Bob, my husband and guest blogger, writes about the agony of the dietitian’s husband.
“You poor guy. It must be rough being married to a dietitian.” Time after time I get condolences from my friends about my grim fate. Yes, I agree, it’s rough. Just last night I had to suffer through pistachio crusted tilapia with a lime mayonnaise sauce, couscous and squash. “I bet you have to eat a lot of grass.” “Of course” I reply, contemplating my recent salad of orzo, grape tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and a dressing that could only be described as heavenly. “I bet you have to sneak out for dessert.” “Well, I would, but I had trouble finishing my home-made blueberry pie and ice-cream.”
I am consistently amazed at people’s misconceptions of dietitians. Well, maybe I shouldn’t be as I was once one of the great uninformed masses. I tried the fad diets. I ate without thought. Though I exercised regularly, I started the great American climb…climbing weight, climbing waistline, climbing cholesterol level, climbing health issues. It was clear that I needed some help.
Fortunately for me, I had access to professional help. I could turn to someone with bona fide credentials who could back up her advice with peer-reviewed research, not television testimonials. As a double-bonus point, I got to sleep with her every night. So, you may ask, what sacrifices did my dietitian wife make me make? What torture did I have to go through to lose over 30 pounds and keep it off? The short answer is…none.
I still eat everything I want. I just try to eat a little less. I used to eat two big bowls of cereal in the morning. Now I have one. I used to eat a cereal bowl full of ice-cream, now we use a more sensible sized serving. I do eat less meat and seldom eat fried food, but that is just because my wife is such an incredible cook. (She would modestly say she just follows a recipe, but she certainly executes them to perfection). I have learned that healthy food can be just as delicious, and small adjustments can make huge changes.
Yes, it’s tough being a dietitian’s husband. It’s so tough I don’t know if I could stand more than 40 or 50 more years of this, but I’ll try…as long as there’s blueberry pie.
Dietitians are not food police. We love good food. If you want help making your diet healthier while still enjoying your food, contact me for help.
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