“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
Are you a person who does a juice cleanse one day, then goes out for 4-course indulgent meal that weekend? Then you, my friend, are not alone.
Recently I read an interesting article in Shape magazine about the recent trend of ‘split personality’ eating patterns, such as egg whites & spinach for breakfast, followed by fettuccine alfredo for dinner, and I thought it would be interesting to chat about it today. After I read it, I kept noticing the examples of extreme eating all around me.
A nutella donut pic that came up on my IG feed… and might I add that it looks heavenly!
Businesses geared towards healthy living, like juice bars and healthy meal delivery companies, are on the rise at the very same time that donut shops and gourmet cupcake spots have become all the rage. My Instagram is a mix between clean eating & workout pics vs. indulgent dessert and food porn. Extreme eating is even present on my DVR with taped shows like My 600 Lb Life and The Biggest Loser (though those shows obviously focus on people who have lost control into only one extreme direction).
Making green juice in a Jim Beam glass yesterday… how’s that for polar opposites?
We have a tendency to be fixated on extremes, so it’s no surprise that people are really into healthy food, like green smoothies, while at the same time being infatuated with indulgent foods, like gourmet cupcakes. So is this so called Polar Opposite Diet helping or hurting our health?
One definite pro that I see to these foodie times that we’re living in is that some people are now sophisticated consumers truly interested in the latest new foods and trends. Looking at our society as a whole, we aren’t invested enough in where our food comes from, what’s actually in it, and what it does to our bodies, so I for one am loving this rising trend of sophisticated food culture. Food isn’t just something to stay alive, eating can (and I think, should!) be a whole fun experience. Just look at the rise of farm-to-table dining. It gives us consumers totally new ways to connect with the food that we’re putting into our bodies.
A recent post-workout mint chocolate protein smoothie from a local juice bar
The article concluded that eating indulgent foods may actually be food for us, citing research that found that women who were more adventurous about what they ate were healthier eaters, had lower BMIs, and were more physically active than those who were less willing to try unfamiliar dishes.
The article also talked about how being open to different flavors may be healthier because people who consume a wide variety of food are more attuned to enjoying tastes and textures, rather than the quantity. To foodies, it’s all about an experience of eating and savoring your eats, rather than the overconsumption that is so common in America. To back up my point, the article also shared research that found that women who consider themselves foodies weight less than woman who don’t.
A berry protein smoothie bowl with lots of yummy toppings
A point that the article made was that this sort of yo-yo type of eating is part of a larger pattern of a desire to make healthy food choices while refusing to deny ourselves indulgences. Many consumers don’t stick to rigid eating plans these days. Severely restricting your diet and saying that you’ll never eat another cookie again just isn’t realistic, so if we look at this split personality eating trend in terms of striving for balance, then this trend is healthy for us.
Pizza? Count me in for a slice!
But that’s just it. There has to be a balance for it to be healthy. There’s got to be way more clean eating than simple carbs and sugar-laced treats. That means that it can’t be green juice every morning and chocolate cake every night, but it may equate to chocolate cake one night a week.
According to research, consumers tend to eat more healthfully at home and more indulgently at restaurants. I can totally identify with this, as it’s something I tend to do myself. This can be a healthy habit if you aren’t eating out all the time. To me, dining out is a treat, so I let myself indulge a bit and enjoy it. But if you’re eating at restaurants every day, then it’s a different story. Again, that word balance comes to mind.
Banana Matcha Smoothie (I recently shared the recipe on here!)
My conclusion? I think that split personality eating can mean a healthy body and a nourished life in all senses of the word, I just think that it’s about finding your sweet spot of healthy living.
In looking at my diet, most nights I’m all about healthy, simple dinners like beans, rices & sautéed veggies; but every now and then I make mac & cheese, drink 2 glasses on wine, and top it off with gelato. I really aim to practice moderation in diet, and am also about finding the perfect balance of nutrition and high-quality food for fueling my active life, while also splurging on that donut or martini here and there. It isn’t always easy to find the right balance and keep it, but it’s doable with some work… and trust me, it’s much more pleasant than putting strict limits on what you can eat and stressing out about it.
On that note, I’m off to make some protein pancakes for lunch… with some dark chocolate chips thrown in for a bit of sweet tooth balance!
Tell me… Thoughts on this concept of split personality eating?
I feel like in some respects I have a split personality because some days I’m all about eating healthy but then I’ll go out for a big meal. But I guess on the overall I eat what I like in moderation or try not to overindulge too often. I think you have to give in to those cupcakes at least once in awhile!
100% agreed! I’m the same way, but like you mentioned, you follow the rule of moderation… So because of that balance that you implement, it sounds like you’re eating a healthful, nutritious diet that makes you happy!
I’m absolutely more health-conscious at home and less so at restaurants. This is absolutely an overall idea that I struggle with! I never go too extreme with healthy eating (i.e. weeklong juice cleanse…no way haha) but I often eat very indulgently when I’m with friends and/or out to eat. It’s tricky! Luckily I balance most of it out with working out and eating mostly wholesome foods.
It IS tricky! Balance is something that we always have to keep striving for & keeping in check right?
I have never thought of it as split personality eating, and I try to think of it as a more balanced approach, as long as it is not polar opposites all the time.
That donut though. WOw!
I know, that donut!! Anything with Nutella looks drool worthy, let alone in fried dough haha. I think that a balanced approach is something a bit difference than split personality eating because there aren’t those constant stark extremes. It’s a balancing act right!
This was a great post. I think I always referred to it as “yo yo dieting” or “binge/restricting”, but I like the “split personality” label better. Definitely everything in moderation, but it’s all about consistency! I feel like I screwed up my metabolism for a long time when I went back and forth between indulging and healthy eating.
Thank you, Dani! YES consistency is key, I couldn’t agree more. And I also believe that swinging back and forth with dieting can wreak havoc on your metabolism… Your body must get so confused with what it’s being fueled with – clean & lean food one day, then too much pizza, beer, & cake the next!
Reading this made me hungry, lol! Really though, I think you make a great point. Why bother eating healthy for a day just so that you can indulge the next? I agree that it’s all about finding a balance. I try not to limit myself if I want something indulgent but I’ve become so accustomed to enjoying healthier foods that it’s pretty rare I crave bad stuff. Eating too much of the “healthified” desserts and breads is where I go wrong. And wine, hehe. 😉
Ah yes, the healthy desserts/bread/etc can give me a belly ache if I eat too much of it for sure!! 😉 It’s all about that one word: BALANCE.
I can totally identify with this. It’s been a constant battle for me since moving here – there’s just so much new stuff to try! I finally feel myself settling in and not having to do ALL the things. There’s a big difference between spilt-personality and balanced eating, in my mind.
Definitely!! That’s a great point. I think that what the article was focusing on was this overall pattern of extreme dieting swings… Not the same thing as healthy, moderate eating with some treats sprinkled in.
San Diego definitely has a lot to offer its foodies! And winos! And beer lovers!
What a great read! I thought this is psychology class and indeed it is. Psychology of eating food, varieties of it. I’ve also read topics like these from consumerhealthdigest from effects of how you decide on choosing your meals. It made me curious about this way of thinking in eating and here I am, reading another blog of split personality eating. Thanks for this because it widened my perspective in being a adventurous eater.