Wegmans

Speaking of the benefits of so much variety, I have to give a shout-out to the Wegman's salad bar. (My last shout-out was to Wawa. Apparently, I like stores which start with "W".) It is SO good, with so many things to sample.

For starters, I'm grateful that I can afford this once in a while. (It is a little high-priced.)

Next, I'm grateful for the many types of vegetables they offer. Vegetarian entrees, a huge salad bar with all kinds of very fancy salads, roasted vegetables, etc. Not all of it is 100% purely healthy, but it makes the experience of eating them something to genuinely look forward to rather than feel like you're eating them as an obligation.

Third, I love the fact that they have Chinese, Indian, and Italian foods too.

Fourth, I'm grateful for the chef at my local store, because they come up with amazing specialty items. (Artichoke flan, OMG, so good.)

Finally, I'm just grateful to have a buffet in general, where I can choose whatever I fancy. Just because this is very common doesn't mean it can't be incredibly wonderful too! It's nice to go around choosing things. Healthy things, sweet and savory things, satisfying things.

Sometimes we hear the advice to savor certain moments in our lives: enjoy our kids while they're little, or enjoy the holidays. It's not bad advice, but here's the thing: it's possible to savor many more moments than just those. In the midst of holiday rushing and crowds and pressure, it's possible to pull back, walk gently, enjoy the music they have playing over the store's intercom, feel a sense of abundance about all the food laid out for you to choose, patience and connectedness with the other people waiting in line to make their purchases. Not guilt, not deprivation, and not over-grabbing. In something so simple you can find a kind of heaven and genuine happiness. Even if you can only hold on to it for a few moments, it's worth it.

Plantains

A guy from work brought me some fried/dried plantain chips all the way from India. They are SO good. They aren't particularly sweet, more like potato chips than any kind of dessert. It gives me an opportunity to appreciate a banana-like flavor without the distracting sweetness.

I am thankful that he was so generous, and thankful for the opportunity to try something new. We live in an amazing world where there are so many potential wonderful experiences, even just within the subcategory of "foods to try".

Warmth

Eating warm food is satisfying, especially in winter. Hot soup, a warm bagel sandwich, hot cocoa, even warm water is a blessing.

As a way to meditate on this, try getting just a cup of very warm water, and spend time just appreciating the warmth it gives you as you drink it. The purpose of using water is because it's so plain and simple, so other flavors won't distract.

Feel the way the warmth moves from your mouth to your belly. Think about the way that this was able to be heated. A microwave or a teakettle? Imagine the energy that was needed to make these work and just the work put into creating these items.

Let yourself feel a sense of being "cared for". Though it may be indirect, that is essentially what is happening. Many entities made this happen - the human beings who made the mug, the tea-kettle, the microwave or stove - the sun and earth for providing the energy.

The warmth that you're experiencing doesn't guarantee a warm tomorrow, but don't let that stop you from the present enjoyment.

Egg Nog

Egg Nog is great. I don't understand people who don't like it, but to each their own. It's sweet and creamy and Christmas-y!

As a kid, I promised myself that when I grew up, I would use it on cereal. I didn't actually keep that promise, but I do buy myself one quart of it to drink up to the month leading up to Christmas. It's good to simply and deeply experience how delightful it is.

There's also soy nog, which is also very tasty and probably a bit better for you (since real egg nog is like drinking straight cream).

So, I'm grateful for all kinds of nogs, grateful for nutmeg and rum, happy for Christmas deliciousness.

Emotional eating

Emotional eating is an understandable thing. When faced with grief, or anxiety, it feels good to turn to "comfort" foods.

I don't think it's worthwhile to try to eliminate the practice of emotional eating. There's no reason to add guilt or shame to an already painful situation. It's better to instead to incorporate appreciation and awareness of what you're eating into the full emotional experience. Over time, that awareness may help to process the more painful feelings directly rather than unconsciously continue to use food.

Food in difficult times is a good thing. No, food is always a good thing. I think that's so important to remember.

Setting limits by harnessing pleasant anticipation

Sometimes we come to a point in life where we feel we should cut back on something that's not healthy - sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol. And in cases where we don't cut it out completely, it's tough to figure out how to keep those limits comfortably. This is not addressing situations where we're compelled to give something up entirely. That's a different kind of challenge, but at least the boundaries are less fluid.

