Thoughts on What I Eat in A Day Videos
To be honest - I've had a love-hate relationship with What I Eat In a Day (WIEIAD) Videos for a while now. I've struggled with them for many reasons. Today, I wanted to share a bit about some of the pros and cons I find with WIEIAD videos. This is not to bash on them as a whole, but rather to give a Dietitian's perspective on things to be mindful of when you DO enjoy these types of videos. I hope it helps 💙If any of this resonates with you, I encourage you to comment on the video below or DM me on instagram @darkbluenutrition with your thoughts! I promise I don't bite 😉
🌟To name a few reasons why I DON'T Love WIEIAD Videos:
1. They Don't Share the Big Picture.
Even if you're the healthiest person on earth, chances are, your diet changes day to day. When people show what I eat in a day videos - it only shares a portion of what they diet as a whole looks like on any given day... which leads me to my next issue...
2. They Can Encourage Comparison.
Just like filling your instagram page with friends getting married, bikini models and healthy salad pics can fill you will you with FOMO and comparison.. the same works with WIEIAD Videos. Despite our best intentions, in a way, we are either validating or judging our own food choices against our favorite YouTuber. The more mindful you are of this, the easier it will be to avoid the comparison trap when watching videos like this.
3. They Can Trigger Individuals with a Past History of ED
Now when I talk about being mindful of watching these videos, this is speaking to the general population. If you have ANY concerns these videos might trigger you due to a past or current eating disorder - please do what's best for you and focus on the healing process vs. watching videos like these. Your health and safety are much more important. If you need help & support for disordered eating of any kind, reach out to NEDA's hotline. They can connect you with the resources you need to find help. Click Here for the NEDA Helpline:
🌟Now that I've share some of the reasons why I don't love WIEIAD videos, here are a few reasons I DO enjoy WIEIAD videos (when done right):
1. They Give Ideas for Meals & Snacks
This is one of the big reasons I LOVE what I eat in a day videos... I get to see other people's ideas for meals and snacks! As much as I LOVE food... As a busy person, I find myself getting into a rut with what I eat more often than not.
2. They Can Help Encourage Trying New Foods
As much as we hate to admit it sometimes, we are influenced by others. It's nothing to be ashamed of - it's 100% human nature! Seeing someone you know, like and trust trying something you might not have tried before helps encourage you to try new foods.
3. They Can Help Teach You About The Benefits of Certain Foods
Now this is another wonderful thing about WIEIAD Videos.. but here's the thing. Be forewarned that there are a lot of what I like to call "Google-Certified-Nutrition-Coaches" ...and if cause you couldn't tell, that's not a real thing! There are a lot of people out there dolling out nutrition advice that don't have any credentials to do so whatsoever. I encourage you to watch Registered Dietitians who have 4-6 years of schooling on nutrition, plus a 8-month internship & board certification. Watch this video to see the different between a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Health Coach or "Nutritionist".
I hope you learned a thing or two about what to look for in a good WIEIAD Video the next time you're on YouTube! If you'd like to see a realistic, mindful eating based WIEIAD Video - Watch the video below & Subscribe on YouTube for more nutrition, fitness & mindful eating content! xo
