little variety is a good thing-esp for the taste buds!
Maybe you should do an experiement?
I don’t think a diverse diet is a bad thing and from all that I’ve read, it’s quite the opposite. A diverse diet ensures that you get a variety of nutrients from different sources. I think it also can be a combatant against cancers and other diseases that may be linked to too much of one thing. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a routine. I think the body naturally prefers a routine with regards to exercise, sleep, food, etc…routine provides balance, structure and security. So, I guess my theory would be that eating the same types of foods everyday is ok so long as they aren’t the same EXACT foods each day. A little variety is a good thing-esp for the taste buds!
Maybe you should do an experiment?
yay for eating what you want when you want it!! it’s YOUR meal and YOUR body, so you get to choose what to do with it
(i’m so jealous of your spa trip with m-i-l, btw. it looks/sounds lovely!)
To be honest, I like having consistent meals for breakfast and lunch at the least. It keeps my stress down (of having to come up with something new), keeps meal prep quick, I like the food and don’t get tired of it, and it is easier to keep my grocery bills down because I can buy favorite ingredients in bulk. I like to trial out a new recipe when I have time, but it is really a hobbie, not a need.
For me, the pressure seems to come from my husband who wants more variety. So he just gets to do the cooking a lot
I think it is important to have a diverse diet. Not to say you need x amount of days before you repeat any food but for example, if the only leafy green you ate all week was spinach you would be missing out on many nutrients that are found in kale, chard, collards, etc. Just because something is healthy doesn’t mean it contains all the nutrients you need. And with regards to Weston Price–that research has been shown to be highly highly uncredible.
I tend to eat the same things for breakfast and lunch but try to mix things up for dinner. Also, hubby, the teenager and the toddler seem to complain less if there is variety at dinner.
But, you are so right, I think it is so important to eat what you want! And as long as you eat a well balanced diet, I don’t think there is anything wrong with eating the same food…
When I’m on the school meal plan, I have sooooo many food options. Some healthy…some absolutely terrible. It makes me super anxious about my diet. When I’m home for the holidays, I feel so much less anxious because I have 1 or 2 choices for breakfast and lunch. My parents mix it up at dinner, but it’s usually broccoli, chicken, and a starch/carb. Simplicity. I love it. I don’t see anything wrong with it as long as you are getting the essential nutrients in! Have a great weekend!
Beautifully said! I tend to choose a lot of variety in fruits and veggies. But everything else I eat (i.e. oatmeal, cottage cheese, hummus, veggies burgers) tends to be repetitious.
Sometimes I think it’d be so fun/cool/awesome to have a ‘real’ food blog and post everything I eat. Then I realize, I’d be posting the SAME pics for bfast and lunch almost everyday…with dinners changed up every now and then. B-o-r-i-n-g, I know. But I never tire of my favorite foods!
I say, eat what YOU want to eat. And if that’s oats every morning, we’ll still watch ya from our seats.
P.S. I GREW UP watching LHOTP every single morning! Like, I wanted to be Laura. And I would’ve seriously kicked Nelly’s a**.
You sound like Polly! And I totally agree. Give me my oat bran, spinach, kabocha, and fresh veggies and I’ll be happy
I have no problem trying out new things (I mean, just a few months ago I had never had oat bran!!) but I think it’s perfectly fine to stick with what you love.
H-bran,
H = oats
Girl you knew I’d love this post! Amen sister!
I had gotten so frustrated with myself for trying new things just cause I thought I “should” and just wished I’d stuck to my usual stuff. I say if you love it and it’s healthy…
same stuff = same joy
I am a big fan of a simple diet and the girls who blog all these amazing creative meals are wonderful! But for me and my belly, our short list of 10-15 foods is perfect.
By the way, I had a cara cara orange today and it was yummy! Tried one of those the first time this winter! So sometimes a little bravery pays off.
Yes… that makes 3 fruits today… rasp, nana, and that orange. But we’ll say 3 is the limit, for puff free bellies. XOXO 
LOVE YOU and have fun in AZ!