Anyway, one way to cut back on (say, sugar) is to choose an occasion (or set of occasions) where you will partake, and strive to make it particularly special and enjoyable. Then, keep a focus on anticipation and gratitude for the time you are looking forward to.

For example: a random cookie offered to you at work, which, in the big picture, you'd rather not eat. To distract from feelings of deprivation, you might instead anticipate a time of baking home-made cookies with kids. It requires a sense of appreciation for what's really wonderful about that future moment, vs. what is more of a stand-in (at best?) at the present moment.

Spending time with children, quality ingredients, the taste of a cookie fresh out of the oven, passing on cultural traditions (like with Christmas cookies), a chance to be creative/adventurous (trying a new recipe), a chance to connect with friends and neighbors (offering the cookies as a gift). These are all genuinely good things that are deeply interconnected with the enjoyment of food. And in this statement, I want to emphasize that there's nothing at all wrong with enjoying food this way. That, in fact, it is very right. It's right even if it's not 100% "good" for you.

The next challenge is to provide your full time and attention to the experience of your "special occasion" food. Obviously, guilt has no place in this.

Finally, it helps to look back on the occasion and remember it well, with as purely positive emotions as you can muster. I talked before about the ways that past memories can foster appreciation and counter feelings of deprivation. So thinking ahead to what your past memories will be can help.

None of this is any kind of "final answer", or easy and obvious. However, any small steps that help to avoid mindless, "empty" eating and increase our joy and overall health are worthwhile.

I'm somebody who "likes to eat"

Recently in the news, a woman was criticized because "[she is] somebody who likes to eat".

I like to eat. I also like to drink, and breathe. I am grateful to the earth for giving me food, water, and air. I relish what the world gives me out of a sense of appreciation. It may mean we have to admit we are vulnerable, because we can't survive without these gifts.

It is a good thing to "like to eat" because eating is a good thing. All different types of food are wonderful blessings. Even "junk" foods. They should be treated as such.

There's no question that fear is a huge part of this. Fear can play a role when we eat too much (i.e. thinking there's "not enough"), but it also plays a role in the guilt/worry about over-eating. I myself am not immune from this fear - that lack of control, feeling like I could lose status simply because I can't stop myself from eating something delicious, or worse, that my body might betray me in some way.

This article speaks very well to the messed-up way we think about these things:
http://everydayfeminism.com/2016/09/parents-taught-disordered-eating/

It's extremely hard to break away from these messages, even as one consciously acknowledges the wrongness of them.

What's "healthy" for your body is what helps you to move and be open and experience the world, to the extent that your ability allows. Climbing rocks, visiting new cities, meeting people, dancing. Food helps with this, and eating food is a wonderful experience in itself.

We should all strive to be people who like to eat!

Gratitude for Wawa

Wawa is a convenience store that's fairly local to our area. I love Wawa for many reasons. But one of them is that they have such a nice variety of food. Specifically, I really enjoy the snack packs they make - e.g. little pinwheel sandwiches, fruit cups, hard-boiled eggs. It's nice to have the option of something reasonably healthy without having to commit to a huge sandwich. I get the sense that they put a lot of care into knowing what customers are looking for.

I appreciate the work of a business that does a good job providing people food day to day. I also appreciate that they seem to treat employees well, not just because they are always very friendly to customers, but because they make sure there are enough employees hired so that no one seems stressed or overworked. (I'm not saying this as an insider, so I might not be completely correct about this; however, this is definitely my impression compared to other stores or fast food places.)

Anyway, I'm happy that Wawa exists. :)

This is wrong

I truly love Trader Joes, but no. This isn't a good attitude about food!

You're still expected to feel a little guilt, apparently, as they aren't actually guilt FREE! Plus, they don't exactly specify WHY you should feel less guilt. Less dust from conflict diamonds? Less blood of children? The workers who make these crackers get a more reasonable number of bathroom breaks? Consumers want to know!

Quote apropos - why we should be grateful

"Humankind, despite its artistic abilities, sophistication and accomplishments, owes its existence to a six-inch layer of farmable soil—and the fact that it rains!"—Anonymous

Bitter foods

It's interesting that the very word "bitter" is considered negative. It makes some sense as a survival mechanism for keeping people (especially children) from eating something poisonous, but overall, bitter foods aren't necessarily harmful (nor are sweet foods necessarily healthful).

Bitter foods can be a meaningful part of our life experience. Coffee, endive and dandelion greens are some examples. In the course of eating these foods, it's important to keep our anticipation and expectations of them from clouding our direct experience.

