When I was working in the Ophthalmology private practice it was hectic, my job was to make everything swell and smooth, to define efficiency with each step I took, I was glad to, of course.
Some of my activities were to be an Ophthalmic assistant when there were too many patients, to soften the anxious/cranky patients attitude, to assist with ophthalmic procedures, check postop's (post operated patients). I was the multitasking Dr's Assistant and proud to, I was in the best place in the country, learning up close from the greatest ophthalmologist, it was the perfect introduction to ophthalmology and the greatest boost for entering the residency. In all of those days, being busy most of the time, I never disregarded my meals. Since I had to be at work at 7:30 a.m., this meant I had to be wake up at 6 a.m. to have a complete, nutritious breakfast and to eat it slowly, enjoy it. Then, after I arrived work, and it got crazy, I took one minute at midmorning to have a healthy snack- one minute think about it, is just nothing. After the morning was over we had 1 hour for lunch, I always brought something from home, usually some greens + protein + other, and here is were the unusual comments began. "Oh wow, are you on a diet?" me: "Mmm, no why?" "You eat healthy all the time."
This is the common mentality, if you eat healthy you must be on a diet. Why on earth is this the odd thing? why should I should be eating healthy only because I need to lose weight?
It took some time for everyone to figure out this was my normal way of eating and that's when they started asking for advice. I acknowledge the fact that this healthy lifestyle is not one everyone has or has the chance to get to know. I wasn't always this healthy of course, it was until I learned to eat; I saw the benefits of eating healthy, and most of them come in the long run. I was fortunate enough to have a nutritionist in the house, my mother is not only a Great nutritionist, she is also an amazing cook. Adding nutritionist+cook you get the best in a healthy yummy way.
Coming to Argentina was a similar story from a different point of view- my grandmother's.
Over here eating is sacred. Eating good food is Ubersacred. When I first arrived she would try to stuff me like a turkey 24/7, everything was homemade and "healthy" for her. Homemade bread for breakfast with homemade jam, pastry is a big deal here and it is incredible (honest), lunch: Homemade spaghettis or raviolis with more of that bread, or vegetable pie, and for dessert: fruit. One sunday I got sick, I was feverish with stomach ache, the change of food had sickened me. I didn't want to hurt her feelings but I had to find a way around it or else, I went to the store and bought lettuce+tomatoes+natural yogurt+ the less sugared cornflakes I could find+ fruit. At the beginning it was shocking for her, she couldn't understand how I could eat like this, "This is unhealthy, you are going to be weak" she used to say. Slowly we started incorporating these healthy foods and some other in our meals.
I understand her, she comes from a different time when everything was used without even thinking about the consequences (I guess they weren't even known!) , butter was used as if it was water.
Since then, I have found the balance here to enjoy the delicioussssss pastry and pasta she makes without getting off the health wagon. She has even learned to eat healthier, has lost like 10 pounds without even realizing that the little changes I subliminally made her make have shed off that extra weight.
Eating healthy is not a punishment and that is what everybody needs to understand, it is a perfect balance and enjoyment of food without preventing yourself of enjoying something that isn't healthy once in awhile. My mother always says "Moderation is key."
- M
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