Written and Interviewed by: Vivian Li
Collage by: Vivian Li
“Perhaps not..”
“I’ll have the steak, SMOTHERED in onions. A RACK of ribs. Pasta with EXTRA garlic. French fries With LOTS of vinegar and a side of onion rings with LOTS AND LOTS of sauerkraut.”
The iconic scene from White Chicks, in which Terry Crews’ character, Latrell, takes Marcus disguised as Tiffany Wilson on a dinner date, although hilarious, is also too real. As women, there is always a double standard for us, especially when it comes to food: eating less and eating healthier. But for Miss Catie Whalen, aka The Slim Thick Foodie, she advocates for a mindset that embraces enjoying the foods you love without unnecessary restrictions. According to her, life is all about finding a balance, and her philosophy resonates with the undeniable truth that self-love and fulfillment extend beyond rigid dietary rules. I couldn’t agree more.
For our Fourth edition, it was only appropriate for us to interview a true foodie. Here’s what we dished about:
V: How did @theslimthickfoodie come about?
STF: It happened maybe in 2020. I was always inspired by @foodgod. So around that time, I would go to different food festivals. One time I got this big piece of corn and I thought, “Hey, can you take a picture of me?” to the person I was with and that was sorta the beginning.
V: How has your personal journey with body positivity influenced the way you approach and share content related to food?
STF: I know many people struggle when looking in the mirror or seeing pictures of themselves, and I’ve definitely been there. There were times when I didn’t like that I was gaining weight, especially during the pandemic. However, I realized that growing and maturing, becoming a woman, I appreciate my curves and my body. I believe you should embrace your body for what it is, what makes you feel most confident and strong, and avoid forcing yourself to be someone you’re not or conforming to an image that doesn’t align with your body.
I’ve been down that road too; I tried various diets like paleo, keto, and super low carb, and I was probably 10 to 15 pounds lighter than I am now. However, I felt so weak. I couldn’t dance, work out, and lacked strength.
I’m not promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, but I am advocating for something sustainable and enjoyable. Personally, when I indulge in less nutritious foods for a while, I think, “Alright, my stomach hurts. Let me nourish it with good things and work out. I want to treat my body how it deserves.” The more you deprive yourself of something you might actually want, the more you’ll crave it, and then it becomes uncontrollable.
V: If you could have a meal with anyone (living or dead), who would it be and what would you eat?
STF: I would say Julia Child. She’s a big inspiration for me… And I’ve never had a duck, but if I were to have it, it would be from her.
V: Body-positive influencers often face criticism. How do you handle negative comments or critiques related to the content you share about food and body positivity?
STF: I guess it’s about staying true to myself and checking in with myself. I’ve undergone a lot of therapy for anxiety and depression, which became more prominent during the pandemic, as it did for most people.
However, I learned during that time to regularly check in with myself, asking, “Catie, are you good? Are you okay with this?” As long as I feel good about it, and it’s something I’m confident in, inspired by, and want to use to inspire others, then yeah, I just go with that. My intuition is key for me, especially when I see that the results are positive for the most part. However, there are also the haters, and I believe you need those haters; they serve as motivation for me.
V: Favorite cuisine?
STF: Oh God. A milkshake, burger and fries. That’s the ultimate meal, but on a regular basis, what I really want would be like a hand roll or some kind of sashimi from Kazu Nori.
V: How do you promote body positivity in your life, and how might you encourage others to embrace their bodies?
STF: Sometimes, I still face struggles when staring at myself in the mirror. However, I believe that the more we look at ourselves, push past those challenges, and practice kindness by saying positive things to ourselves in the mirror, that’s what I’m currently working on.
In terms of inspiring or encouraging others, I don’t hold back anymore. In the past, I might have hesitated, fearing that others would think I’m weird. Nowadays, if someone calls me weird, I embrace it. I make an effort to compliment people. If I feel that initial appreciation, like they’re doing great, I comment or express my thoughts. If I like their outfit or think they look fantastic, I let them know and compliment them.
I believe it’s crucial to uplift each other because the more we can silence the negativity, the better. If we come together and truly be ourselves, we can achieve a supportive community.
V: Any advice for our readers?
STF: Be kind to yourself, and I’m still working on practicing what I preach. If my words can help other people, not only myself, then I feel like I have a purpose.
If you’re having a down day and want to eat something you think you shouldn’t, go ahead. Just remember that these feelings are temporary, and don’t be too hard on yourself the next day. Establish boundaries, maintain balance, and hold yourself accountable at the same time. I had a binge-eating day yesterday, and now I’m going to eat better—maybe have a cookie or a bagel. I won’t treat myself unkindly in any way constantly because life’s too short. I know that sounds cliché, but everybody is human at the end of the day. We all have our struggles, so it helps me a lot to remember that I’m not the only one feeling this way.
For those who think they’re the only ones feeling this way, everyone else is too. No one who looks perfect on social media is exempt from such feelings. You’re fooling yourself. Everyone is human, and we should all accept each other’s flaws and uplift one another.
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