I started my overhaul of our habits with probably the most important lifestyle choice for healthy longevity, our diets.
I began by picking a couple things I would eliminate from our diet and a couple I would add. So out from the pantry and out the door went all our sweet or salty snacks. As they say, if it’s in your house it’s in your mouth. I learned how true this was when I purchased a favorite salty cracker for my grandson’s sleepover. We had one of our crazy winter storms and the sleepover at Yaya’s (that’s me) was cancelled. So of course, I ate the entire box of crackers. For me salty snacks are triggers, I just can’t have them in the house, period.
That is when I learned that meat wasn’t the only bad M in my life. Trying to practice moderation with a trigger food is impossible and motivation is a very fickle friend that will drop you like a hot potato just when you need it most. I needed to build a sustainable habit that fit our lifestyle. Intentions aren’t enough, I needed small repeatable baby steps I could do every day. I had to get over my fear of what I saw as boring (oh no, not that), eating the same thing repeatedly until it was a habit before I began to augment that healthy habit for variety.
And while my tastes adjusted to my new diet, I reminded myself often of what I think I first heard Ocean Robbins say, “Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels.” With that as my mindset it was easier to forgo current pleasure for a lifetime of health.
“You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work.” (James 5:7 TM)
“But how many cigarettes should your kids smoke? How much cocaine should they have? Moderation applies to healthful things, not to dangerous things.” (Neal D Barnard, M.D., F.A.C.C. The Vegan Starter Kit)
“When you want more bang for your nutritional buck, eat your greens. Greens are one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world…” (Ocean Robbins – Real Superfoods: Everyday Ingredients to Elevate Your Health)
Yours for a Joyful Journey,
Joyice