Well, it’s been quite an interesting week hasn’t it?
I have so much to say that I think I have to break this up into several posts. So here’s Post #1.
I was recently contacted by the Founding Editor of EL Magazine due to THIS post I made that was shared over 100 times. There were several of “us” that have been contacted which was actually very interesting. I’ve never been contacted by a magazine editor so this was a first.
I will get into my thoughts over all this in another post because quite frankly, I feel overwhelmed with what was discussed and the discussions I have had since then as well. I’d rather do more investigation and thorough research on what took place before I open that up can of worms.
One question I want to focus on was what Pilar, the editor, asked me and that was: “Can you tell me why you don’t like Vani Hari and why you didn’t want her on our cover?”
Me: “Ummm well like I said I didn’t even know who she was until a couple months ago. I actually “Liked” her FB page at the request of a friend. I saw she was followed by a few people I know and respect in this industry so I figured, why not? Honestly though, I unliked her after just a few weeks and I for the life of me, I cannot tell you why. I just know she must have rubbed me the wrong way.”
Pilar: “Okay why or how did she do that?”
Me: “Well, I’ve heard she says silly stuff in reference to chemicals causing cancer and microwaves being the worst thing in the world and…I know she deletes comments on her page and bans people for trying to engage her in a debate.”
It became clear that I didn’t really know too much about her and I’m not ashamed to admit that here. Pilar mentioned the other responds to that question were very similar to mine. Heresay.
So, now that I have a computer in front of me, and time, I am finally going to answer that question. So I’m copying and pasting some of her latest posts from her Facebook Page and here is my reaction to them.
September 28
Beware of Food Industry Fake Outs. There’s no butter in that “Extra Butter” Pop Secret, NO peaches in the “Peaches & Cream Quaker Oats”, NO lime in those “Chili Lime Special K Cracker Chips”, NO orange, grape or lemon in that “Orange, Grape, Lemon Jello”, NO strawberries or bananas in that “Strawberry Banana Bash Trix Yogurt”, NO vanilla in that “Nesquick vanilla milk”, NO strawberry in that “Nesquick strawberry milk”, NO butter in that “Butter Pam”, NO real carrots in that “Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix”, and NO berries in that “Fruit Roll Up.” #FoodBabeArmy
Okay well, right off the bat this does not strike me as new information.
I already know this information.
This is the equivalent of someone telling me “There’s no crystals in Crystal Light.”
Conclusion: I am not the target audience.
September 28 “Millions of Americans take over-the-counter painkillers like Advil or Aleve for any random ache, pain, or cold symptom, without a second thought. What most don’t know is that those drugs — called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) — are responsible for over 16,000 deaths per year: that’s more deaths per year than caused by asthma or AIDS. And, there is another less-recognized side effect — or, more accurately, another less-recognized effect, because side effects are nothing more than unwanted effects of medication. NSAIDs damage your gut lining, causing a condition responsible for a whole range of ailments, from allergies to autoimmune disease. It’s called leaky gut.” – Aviva Romm, MD & Dr. Mark Hyman, MD
So SHE herself is not claiming this, she’s merely quoting two doctors.
I have heard of “leaky gut.” I have no idea if this is a manufactured disease or real. But let’s assume that is IS real.
I don’t take NSAID’s myself because I have Colitis and my GI doctor told me to take Tylenol instead.
Conclusion: I am not the target audience here either.
Food Babe shared a link.
September 27
Check out #2 on this list Go #FoodBabeArmy Go!
The link was “What Starbucks Won’t Tell You.” And what was #2? That Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte contains no pumpkin and FoodBabe was credited for revealing this.
I don’t buy anything at Starbucks. I also live in a world where I know there isn’t a barista behind the counter with an actual pumpkin. Or even a can of pumpkin so this is not exactly news to me. The last time I went to Starbucks was with a blind date and I ordered a Refresher because I didn’t even know what any of the other things were. My date ordered something with the word Pike in it. I found out that’s a black coffee…right? I I wouldn’t really know though because I don’t drink coffee. Or tea. And I’m cheap.
