feed your body or soul – why not both?

There are days when we need to feed our physical bodies and you can
trust in your cravings.  You will want pure,  unaltered food, such as a
roasted chicken and vegetables or a big  bowl of berries (some of my
favorites).  I even notice this in my six year old son, Matthew.  He will
ask for bananas all day long, and just when I begin to think he has turned
into a monkey, I do wonder if he might be needing some vitamin B or
potassium, which are found in bananas. 
Then there are days when you need to feed your soul.  You know what
I am talking about!  And trust me, your soul does not want carrot and
celery sticks.  I don’t think so.  This is the time for an ice cream sundae
or a juicy burger and crispy fries.  Listen to your cravings and follow
them.  You will not be led astray.
Neither do you need to fear going off the proverbial deep end with
regards to “healthy” eating.  If you allow yourself what you crave and
eat it within the framework of a meal (meaning one whole plate of food
- not two or three and try calling it a meal – but sticking to ONE), you
will more than likely find yourself wanting to balance the fattier  foods
with non-fat foods, such as steamed vegetables and fresh fruits.
I really try not to categorize foods into good, bad, healthy or unhealthy.
Ultimately food is a form of energy.  That said, we need to be mindful
and grateful that we have plenty of it to be able to raise it to a higher
level of enjoyment.
The key to feeling healthy or whole is in finding a balance and in following
your cravings.  If you eat what you desire, you will feel satisfied and
the tendency to overeat should subside.  My plan is not a free for all,
but rather “freedom within limits”.  The freedom is in being able to eat
whatever food you want as long as it is not eaten out of a bag or
mindlessly in between meals.  The limits are in sitting down at the table
to eat, with hopefully a beautifully prepared plate of food (no, it does
not have to be made from scratch or even homemade at all!).  The act
of arranging your food on a plate and sitting down to eat will send a
message to yourself that you are worthy of something nice!
So feed yourself beautifully, body and soul.  Happy eating!