Normal, [ nawr-muh l ] adjective
def. Conforming to the standard or the common type
How would you define normal? We all want to be unique, but only to the point of being accepted by the masses. We live in a paradox. And we want to blend in but yet stand out. Even those of us who would consider ourselves non-conformists — we are human too, which in and of itself is normal, is it not? We may not conform to ALL of society’s norms, but then we surround ourselves with people who make us feel normal.
At my core, I would consider myself a non-conformist, but am I really? Maybe I’m just fiercely independent and need to get there on my own terms, wherever there is.
That’s how it is when it comes to feeding my family. I don’t feel normal. Our non-conformity began when we quit eating peanut butter. Then dairy. Then gluten. Now we rarely eat out at restaurants. You’ll never see pizza delivery arrive at our house. We don’t shop the cereal aisle at the store, and the list goes on. Simply put, we don’t eat whatever we want. This is part out of necessity and part by choice.
What I have found fascinating is that there is a HUGE world of others like us out there. Just do a Google search for Paleo and tons of sources will populate. The normal is shifting. Can you feel it? Whole food eating has taken center stage in our culture. Never has that been more apparent since Amazon bought Whole Foods. They saw the current and future growth potential in that consumer space. According to an article from CNBC,
Organic and specialty products, the space where Whole Foods made its name, remains a big focus for the industry. As they give those brands more and more shelf space, new companies no longer view Whole Foods as the singular place to launch. They are looking to other grocers like Target, Costco and Walmart.
And smaller whole foods grocers are coming in like a storm. Have you seen them go up in your community? We have, and we benefit from them.
To many, our family is indeed different in how we eat. It does make us appear not normal, but we have learned to embrace not feeling normal as a new way of life. The question we have to keep asking ourselves is, “Do we make decisions about our diet because they will help us feel like a normal part of society or because they’re good for our bodies?”. I choose good for our bodies, despite the challenges.
There are definitely days that I wish we could go back to how we used to live. Blissfully unaware. Enjoying eating out with our family and friends and not worrying about what’s on the menu. We are “foodies” from Chicago and know how to enjoy a good meal. But we have chosen to leave this path toward better health, for all of us. So what’s your family’s version of normal? If it doesn’t conform to the rest of society, don’t let it bother you. We are all normal — and unique. Who says what “normal” is anyway?