If it can be believed that our distaste for bitterness comes from our drive for survival, then arguably what's at the root of our negative reaction is a kind of primal fear. Learning to be fully open to it is an act of choosing "curiosity over fear". (I heard this phrase during an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert on a podcast called "On Being".)

Symbolically, we can take note of the bitter experiences of our lives and ponder the ones that are beneficial to us and the ones that aren't. Some are toxic, and really do nothing to lift us up. Others give our life depth and meaning. Some people are more tolerant of bitter things and others aren't; there's no particular reason for judgment. Each person can decide for themselves in what way they would choose to apply curiosity and gratitude to the potential experiences before them.

Gratitude in place of fear

This isn't about food, but reading it inspired me to write this post
https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/02/15/seneca-letter-18/

One thing I hadn't considered about the gratitude diet is the way it can teach us that we can be OK even with the bare minimum. Living on rice and beans for a few days is not a true deprivation for most reasonably healthy people.

Fear, at a very subconscious level, plays a role in the desire to eat as much as you can while it's available. I think it's a lesson that's instilled very deeply over generations of time. Perhaps it's even part of our genetics.

It's scary to think that we might not have enough food when we need it. It could literally cause our death. In some ways, facing the deeply rooted biological urge to eat even when we're not especially hungry, is a process of coming to terms with the risk of our own death. At a high level, or "rationally", we can understand that unhealthy eating can ALSO cause our death, but it would never be as immediate as death from not having food.

So learning to refrain from overeating may be a process starting with compassion and acceptance of your body's basic biological systems. When you're overwhelmed by hunger, your body is trying to protect you and keep you alive. So, say "thank you" to your body rather than getting annoyed with it. First recognize those deep needs as valid and then try to figure out how to make the healthiest choice.

Day 30: Anything else?

I can't think of anything I haven't covered, but this day is for adding anything else on. (Heroin?)

Bon appetit!

Day 29: Sweets!

Ah, so wonderful!

This is a day to be grateful for sweet things. Some people aren't that crazy about sweets. I really don't understand them.

Ideally on this day you will find something very special to enjoy. It doesn't have to be big (in fact, maybe it would be better if it was small), but it would be nice if it can be something fancy.

After you fully and properly enjoy this experience, it may be useful to think about how and when you'd prefer to eat sweets. In my experience, I sometimes need to take very long breaks from sweets to break my addiction to them. The good news is that each time I do that, I feel less and less attached to the fact that I MUST eat them all the time.

I still love them, and I fully and loudly proclaim that fact (no shame!). On the other hand, I can learn to live without them, and better gauge the times when they'll give me the pleasure I'm hoping for and when they won't. The practice of gratitude helped me immensely with this.

Day 28: Alcohol

This is another one where I don't really partake that often, so I didn't feel like I was missing much.

Many (if not most?) alcoholic beverages are high in calories, and considering that your body treats alcohol like a toxin, it's not particularly good for you.

The gratitude for alcohol would be simply the pleasure it gives you when you have that kind-of warm, melty feeling, a "buzz". This is definitely another category of food that could be left off the list if you choose. If you instead decide to partake, try to take your time and really savor the experience. (Wine especially seems suited for this.) I guess I'm not exactly targeting frat party-goers, here. Mindfulness, an idea which comes from Buddhism, doesn't really seem to go hand-in-hand with drinking.

Well, unless you consider this link:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/03/mindful-drinking-vajrayana-tradition-alcohol-and-buddhism/

I dunno... I suppose you can find what you're looking for somewhere on Google. :)

Day 27: Caffeine

Some people may want to move this much earlier in the list. Perhaps Day 2 or 3. :)

I can't really handle caffeine, so I try to avoid it as much as possible anyway.

Coffee & tea are included in this list, and I guess 5-hour energy?

Day 26: Alternative Sweeteners (honey, maple, etc.)

I don't think honey or maple syrup is particularly different from plain table sugar, in terms of the health benefits or drawbacks. But by excluding "plain old sugar" & corn syrup, you're still limiting yourself quite a bit from overly processed, and overly obtainable foods. Maybe a good way of describing it is a "soft limitation", because it's still possible to treat yourself when you have a particular craving for sweets, but there are more barriers to making a quick decision about it.

Chances are, things will taste really sweet, and a little will go a long way. The nice thing about that you'll get to have almost a revisiting of the times when you first tried these things.