I think I’m pretty boring with my eats, but I guess it’s a good thing?
I pretty much just love this post!
Sometimes when I blog, I just feel like eating the same things. Because they’re so damn good! But then I think my blog will be boring blah blah blah.
You make a really great point. I think I’ll start getting back to my favorites, which makes me the happiest.
I so agree Heather! I too eat a balanced healthy diet already, but I have been struggling with the meal variety issue since I started blogging a little over a month ago. I was feeling all this pressure to mix it up, but I haven’t felt very good about it. I eat for nourishment as well as enjoyment and I find that the more pressure I put on myself the less those two things were fulfilled. I commend your commitment to yourself first and foremost! I will try to follow your lead and eat my favorites from now on!
Thanks!!
I enjoyed this, I’ve heard before that we don’t really need a diverse diet but I’m trained to think we do. I’m sure either way can be fine, and I think that’s what is important. Do what you like and what works for you. In food, exercise, and everything!
You know that simplicity is my absolute mantra, dear.
Just as a point of interest, that’s what food combining — which many people are scared of — is really all about. Simple combinations = better digestion.
xoxo
i totally don’t think you have to change up your variety if you don’t want to. you body agrees with everything you eat and that’s great! i only wish i could find that medium!
You have the best MIL ever!! Seriously, I’m so jealous right now! And interesting point about diversity not equalling health. I’ve read Weston Price’s research and it is certainly astounding.
Oooh I’m a recent chia seed lover! I have a pudding recipe I’ve been meaning to try…
As for eating the same stuff, I was thinking exactly what you wrote–indigenous cultures didn’t have the luxury of variety like we do and they were just fine. Though their diets did fluctuate with the seasons, so that variable might be one to mimic.
i think the notion of eating a variety is so that we spread out our chances of getting more of the nutrition we need and less of the crap we don’t. But if you are feeling good and eating well, do what your body says!
It’s so easy to get stuck on the same foods because how can you resist oatbran topped with almond butter? It’s close to impossible! I love reading your blog because you are so amazingly healthy and happy and your posts are so positive! I don’t think anyone will stop reading just because the almond butter is still in all your pictures
I love the idea of “simple real foods.” The one thing I have struggled with as a nutrition major is some many exact numbers…you need to eat a certain percent of protein, a certain percent of carbs, a specific number of low fat dairy servings, etc. When I read Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food, he talks about some communities that eat diets that would considered “unhealthy” by our nutrition standards (i think one group drank blood and whole milk…), but they had long life expectancies and not many health problems. the only diet that seems to make everyone unhealthy is one with lots of processed foods. if you want to eat chia oat bran everyday, that’s great! and definitely better than special k or some breakfast bar
Heather,
I think having a food blog has led me to try to have more variety in my diet. For me that has been a good thing. I spent three years having the EXACT same breakfast every single morning. I never missed a day. 3 years! That’s crazy.
But I can understand your point. Sometimes too much variety can be too much pressure.
Interesting thoughts…
Have a great Friday!
With love,
Emily
Interesting food for thought, Miss Heather! I guess so much is pounded into our heads these days about variety in the diet that we all feel pressure to keep switching it up. I think a diet repetitive in Big Macs is obviously a lot different than your repeat oat bran bowls and chia puddings, you know? Still something to think about. I’m apologetic when I eat the same foods over and over, but as long as we’re enjoying them and they are fuelling us properly, why not, right?
nice post, love this way of thinking!!!
First of all, I think it’s awesome that your MIL is so health conscious!
Secondly, I really appreciate your thoughts about eating the same foods over and over. I always feel a little self conscious when I post the same meals day in and day out but it’s what my body wants. I feel best when I eat this way. Now that I’ve read this I feel a little more secure in the fact that if I’m not bored with my eats then why not keep eating it. Obviously somethings working!
LOVED The Office last night!
<3 The Office. I honestly go through food cycles. I’ll eat the same thing (or type of thing) every day for a few weeks or months, and then one day…it’ll all just change.
