“I can’t imagine letting my favorite foods go …”

We all have attachments to food. Something that brings back memories of a time long ago.

When I was dating my now-husband, we both led incredibly busy lives. We were both in school, held full-time jobs that were often a lot more than full-time. He would show up at my door late at night, with a pint of ice cream in each hand. We’d happily grab spoons and plop down on the sofa, enjoying a movie and relishing our time together.

I can’t imagine sitting down and eating a pint of ice cream now any more than I could muster the energy for those busy days of long ago.

We change. We grow. And we become different. Better versions of ourselves.

I remember reading Marie Kondo’s book when it first came out. I think of her advice often.

“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle. The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: Does this spark joy? If it does, keep it.”

Maybe we can apply the same thought process to what we eat.

Eating for life – moving forward

I hear people say, “I can’t imagine letting my favorite foods go,” quite a lot. Those foods are a part of us. They are part of our memories. We feel like they make us who we are.

They don’t call much of it “comfort food” for nothing.

We remember “grandma’s” home cooking as the best of times.

We reminisce about heading out with friends and devouring an entire plate of greasy fried food.

We might even recollect scarfing an entire pint of ice cream. 😉

But here’s the thing – we aren’t the same people we were back then. And no amount of food is ever going to change that.

Let’s define eating for life

Most of us can’t live the way we are eating.

Trouble is, we can’t live without eating either.

What’s left in the middle is a vast population struggling to find a balance between creating eating habits that will promote healthiness from the inside out, while falling in love with what we’re consuming.

Books are written every day trying to define the ideal diet.

Do a search, and you can find something to support any eating habit.

With a little critical thinking, it’s easy to sidestep some of the craziest ideas – does anyone really think you can remain healthy by consuming only fast food?

But there’s still a lot of wiggle room in between.

When my dad died nearly thirty years ago of a massive heart attack, I started asking: Why? It led me to food.

It also led me to the decision to be a healthy 100-year-old. I started dreaming of a 100-year-old me doing anything I please.

In order to get there, I had to treat my body today as if I was already there.

That changed everything.

I asked better questions:

• What food will keep me healthy?
• What foods are better for optimal health?
• What foods will make me feel good?
• What foods will ward off disease?
• Do food requirements change with age?
• How does nutrition play into overall health?
• How is food produced?
• Should we care about how food is created?
• Should plants grow in better soil?
• Should plants be modified?
• At what point should you use pesticides and herbicides?
• Is there a difference between regular and organic?
• What about GMO?
• Can we play with our food supply and not expect repercussions?

As you can see, the questions are never-ending.

And that’s by design. Who we were at 20 isn’t who we are at 40. So why should what we eat be the same?

We ask questions. We learn. We grow more thoughtful about our food choices. And it makes us healthier human beings.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life

I still love ice cream. It’s always been my go-to dessert. But how I consume it is a bit different today.

I’m cautious about what brand I choose. No more dairy for me. I look for plant-based ice cream choices. I often prefer sorbets.

And why not? It’s easy to make yourself. With a few fresh ingredients, you can easily create a summer treat:

• 10oz bag of organic frozen mango
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Place everything in a Vitamix or food processor and pulse until smooth.

You can enjoy it immediately, or transfer it to a sealed container and freeze until set. Make it on the weekend, and you can enjoy it all week! (If it lasts that long.)

Easy peasy, right?

And that’s the whole point.

I didn’t know this trick when I was in my twenties. Two pints of ice cream were so much easier.

But I do know this trick today. It gives me a delicious treat that I know for a fact is better for me. And it keeps me on track for my goal of being healthier for life.

Hope this helps you too.

Lori