Day 26: Chocolate

It may be hard to work in chocolate without sugar, but there are recipes that may help you to learn an appreciation for chocolate that isn't sweet:

Here's a link to get started:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/life/7-savory-recipes-to-satisfy-your-chocolate-fix.html/?a=viewall

Day 25: Butter/Cream

(This also includes cream cheese.)

Enjoy how much a little bit of butter can go a long way. Even though this food group isn't really considered "healthy", it does make things tasty, and tasty is a thing to be thankful for!

Day 24: Shellfish

Shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters, mussels. Yummy!

No butter yet, though. So try to appreciate them plain first. :)

Day 23: Cheese

I kept cheese as a separate category from milk. It's interesting how many dishes (especially those served in the U.S.) have cheese - pizza, tacos, mac & cheese.

I occasionally enjoy watching "food porn", and it seems like at least 90% of the dishes have some sort of dairy, and more than half of them have cheese. The ending part, where they show the fork slicing and lifting the first bite, always zooms in on the gooey mozzarella or cheddar.

I'll end this with a comic:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3517

Day 22: Milk

I chose to include milk really late in the list because I don't really drink much plain milk anyway. Any of these days can be switched around.

Milk is pleasant because it is smooth and has an almost sweet taste. It is our first food when we are young.

Of course, there are different kinds of milk. Soy and almond milk count in this because our experience of them is similar to the animal-based sources.

Start with a glass of cold milk. Hold the glass or cup in your hand and think about the pleasant sensation it will have in your mouth and how it will cool your throat. Drink slowly, and take the time to enjoy it completely.

Another time, try warm milk. Feel the warmth of it spread through your body as you drink it. If you've been missing sweets, a little bit of vanilla extract will make this more of a treat.

Milk gives you protein, calcium and vitamin D (which is added on after). Take some time to think about the cows that live to provide this to you. Are they well cared for, and do they live decent lives? Think also about the people who take care of them and work to bring this food to you. The point of this isn't so much to elicit guilt, but to create a space for awareness. Depending on where you bought the milk, chances are the situation is far from perfect, but a good first step in changing the situation is to feel grateful. Don't waste what you have, and don't fail to appreciate it!

Day 22: Lamb

Another category of meat...

Day 21: Beef

Here again, not much to say that hasn't already been said before regarding animal treatment and the option to not include this category in your overall diet. (And to maintain a sense of gratitude if you decide to keep beef in your diet.)

Day 20: Pork/ham

I don't have a lot to say about this category except that it includes all pork products, including bacon!

Practicing beforehand

The idea for this blog stems from a very specific practice of denying (most) food and then adding it back slowly as a way of stimulating feelings of gratitude for food and a sense of newness about things that seem fairly mundane (like potatoes).

Before doing it though, it might be a good idea to practice in small ways by slowing down while eating, trying to build awareness of your surroundings and the experience in general. This is especially helpful for foods you find more pleasurable, because it will enhance your enjoyment of them (and hey, if it's something unhealthy and you're eating it anyway, you might as well maximize that good experience!)

It's also good to try building awareness of when you're not enjoying something as much as you thought you would and to let yourself stop.

Day 19: Chicken/Other poultry

This diet doesn't actually have to include any meat, but assuming that you started with eating meat and that you plan to return, it makes sense to add them one at a time.

Another thing to note is that on a day which "allows" a certain food, you're not actually required to eat it on that day. It could still be useful to think about it with thankfulness.

As with fish, the chicken you eat required that another being would die for this nourishment. Even if you've decided that this is ethically OK, it's still worthwhile to foster a sense of gratitude for it.

For the first time eating chicken, I suggest having it very plain, maybe with just a little salt and pepper. While eating it, try to visualize the way it nourishes you. It's particularly high in protein and iron.

On later days, try eating it other ways - roasted, with hot sauce or tomato sauce, etc. Maybe even try something new, like liver (which is extremely nutritious).

(Other poultry might include duck or goose.)

Day 18: Pasta

Noodles are technically distinct from pasta, but noodles are part of this too. :)

It will be nice to have some spaghetti or penne or just plain noodles with a little oil and garlic, or some tomato sauce.

This day also includes other items made with wheat, whatever they may be.

Not sure what more to say about this, except that it will open up a lot more options for meals.

Digestion

We take our digestion for granted in the same way that we take our heartbeats or our breathing for granted.

