So yesterday I did something I rarely if ever do.

I spoke up.

If you know me at all, I tend to be a background type person.  I don’t like confrontation and it’s really hard for me to be the center of attention.  Like impossible.  But there are times that I have some sass in me that I make known and yesterday was one of those times.

I had to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things that I had forgotten.  I was in the baking aisle looking for some almond flour and two ladies walked up behind me and were looking at the oil.

“Oh my gosh.  Look! Crisco is trying to get into the healthy fats game by selling “organic” coconut oil.”

“Like anyone would buy coconut oil from Crisco.  Don’t they sell vegetable shortening and all that other bad fat?”

As I was listening to this conversation, I almost started to agree with them but then I stopped.  We all complain that we want more affordable healthy options.  We push big food companies to listen to us, to give us the good food we deserve without charging and arm and a leg.  Then when companies, like Crisco, try to give us what we’re asking for we disregard them.  Does selling organic coconut oil instantly make Crisco the best and newest healthy company?  No, but it shows they’re listening to us.  And what do you think happens if we all ignore them because they’re Crisco and “sell vegetable shortening and all that other bad fat?”  They pull that affordable organic coconut from their line and someone who maybe couldn’t afford the other brands suddenly can’t buy coconut oil anymore.

I don’t know what made me do it, but I had to respond to this whole incident.  So I politely said excuse me and reached for the Crisco organic coconut oil between these two ladies.

“Thanks.  You know it’s really great that there are some affordable coconut oil options now.  Those little $13 jars never seem to last!”

I smiled and then just walked away.  Was it a little snarky?  Yeah, but I did my best to not make it about shaming these women because that wasn’t my goal.  We have to do a better job of working with what food industries are giving us.  It’s going to take a lot of time and it isn’t going to be perfect.  We need to work on not being snobs about our healthy products and realize if someone is choosing the Crisco coconut oil over things like vegetable oil or canola oil or corn oil then that’s a small victory.

Please, don’t be a health hypocrite.  If you can afford to buy high-end all organic food and products, that’s great but not everyone can do that and the fact that there are more and more options for those on a budget is awesome.  Let’s support those people and those companies that are making an effort and maybe one day EVERYONE can afford the high-end all organic food we deserve.