Not a New Year's Resolution

Yesterday, my daughter informed me that she wants to try being a vegetarian. She's tried before but always succumbed to meat. I didn't remind her of that, I just said okay, and asked her what she wants from the grocery store. She also told me that she wants to start eating healthier. I'm good with that. So when I go grocery shopping, I'll be getting lots of greens, tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, and the like. I'll probably buy some tuna so I can have an alternative to the PB&J sandwiches in her lunch.

My problem is that she used the dreaded “D” word: diet.

I didn't lose it (outwardly), I didn't go off on a tangent about how girls have a really skewed self-image, I didn't tell her that she doesn't need to diet, I didn't tell her any of those things. I started off with, “diets don't work”.

Of course, she asked why I said that.

I explained that “a diet” is a temporary change in eating habits. I told her that if she's really interested in eating healthier, it should be an actual change. I told her to cut back on junk food, and eat less processed food. I told her to make some small changes, rather than a wholesale, radical change. Then I realized, hmmm, I just gave some good advice to my daughter that I should heed.

I don't intend to become a vegetarian, but I am going to eat less processed food. Notice that I didn't say I'd eliminate it. I know that just isn't possible for me. Eating more vegetables, that's possible. Eating more fruit? Totally doable. Eliminating boxed mac-n-cheese? Ain't gonna happen permanently.

It shouldn't be too difficult. We only have soda in the house when we have parties. We all like to drink water (though mine runs through coffee a lot). We're not big on fast food. We go to Wendy's maybe two or three times a year. We do like our pizza, though. Will I try the pizza recipe with the cauliflower crust? Probably not. Once in a while, we'll probably splurge with a real pizza, but not once a month. Once in a while.

I'm not sure how long my daughter will be a vegetarian; it may be a day, a week, or a month. It may be permanent. I will always support her choice, as long as she doesn't use that “D” word. Ever again.