I Don’t Even Like Greek Yogurt

I don’t even like Greek yogurt. I really don’t.

It is one of those things that in order to be a “healthy” eater, I felt I needed to eat Greek yogurt. Recipes called for it, so I bought it. The thing was, the majority of the time, the rest of it would go to waste because I just couldn’t force myself to eat it. What was I thinking?

All in the name of “being healthy.”

The magazines scream it. The morning talk shows on tv are covered with this subject. Weight loss and fitness centers are busy, busy, busy. All in the name of being healthy.

Now don’t get me wrong. Staying active, eating healthy, and finding better ways to do both are needed and I do the same. I think eating healthy has many benefits. In fact, I have talked about 25 steps towards healthy eating, the whys and hows of eating “real” food, and have shared some healthy recipes in the process. I do not have a gym membership, but see nothing wrong with them.

The thing that I get hung up on is that our culture treats these “Greek yogurt” fads as either you are all in or you are all out. I am here to tell you that you are doing the best you can and that is the best you can do. Yes, I would love to buy all organic food and make everything completely from scratch. That would be ideal to me personally. But honestly, our budget can’t handle all organic and I do not have the time to make everything from scratch (though I have this secret desire to one day homestead!)

I would love to love Greek yogurt, but outside of putting it in a recipe, I don’t really like it. I have tried it about 10x, but each time I have to force myself to eat it. I do remember having one flavor (I think it was Key Lime Pie and THAT was super good), but other than that, I think I will be sticking to regular yogurt.

Then there is just the whole stigma around eating healthy. I think often times, in order to be labeled a healthy eater, you are also required to cook these gourmet dishes with ingredients no one has ever heard of. Oh, and you have to have stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s blocks away. Well, I do neither, and I would say we are really striving towards semi-healthy eating. I say semi-healthy because we still do buy the occasional frozen pizza. I bought fried chicken the other day. But the majority of the time, I would say we eat pretty healthy. It is a work in progress and it is in moderation.

We do not have fancy natural food stores near us and I am okay with that. I am okay with Aldi. I am okay with buying what we can afford and making what we enjoy. I know many of you know how obsessed I am with Aldi, but their Simply Nature line rocks! They say with healthy eating, you should be able to pronounce each of the ingredients listed on the product. With this food line, I can. Even my 18 month old daughter enjoys their products. And it’s affordable! Food pouches for kids – 1.67 (or something like that) for 4. Yes, for FOUR of them. Go to any other store and buy the individual ones and they will be over $1.00 a piece. Can’t beat that!

I am not against Greek yogurt. I wish I liked it – I really do! The health benefits are awesome, but my taste buds just can’t take it, outside of a few flavored ones I have had. But what that taught me is that it’s okay. I don’t need to eat Greek yogurt to be a healthy eater. I don’t need to be a gourmet cook to be a healthy eater. I don’t need to shop at certain stores to be a healthy eater. I mean, yeah, it’d be nice to have a Trader Joe’s, but such is life, right? I am just thankful to have options of what store to go to. I am just thankful to have food on the table. At every single meal.

I am not against exercising. In the summer, I probably go on at least 2 bike rides and 1-2 walks a day as well. I enjoy being active and I think staying active is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body (and for your child). But again, this is all in moderation. I would love to spend hours and hours working out and looking like the next Olympian (let’s be honest, they all look amazing), but I have other priorities I want to tend to. I am NOT saying doing those things are wrong, by all means! But I know for me, it’s in moderation.

Moderation, moderation, moderation.

All that to say, what are you beating yourself up over? Where do you need to take a deep breath and tell yourself “it’s okay.” What do you just need to set aside and move on from the mentality of?

I can be healthy and not eat Greek yogurt daily. I can be healthy and not look like an Olympian (okay, but secretly I guess I would love to). But really, it’s all in moderation and that is where you will find a happy medium.

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