I need to apologize for my rant yesterday. I realize I probably have readers who eat fat-free products. Who enjoy the occassional pop-tart or Weight Watchers food product.

My problem? I’ve done too much reading. I’ve become a food snob.

I want to know what is in things. I want real butter, not something engineered to look like butter. I want bread with just a few ingredients and without high fructose corn syrup. I want pasta made with whole wheat. I want full-fat cheese and yogurt. I want peanut butter with 2 ingredients even if I have to keep it in the fridge and stir it like crazy.

I want real food. Even if it means more calories and fat and expense. I would rather eat less of the best stuff than a greater quantity of food product.

I used to not care. I used to eat the Chili Cheese Frito Wrap from Sonic and all of those low-point pastries. When I lost weight on Weight Watchers the first time (2003), I ate frozen meals, hot pockets, fat-free yogurt, over-processed lunchmeats. I knew the lowest point options at Taco Bell and McDonalds. But I had no idea what I was putting in my body.

But now I know better. And I am concerned with what I put in my body.

I wouldn’t put a can of Pepsi in the gas tank of my car. I wouldn’t cram play-doh into my dvd player. I wouldn’t put a handful of rocks in my blender. I care too much about my stuff to put things into them that would tear them up.

I’m working on being equally concerned about my body. If I don’t know what it is, or if I know it has something in it that is bad for me, I’m trying to make better choices. And I do most of the time.

I’m still learning. I’m not perfect. But I’m better. And I can’t go back. I can’t imagine eating a french fry today. Or a poptart. Or a can of pepsi. And that’s a far cry from where I used to be.