Ever since I was a little girl, I was an adventurous eater. My mom would never repeat recipes and I believe that is the reason why I am so open-minded about food. There were a couple of instances in my life that did change my perspective on food that I will share. I am proud of where I am today and what my relationship with food looks like.
I have always been an athlete. Growing up I played all the YMCA sports, starting at a young age. I transitioned to becoming a competitive cheerleader all through elementary and part of middle school. For seven years the cheer world consumed me, my thoughts, my opinions, and even what I ate. Social media was growing and “cheerlebrities” were taking over the cheer industry. Seeing these girls all over social media made me think that I would become a better cheerleader if I looked more like them, which meant I had to be thin. I became more cautious of what I ate and thought if I ate less sweets and more vegetables, I would look like them. As time went on, I consumed fewer calories and had no idea what I was doing to my body. During this time, middle school sports had started, and I joined the cross country team as I followed in the footsteps of my older brother. I quickly realized I loved running and was ready for a new chapter.
By the time I began high school, I was dedicated to running. After training so hard and having poor outcomes it became apparent, that I was not eating enough. I still had the mindset that you had to be thin to perform well, most professional female runners were thin. After meeting with various people, I began to see food as fuel for my body. It took time but I finally got to the point where I ate what I wanted to when I wanted to and didn’t feel bad about it. I quickly saw improvements in my times, how my body felt, and how mentally strong I felt.
It has been inspiring to see how social media has shifted away from what middle school me was so focused on. Professional female athletes share their stories openly and without regret. Learning from them and the people who surround me at this university keeps me going and fueling my body to how it should be fueled. I am grateful for what I have learned over the years, and I am grateful that I was able to overcome such a struggle.
Nowadays I love food! Trying new restaurants and discovering hole-in-the-wall places to eat seems like a hobby. I also love to bake and I have discovered a way for me to relieve my stress is to whip up a batch of cookies or scones when I need to. I am always excited to see what the future holds and I am sure that food will be a huge part of it!