How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast? - PaleoHacks.com

How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T01:56:38Z

This is a random question. My job requires me to have a lot of 1:1 meetings with strangers. Usually, it's a meeting over breakfast or lunch. It is SO hard not to judge people based on what they choose to put in their mouth! I have seen four types:

1) Low-fat strawberry yogurt, a wholewheat toast and orange juice breakfast 2) Bacon/sausage, eggs and vegetables, milk 3) Hash browns, pancakes swimming in maple syrup, caramel latte 4) Black coffee

When I see type 1, I automatically think USDA. I assume this person is very difficult to work with. S/he is conservative, close-minded, self-centered and just no fun. I think of Type 2s as people who are educated, reliable, sensible and flexible. Type 3s are drug addicts. Type 4s are rare and sexy. I would definitely ask their numbers.

How do I stop judging? It's making my work unnecessarily difficult. Have you judged anyone based on the breakfast of choice?

Answer by Dragonfly for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T02:00:21Z

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE

Answer by TruthinessInc for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T02:07:17Z

"How do I stop judging? It's making my work unnecessarily difficult. Have you judged anyone based on the breakfast of choice?"

The realization that you are not infallible is a good place to start...also, as far as I know, you're not Gregory House, mostly because he's a fictional character...but I think the best thing you can do, which is positive reinforcement through pain..rubber band around the wrist and every time you judge someone, pull it back as far as you can and BLAMO…it’ll also give the people you’re sitting with a reason to judge you while you’re at it. ..Equal playing field.Truth.

Answer by smc for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T02:41:56Z

Omg I do this too. I'm so mean in my head about what people eat. And I was one of those people!!! Crap I've been all 4 types. Its mainly the ones that say "I'm trying to get healthy" but then drink a soda or eat chips. I just roll my eyes.

Answer by bartleby for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T07:34:40Z

The trick here - as with all habits - is to swap this (frankly) very bad habit for one that is merely bad, and then to swap that bad habit for one that is slightly bad. And so on. The end goal being some benign or constructive habit. Might I be allowed to suggest a course of habit replacement? Remember, the goal is a habit that is appropriate and sensible.

Judging people on their breakfast choice > on their looks > on their intelligence > on their goodness > on their aura > on how much money they have.

Answer by patti2003 for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T14:15:29Z

I handle judging what people eat like I handle judging most things people do. I was once in a different place and now I’m here. Most folks goes through an evolution in their thinking or doing over time on a variety of things. Just because I may be better at “eating” than other people, I am probably (and likely) worse at other things than the person sitting across from me at other things. They may be a better parent or spouse or worker or any myriad of other important things. So I know there is like many important things I could learn from this person that are far more important than what they eat. And that’s that.

Answer by tdgor for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T14:30:17Z

I've thought a lot about this question since I saw it. I think it's a really great one.

I am doubtful that you can stop thoughts by an effort of will.

I think what you can do is, when you catch yourself in these thoughts, examine the thoughts with what is sometimes called "unconditional friendliness," and observe them. You can also try challenging the thoughts and the conclusions that you draw from the thoughts. You don't have to believe your own thoughts.

You could turn it around and think, "How might they [each category described] be judging MY breakfast negatively? Could they be right? Could they be wrong? Could we both be wrong? Do I believe I have all the answers? Why do I believe that? Do they believe they have all the answers? How much of food choice is driven by taste versus nutrition? Do I believe my tastes are better than those of others? If I think someone is difficult to work with will that make me difficult to work with?" Etc. etc. etc.

You've obviously already made some headway in this process.

Be careful about the trap of judging yourself for judging others. And then judging yourself for judging yourself for....

Answer by Amy B. for How do I stop judging a person based on what s/he eats for breakfast?

2012-05-11T15:24:36Z

I guess my question to you would be, what did you eat for breakfast before coming to Paleo? (Or maybe you ate the very, very best stuff since the day you had control over your own food supply.)

I don't mean to be snarky, but I think the best advice I can give you is to please remember where you started. Most of us came to this way of eating after eating all kinds of different diets -- low calorie, low fat, processed foods out the wazoo. When I think back to what I used to eat for breakfast, it makes me cringe. (Bagels, low-fat margarine, soy milk, cold cereal, etc. And I thought I was doing the right thing!) Thank goodness for old cells dying off and new ones replacing them, so eventually all that cr@p leaves your system and you're literally like a whole new person. :)

Try to go easy on people. Not everyone is as fortunate as us to have found this way of eating, and even more, to understand why it works so well and why the conventional nutritional wisdom is such utter garbage.

And if you're only seeing those people for the one meal on the one day, you have no idea what they do during the rest of their life. Maybe when they go out for breakfast they decide they're gonna treat themselves (for the pancakes doused in syrup crowd), or maybe they're having a bad morning and just want something sinful. (Self-medicating with sugar, yes, but who are we to judge someone who's just trying to make it through?) And of course, all things considerd, we can't fairly judge or blame the fat-free yogurt/juice/skim milk crowd. Unless you know better, everything you see and hear tells you that is a "good breakfast."

As for trying to "convert" people over, there are plenty of threads about that...(and why it's generally a waste of time and energy.)