Fitness Friday: Holiday Food for Thought

My friend April made this yummy treat.
It's a paleo recipe, no sugar or flour!

Ahhhhh, inhale the savory aromas of the holidays. Nothing like home-made baked goods, juicy turkey, and all the other traditional and non-traditional holiday dishes.

As we approach the biggest eating season of the year, I want to encourage everyone toward healthy eating choices. Eating healthy isn’t just about what you eat, it’s also about how much you eat. For most of us, quantity is a much bigger issue than quality.

Here’s a little holiday food for thought – pun intended – to help you enjoy holiday eating and still be able to fit into your clothes in January.

1.   Is how I’ll feel for hours after eating this worth the few minutes of enjoyment? 

I wrote about this in a previous blog. For details, see my post titled Seven Seconds of Pleasure.

2.   Am I really still hungry? 

Before you take that second or third helping, stop and ask yourself if you’re hungry, or if you just have a craving for fleeting taste bud satisfaction.

3.   How much is on my plate? 

My Italian grandfather always felt insulted unless we heaped our plates with the pasta he prepared…and then ate all of it. Fast food restaurants encourage us to “SuperSize It”. All-you-can-eat buffets guilt us into eating our money’s worth. No wonder we have problems with portions! Be conscious of how much you put on your plate. At restaurants, don’t feel like you have to eat it all. And see #2 when your plate is empty.

4.   Am I eating only because it’s there? 

Our culture is very food-centric. Everywhere you go, food is a large part of the gathering. We often eat because it’s there, completely ignoring what the food is doing for – or to – us. Instead of focusing on the food, focus on the people who prepared the food. Instead of taking in, pour out encouragement in conversation.

5.   What am I bringing to the pot luck? 

Dare to be different. Instead of bringing something full of sugar, experiment with sugar-free baking. The internet is full of healthy, tasty recipes that have been developed, tried, and highly rated. Or take a colorful vegetable or fruit tray. If it’s a main dish, take a savory meat-and-vegetable casserole instead of a heavy pasta or rice dish.

We can enjoy good food and be healthy too. And it’s not just about avoiding weight gain. Being mindful of our health is an obligation we all have as stewards of the bodies Jesus gave us.

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, AMP)

How can we honor God when we abuse our bodies - His bodies - with gluttonous eating? 

It’s simple. We can’t.

As you cook, eat, and visit with friends and family, keep in mind Whose you are. Thank Him for the blessing of good food, and for the hands that prepared it.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Which one of these areas is hardest for you? Please share ways you’ve been encouraged toward healthy eating.