WELCOME TO THE FOODIE DIARIES!

This is not just another food diary. This is the diary of a foodie. Don’t get me wrong, I will definitely be cataloguing my food—but I’ll also be sharing my thoughts, passions, preoccupations, revelations, etc. You will learn that, like any true foodie, much of that involves food!

THE FOODIE

So, I suppose here is where I introduce myself.

My name is Sarah, and I am a foodie.

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I’m truly fascinated by all things food—cooking it, reading about it, writing about it, experimenting with it, and—in true save-the-best-for-last fashion—eating it. This is an intricate, defining aspect of who I am, and I live my life embracing, not fighting, my love for food.

While being a foodie is a full-time gig, I’m also an aspiring writer. If there’s one thing in life that I love as much as food, it’s writing. For me, both writing and exploring food are therapeutic outlets that allow me to reflect, create, experiment, improve and constantly challenge myself, all the while avoiding monotony.

I received my BA in journalism (with a minor in Spanish Language) from American University in May 2009, and now I’m trying to find a way to turn my dual affinities for food and writing into a career! Easier said than done in this economy, but I’m determined to make it work. For now—from a non-money making stance—the equation seemed obvious: My love for food + my passion for writing = The Foodie Diaries!

HEALTHY FOODIE

I talk some mean game about loving food and eating like it’s my job, but I actually have very healthy taste in food. This is not to say I don’t indulge. I do, often. But a lifetime fascination with food eventually led to a curiosity about how the food I ate was impacting my well-being. Throughout college, through my own research, observations and experience—including living (and EATING!) in Spain for five delicisoso months—I gradually developed a deeper understanding of nutrition and a strong preference for real foods.

I’m oddly enticed by the science behind the art—that’d be the nutrition behind the eating—which I attribute to my nerdy penchant for researching and learning new things. That said, I am constantly reading up on nutrition findings and theories, experimenting with recipes and investigating (read: eating) new foods. I’m kind of on a mission to become an expert in all things food and nutrition-related.

MY FOODIE PHILOSOPHY

“Eat what you like, and let the food fight it out inside.” –Mark Twain

Ok, so I don’t subscribe to that attitude entirely. But Twain is one of my favorite satirists, and I love that even one of America’s greatest fiction writers had a food philosophy!

I do wholeheartedly believe in eating what you like. And I don’t think any food you love should ever be off limits. Simply put: If you enjoy something, eat it. Even the most indulgent foods can be (and should be!) enjoyed—in moderation. Life is too short to put bans on things (particularly edible things!) that make you happy. It’s all about being smart and in control when it comes to guilty pleasures.

Knowledge is power—especially in regard to food. Know what you eat. Read labels, research and be curious about what you nourish your body with. I’ve found that as I’ve fostered more knowledge about the facts behind my food, the more I genuinely prefer eating healthy, whole foods.

On diets: I don’t do ‘em. Ever. I haven’t gone down that road since I was 16 years old and managed to gain 7 pounds on The South Beach Diet. (I, uh, cheated. A lot).

I understand that some people need the structure and rules that come with following a diet. But, for me, any restrictive approach to eating is an automatic failure. I’ve simply got too much love for my food—carbs and all.

Because I so vehemently love food and hate diets, I try my best to balance foods that taste good with foods that are good. I feel fortunate that those two categories overlap pretty naturally for me because I’d never want to punish my tastebuds in order to reward my health–or vice versa!

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Did you…

(a) immediately scroll to the bottom of this page, shocked that I ranted for that long/expected you to actually read it through?

or

(b) read my every word, think my monologue was adorably narcissistic fascinating and decide you want to know more?

Either way, check out my much briefer page of Foodie Fun Facts!