The topic of food can be so touchy. Have you noticed?
I certainly have. From friends to family to a live-in partner or significant other, it can really touch a nerve, especially if you’re “different,” i.e., vegan, vegetarian, raw, gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, or any other kind of foodie you can think of.
But is it about you so much as it is them?
People change their diet for any number of reasons. They may realize they’re allergic to a certain food, or perhaps they want to lose weight, or maybe ethics come into play and it drives them to explore other dietary palettes. Whatever the reason, it all serves a worthy purpose yet it causes others to question their own choices.
Which isn’t the point at all!
It can definitely make things uncomfortable, and knowing how to deal with how others perceive you so that you don’t get overwhelmed with feeling like you stand out from the crowd is essential.
To make it easy, the following 4 strategic moves to living with someone who eats differently than you can be lifesavers:
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Don’t be so strict. I’m a firm believer in the 90/10 Rule, which means 90% of the time you’re perfect and 10% of the time you’re not. As humans, perfection is unrealistic, but you can certainly maintain stellar eating practices and adhere to a diet that works best for you most of the time. Allergies aside, if you want chicken wings and beer on game day with your guy, go for it! Just not every day.
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Make it fun. [bctt tweet=”Usually when someone gets squeamish about what you eat, it’s because they lack understanding”] about why you eat the way you do. But when it’s fun, it’s not so standoffish. Include them when you cook, introduce them to new ingredients, educate them on the science behind your food choices, or try new recipes at least once a week!
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Own it! Don’t back down when challenged about what you eat. You’re important too, and what you eat matters! It can literally be a matter of life or death, and not something to take lightly, but the psychology behind how eating apart from the crowd can make you feel isolated and in turn make you cave on yourself. If someone in your life is feeling left out or is unsupportive, have a conversation to figure out why, and find ways to meet in the middle that accommodate both of you.
- Remember you aren’t always what you eat. There’s a lot more to life than food, although food does play an important role. Food becomes your body, but there’s always room for more. Neither person has to be “right” about what they eat, just content and satisfied, and to everyone that often means something different. The golden rule to food is what works for one doesn’t always work for another; keeping that in mind makes compromise easier and puts the relationship at the forefront of your negotiations instead of food itself.
Plenty of people who eat differently enjoy mutually satisfying relationships regardless, so don’t lose hope if you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye. As with all relationships, communication is the key to breaking down the barriers that prevent you from feeling more connected with each other and potentially trigger you back into old eating behaviors.
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Love,
~ Angela
Angela Minelli is an 
author, speaker and founder of Angela Minelli International, a heart-based global business serving purpose-driven everyday women and entrepreneurs whose self-image and weight issues are inhibiting their confidence and blocking them from pursuing their life’s passion.
Angela's joy is in taking a stand for women who are living less than ideal lives, stopped by fear and doubt, which prevents them from stepping into their innate power and delivering their God-given genius to the world. Her coaching programs and products are designed for women with busy lifestyles yet allow for powerful transformation to take place within a small segment of time.
As a natural health practitioner and digestive health specialist, Angela specializes in helping people overcome weight and energy issues through holistic, non-invasive protocols that address the root cause of their conditions, including adrenal fatigue, candida, thyroid disorders, and more.
Explore the ideals that are the cornerstone of her work at angelaminelli.com.