In recent weeks (after working at a cafe), I’ve become a little more aware of people’s definitions of and reactions to “fattening” foods…

Oh, I can’t eat that… it’s too fattening.

I’m watching my weight so I need to choose something less fattening to eat – a salad would probably be healthier for me.

A common “fattening food” theme? Fat-based foods such as Butter, Whole Milk, Cream, and Eggs are mainly avoided to be “healthy.”

Why the heck do we correlate Dietary Fat to Body Fat? Are we that brainwashed to believe that once we consume Fat that we will automatically gain fat? The mindset is very interesting to say the least. But hey, I’ve been there – thought that, and I can say from my experience that whenever I avoided “fattening” foods I actually got fatter.

So, what’s really fattening? Carbs? French fries? Sweet Potato Fries? Chips? Blue Non-GMO Corn Chips? Soda? Diet Soda? Natural Soda? White Rice? Brown Rice? Bread? Whole Wheat Bread? Sprouted Bread? Fruit? Juice? 1/2 The Sugar Fruit Juice? Sugar? Brown Sugar? High-Fructose Corn Syrup? Stevia? Aspartame Saturated Fat? Red Meat? Egg Yolks? Bacon? Butter? Whole milk? Cheese? Ice Cream? Chocolate? Not exercising? Watching TV? A lower Glycemic Index Food? Beer? Liquor? 

What CAN we eat that’s NOT fattening?!

Much of what’s “fattening” is based on the individual – not-so-much the food, but how a person consumes (caloric amount/value, nutrient value, environment, emotions, duration, preparation, temperature), digests/assimilates/absorbs (breaks down properly, secretion of digestive enzymes, attain all nutrients available), utilizes (energy efficiency, conversion to cellular energy for proper bodily functions), detoxifies (eliminate dietary/environmental toxins via the liver and kidneys), reacts hormonally (levels of testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, serotonin, glucagon, insulin, leptin, etc.), and excretes the food (healthy BM’s, constipation, diarrhea, food in stool, irregular patterns, etc).

There’s that and then there are environmental stressors: sleeping patterns, work deadlines, school deadlines, relationship burdens, self-love, self-happiness, life decisions, daily choices, and so on.

Yes, I do believe that certain foods play a consistent role in fat storage (dietary stress), but before you go blaming food, try to take some responsibility, blame, and perspective for yourself.

FYI – While writing today’s blog I consumed a whole pint of whole milk vanilla ice cream w/added salt and a 12 oz. coffee w/4oz. whole milk and 4 packets of sugar… and I ain’t storing no fat. Approximate Totals: Calories: 864. Fat: 52g. Carb: 96g. Protein: 10g

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