I’m the same Heather, I eat pretty much the same thing because I like it. I sometimes feel like I should be more creative because I blog about it, but that wouldn’t really be an accurate representation of what I like to eat. Consistency isn’t a bad thing!
Chia Seeds and Almond Butter. Doesn’t get much better than that!
i think the concept of eating the same foods over and over is really interesting. if you’ve seen the documentary “FAT,” they talk about the Pima Indians, which as a people were always extremely healthy until their diets began including western influences and foods that weren’t something that they would naturally have eaten. they were, for example, the original consumers of chia seeds! and now have staggering obesity rates.
the work of the weston price foundation is fascinating. if you get a chance, read their information about raw milk vs. pasteurized and homogenized dairy. as someone that does not drink milk, it was incredibly enlightening.
Yeah i get what you mean! the other day my father was like “why do you eat oats every morning? try something else for gods sake!” and yeah sometimes i try new things but i generally stuck with just three things for breakfast: protein and papaya smoothie, oats or yogurt with grated carrot.
just that, and i think it’s just fine!!
Mmmmm.
You definitely thought that over really well. I love how in-depth you go with things. I think it’s funny that we worry about what our readers will think. I’m the same way!
Your oat bran with pro and chia seeds looks so hearty and tick and delicious and I just love it to death!
Totally agree with you girl–and I think it’s soo cool that your mom had chia seeds before you!
<3 jess
xoxo
I agree 100% I”m all about the simple things in life, and more often than not, this is the simple meals I make each day. I find myself eating the same foods over and over–but if I love them, and they’re healthy, then why feel the need to change? Give me whole grains (brown rice and oats), veggies, kabocha, seaweed, nuts and a bit of fish, and flax oil, and i’m one happy camper!
Your chia oatbran looks divine!
I often find myself bookmarking/ripping out all these different and new recipes. And on occasion I’ll stumble on one that becomes a favorite. But our family too, seems to be creatures of habit and happy with the same, simple stuff most of the time. Do what works for you!
I’ve often thought about my routine in that way but I suppose it simply works for me… and what’s wrong with that?
If you don’t take out his battery, he’ll just keep going all day.
I think you got a good point! do we really need varieties? I think the answer is not necessarily to satisfy the nutrient department. But I do think it’s necessary to have them because it’s fun, it helps to be creative and most of all, if we don’t try new food, I’d never discover new favorites food.
But that’s my thoughts, and I enjoy doing it. If you don’t, and feel like an obligation to do it for someone else (like blog readers) then I think it’s not fun and you should respect your body and do whatever it feels better.
I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating the foods you love over and over. I say this mostly because I have a few digestive issues, so I like to stick with what works for me. I think in terms of health, variety isn’t that important. But it is fun to change it up sometimes for the sake of our tastebuds
I agree about diversity. As long as you’re getting in your nutritionals and you’re feeling satisfied, that’s all that matters. I must admit that in some way, I envy you. I get so bored when eating the same things. I get kind of jealous of all the bloggers who eat their oats (meal or bran) every morning because I just can’t do it, even though sometimes I crave it. I very rarely want to eat leftovers and I never eat the same thing two times in a row. I know that for me, diversity helps so I never *do* tire of my favorites and I get to spread the love between a few good standbys, but sometimes what I *think* I want and what I *really* want gets confusing. Does that make sense? There have been so many times when I’ve made ____ and started to eat it and it’s just not been what I was craving at all. Then there are times when I question if I am eating something because I truly love it or because I think I need to branch out. I’m starting to really listen to my body and what it likes and finally giving power to that choice. So yeah, I am kind of jealous! Of knowing exactly what you love and all the chia seeds in your life
This is such an interesting post, and so very true. I too tend to get stuck in ‘ruts’ and try to branch out a bit due to encouragement of others as to getting more ‘diversity’ in my diet. However I always find that I know whats best for my body and my health, and simple, nourishing foods just fit with me so much better.
It really is such a personal, individual thing!
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend
aww Heather, you know, i tend to eat the same things over and over again, too. i think it’s just because i like those things and they’re familiar to me.
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 1 trackback }