I’m not a vegan, I eat eggs and honey.

I’m not paleo, I eat grains and legumes.

I’m not a raw foodist, I cook a lot of my food.

I’m Katie and I am so much more than the way I eat.

I think that the health world can get too caught up in labels.  We all want to know what diet you’re following or what workout craze is holding your attention.  We want to tout the benefits of a certain lifestyle over another.  Sometimes we want to spend all our energy bashing other lifestyles that don’t fit our mold.  Either way it can seem that instead of a person all we see is a label.

I understand the necessity of labels.  I use them myself, on my blog, on Instagram and Facebook and Twitter.  It is helpful when sharing recipes to let people know what is or isn’t in the ingredients.  But I don’t want to feel tied to a name that only describes one thing about me.

Yes, I eat mostly plant-based.  Yes, I don’t eat dairy.  Yes, I limit the amount of gluten I eat.  I do all these things because that way of eating is what works best for me.  The foods I eat are what fuel me in the best way, satisfies my hunger in the best way, and tastes good to me.  It’s ok to not have a specific name for the way you eat.

Eat real food, as close to their natural state as possible.

Try to avoid processed or man made food products.

Don’t worry about what is on your neighbors plate.

Let them eat for them and you eat for you.

We’ll all be a lot happier and healthier if we keep those things in mind.