One of the goals of this site is to celebrate our food. People never need to feel guilty about their eating habits, as there is no benefit in doing so, and guilt isn’t a prescription for better health. Going back to real food – I say “going back” because people used to eat real food all the time – is a process, and you’re on the right path. Even if you’re only reading about healthy food and rarely eating it yet, you’re taking a step forward – Congratulations! It takes time and effort to relearn habits and everything you grew up believing, and I hope this site helps.
I will also research what I was taught about food growing up. For example, milk gives you strong teeth and bones. I used to make my kids drink milk every day unless it was a special occasion, or maybe on the weekend I’d let them have orange juice instead. I told my oldest daughter, who didn’t like milk, “If you don’t drink your milk, you’ll end up a hunched-over old lady when you grow up.” Another myth is that if you don’t eat meat, you won’t get enough protein. I knew that beans had protein, but wasn’t about to make beans every night, so meat was the answer. It’s OK, we’re works in progress.
Gratitude is the perfect replacement for guilt. Some people are used to saying a prayer before eating. If not, say or think something like, “Thank you for this food that my body will use to my best advantage.” It takes three seconds to make that statement. Even if you are in a place where you’re eating something that is not nutritional, your body can still use what you’re eating to your best advantage. Imagine eating an ice cream sundae and instead of feeling guilty, feeling thankful for ice cream sundaes and that your body will use it to your best advantage. You’re not going to eat one every day, so why not celebrate and enjoy it?
You already know that people all over the world, including a community near you, lack food to the point of starvation. If you aren’t experiencing starvation, try to avoid saying, “I’m starving,” and replace it with, “I’m going to be so grateful for my next meal.” Let’s start appreciating everything we have and not waste energy kicking ourselves. Beautiful, nourishing food is abundant and we are learning to avoid the crap and bring more of the bounty of nature into our lives to make us our best selves.
