You’re Doing it Wrong
July 1, 2010“If the food you are eating is not to optimize your health and well-being, then what is it for?”
I read this on Twitter the other day. I sat at my screen, dumbfounded…and still am.
I’ve used food for many things other than to optimize my health and well-being.
When I was a kid, we’d use JELL-O mix (when it’s in it’s granulated form) to learn how to do addition and subtraction on the kitchen table.
At Thanksgiving, the grandchildren would spread grandma’s stuffing thin on a plate and affix our utensils and soda cans to plates and shake them upside-down. Imagine that goo sticking to your ribs….
I made a solar-system project out of fruit and candy in the fourth grade for the Science Fair.
I’ve used licorice whips as weapons. I’ve filled water balloons with pudding. I’ve used frozen grapes as projectiles.
I’ve used ice cream to drown feelings, toasted beers to celebrate.
I’ve had greasy cheeseburgers because that’s what I felt like eating.
After my “big-breakup” I spent days on the sofa watching Grey’s Anatomy eating puppy chow (the chocolate coated cereal, not the dog food).
…and now it becomes clear. I’ve improperly used food the majority of my life.
I blame my Italian heritage. I was raised in a family where you didn’t say no to food, because that was considered rude.
If someone cooked dinner, you clean your plate, regardless of portion side.
If you wanted a cannoli, you ate a cannoli.
In fact, if you finished one cannoli, grandma would probably give you another, or insist that you eat some of her special homemade fudge. WHO is going to say no to grandma’s fudge? Shame on you… it’s delicious.
… and that’s the problem. It is delicious.
I printed out the quote at the top and taped it to my refrigerator. I’m moving past the dumbfounded part and quickly embracing this as my new-anti-junkfood mantra. So far, it’s sticking with me.
