Find the peace everywhere you go.

What does the word “diet” mean to you?

Do you associate it with exacting control over meals and snacks in order to reduce weight? Or does the word bring on depressing visions of  resigned self-control to shove “bad” food away. Some equate the word diet with “intake”, something to be counted, weighed, measured, and joylessly categorized.

Unfortunately, feelings of deprivation thrive in the idea that you are in a fight with food. You do not have to cede such emotional power to food. It’s all in how you see the word “diet”.

When you think of eating a cookie as failing or “breaking” your diet, you might berate yourself … or “give in” and go for more forbidden bites which makes you feel as if you personally are a failure and just cannot succeed with a diet. You are not a failure. That sort of thinking is the result of what you have been trained to think when you see the word diet.

Food is not your enemy. The word diet is your ally, a good friend that describes the way of eating that you found the most delicious, fragrant, enjoyable, fun, healthy, creative, and peacefully sustainable.

Change the narrative. You have the power to pause, consider, and purposefully choose the food you eat.

Mindfully Considered:

When friends and family invite you to a picnic. What do you choose to bring to the meal?

Yes, I know. Everyone insists that you bring your famous potato salad. Go ahead and bring it, but also put together a lovely tomato, red onion, and cucumber salad that has been baptized with a splash of vinaigrette.

Increasing the choices available helps you to eat well and still gives a nod to tradition. After all, your German Grandma’s recipe is superb and much loved by all. So place a good sized spoonful on your plate and savor each bite.

Pause, breathe, and remember to build your plate with color, texture, flavor, aroma, nutrition, tradition, and pleasure.

Enjoy your diet,

Janice