Conclusion: I am not the target audience here either.
Food Babe
September 26
BREAKING NEWS: How in the world do unregulated and untested GMO crops keep popping up? And how much are we unknowingly consuming? #Monsanto #LabelGMOs #FDA #USDA #ASLEEP
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/usda-makes-2nd-discovery-gmo-wheat-25784235
Aha! Okay something controversial. So this is where we get to the heart of the matter on what she does. Got it.
Conclusion: Here are my thoughts on GMO’s: I think they should be labeled. But if they aren’t, it won’t change what I eat significantly. I don’t know if I’m a good target audience for this either.
Food Babe shared a link.
September 25
If you would like to know more about my story and what inspired me to research, write and expose the facts I find out about the food industry, check out this interview with Jonathan Fields of the Good Life Project. I understand people might be threatened by the information I uncover and that’s ok. I hope you can see I do this out of love for my health, my family, all of you and the planet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxNKuejKUHQ
Okay I’ll bite…I watched it although I tuned out about halfway through.In summary she says she had some health problems that she has since solved by eating better food. She want through her own health transformation by going from eating junk to eating not junk and she feels better and she wants everyone else to eat what she eats. And she started her website and blog because of this. Got it.
Conclusion: I’m not in the…
Hold up!I started this blog as I went through a transformation too. But I lost weight and gained muscle by eating a MIXTURE of REAL and PROCESSED FOODS. And a lot of heavy lifting. And I share my story in the hopes that I would inspire others to get off the couch and get in the gym.
This begs the questions folks…Why don’t I have almost a million followers??? Her and I are practically the same!
#sarcasm
Here is the answer to the question: Why don’t you like Vani Hari, aka The Food Babe?
Because I’m not the target audience.
Because I don’t think she’s uncovering anything mind blowing.
Because I don’t care about joining a movement that has yet to prove anything earth shattering.
Because I eat Pop-Tarts 4 times a week. – I’m sure this contains chemicals that would not be Food Babe approved.
Because I eat Ezekial bread and sweet potatoes and oatmeal. REAL food!!
But…I drink Calorie Free Energy drinks. - What?! Banned.
Because I take Fish Oil - But probably not the brand that she endorses.
Because I don’t do Cross Fit but can still deadlift my bodyweight. - Does she even lift?
Because I use Stevia everyday and I drink Diet Coke once a week. – Plus one for Stevia, but minus a 1,000 points for giving money to Coca-Cola.
One interesting point Vani Hari makes in that video is that she had some trial and error. Supposedly it took her 10 years to fully “heal.”
Ironically, isn’t that what we all should be doing? Trial and error.
When someone asks me “I was thinking of going gluten-free because I heard it might help with my ____________.”
My response has been the same: “Well, I have heard good things about that and I have also heard it’s complete hogwash. If you want to try to eliminate something from your diet to see if it makes you feel better, you have to eliminate it for at least a few weeks. Try it and see what happens.”
“Do you think I should take fish oil?”
Me: “I do and I notice a difference in my mood actually. Try it and see what happens.”
“Do you think I should eat ____________ before/after I workout?”
Me: “Try it and see what happens.”
“Do you think I should do a detox?”
Me: “Ummm…you mean go to the bathroom? Yes you should definitely do that.”
See for me, I give out advice. I give out SIMPLE advice. I do not stir the pot. Because I have no pot to stir. I’m not a consumer advocate. I’m not controversial. I have like, 10 followers here.
But simple isn’t controversial.
And I see FoodBabe as controversial.
Is she making a difference? I honestly do not know.
Is she going to continue to grow her #Foodbabearmy and boycott companies and DEMAND THE TRUTH?
Probably.
And the world will move on.
I think I care more about my clients than I care about taking down “FraudBabe.” I think I care more about my family and my friends than I do about a magazine cover. And after reading some of her posts, I am not convinced that I am the right person to get on board with her cause.
I will not be joining her army anytime soon.