I was sharing some of the high protein foods I was eating on stories and was asked several times to do a ‘what I eat in a day video’. Then, the wonderful nutritionist I’m working with (@dkfitnut) advised me not to and I’m so glad she did because I fully agree with how problematic they can be. Here’s why. Some people have a fascination about what others are eating in day (I do too!) They look to see what they eat, and then try to copy them in the hopes that they will be able to change their body to look like that. As Dee explains, ‘there are so many videos of these online but unfortunately, most of them are lacking in nutrients, they remove food groups, incorporate food rules and even some demonise certain foods.’ ‘The reason it’s advisable not to post about this is because everyone is different. The same diet can have drastically different effects on different people. We are just seeing one day and we have no idea what they consume before or after that day.’ ‘We all have different fuelling requirements, activity levels, dietary needs, preferences etc. Different foods also bring different pleasure to us as individuals. There is also the element of intolerances, allergies.’ I was half way through curating a video like this and I noticed myself trying to make my food look better, choosing meals that were super healthy - purely for the video’s sake - and pretending like I didn’t eat the other stuff when I absolutely do! They’re not real - for most people - and if they are they’re just one day’s worth of food. They’re suiting their own personal needs, they’re not a one size fits all, and of course they’re trying to create visually interesting content (we all are). I also realised I’d see a video like that and feel like crap myself if I wasn’t having a perfectly balanced day nutrition wise and we don’t need to feel any more pressure than we already do. So, long story short, I copped on; no ‘what I eat in a day’ video from me. The end. #whatieatinaday #mentalhealth #foodvideo #protein #anxiety #eating