This Radio Lab podcast is great on this subject (though kind-of a diversion): http://www.radiolab.org/story/197243-gutless/

Digestion is regarded as kind-of gross, especially the farther along the process you go. Perhaps the feeling stems from a discomfort with our animal natures, or a primal drive to disassociate from our waste products. In any case, it doesn't have the "sacred" feel that breathing, or even bleeding, has. Focusing our mind's awareness in this area is a humbling act.

It's worth doing it anyway, to say thank you to our body for its ability to take in the food that we eat and convert it to the energy we need.

After eating, get into a comfortable position for 3-5 minutes and focus on what's happening inside you. No worries if you don't know 100% the scientific facts about it, you probably know enough to visualize and appreciate what your body is doing. Imagine the food that you're eating giving you what your body needs. Picture the chemistry at play, your body's cells knowing just what to do with what you've given to it.

Thank your body, your awareness of your body, and your ability to eat and be satisfied.

Presentation

Presentation can make a difference in how much we enjoy eating something, and in turn, enhance our gratitude for it.

We have little fancy ice cream bowls, and it's funny how much nicer the treat is (and how "less is more" really applies) when we use them.

Even putting chips or other "junk" food in a small bowl can make them seem more special, and helps us to pay attention more while we're eating. It creates a barrier, or a restriction on us, to have to take the time to make the food presentable. Finding a nice dish, placing the food in an appetizing way, and then cleaning up after are all things we wouldn't have to do if we just grabbed a bag out of a cabinet and started munching.

But rather than see that barrier as a burden, look at is as a way to enhance the pleasure from the food, the same way adding seasoning to it would be. This is yet another way that thinking of pleasure as a good thing can increase gratitude and a healthier approach toward food.

Finding deeper enjoyment with less

In the book "Ramona the Pest", Ramona takes just one bite out of lots of different apples because "The first bite always tastes the best".

That statement at face value is true: Any bite beyond the first is subject to the effects of diminishing marginal utility. The scene in the story is funny because of Ramona's attempt to have it both ways - experiencing that first bite, yet not having to stop experiencing it.

The good news though is that there are many ways to genuinely experience "first bites" in our lives, without being greedy and foolish like Ramona. It has to do with the way we frame things and pay attention.

I say this (again) as someone who doesn't always get this right in practice, not as someone speaking from on high. What I want to share is that sometimes I do get it right, and how that works. Sometimes I'm able to enjoy a small piece of chocolate, yet recognize that continuing to eat more will not bring me the same enjoyment again. I'm able to acknowledge that there may be more ice cream, or cake, (or apples?) available, but that I don't need to eat them. There can be pleasure in simply remembering, smelling the scent, or even watching others enjoy the nice thing. There's pleasure in (non-anxious) anticipation too.

Creating a limitation of some sort (waiting for another day, saving for special occasions) allows that "first bite" opportunity to reappear. Also, really paying attention to the first bite(s) makes a difference. Mindless eating is both unhealthy and not particularly pleasurable. But pleasure is important! Pleasure is so important, in fact, that it's well worth thinking deeply about how to maximize it.

In all of this, I'm aware that some kinds of food are addictive (sugar...) and that for some people it's easier and more effective to cut all of it out from their diets to avoid falling back into destructive patterns. Given this, I'm not really sure what to say about how all of this really works. I only know what works for me, and the reasonable likelihood that it could help others too. That it could be extended, as a philosophy, well beyond eating habits.

Day 17: Yogurt

Yogurt is the first dairy product I'm including. It's cool and creamy and a little tangy. Without sugar, it has a sour taste that's not altogether unpleasant. One thing to try is to simply experience that sourness. This isn't to say that fruit or honey aren't nice complements to yogurt generally, but that it's worth training oneself to interact with foods very directly and fully, especially ones that aren't fried, sweet, or salty.

When eating it, think about the history of this food, and the ingenuity of human beings in figuring out how to prepare it. Think also about what kind of nutrients it gives to you. Calcium for bones, protein for building your body, fat (in the case of full-fat or partial-fat yogurt) that provides energy and fullness. It also can provide beneficial bacteria, depending on what type of yogurt you're eating.

Think also about the cows that made the milk for this, and send out a thank you to them. This borders a bit on the political because by really thinking about the cows, it compels us to face the way they're treated in industrial farming. Possibly you thought of this, and had the resources (and access) to purchase yogurt that came from a (presumably) well-treated cow. Or possibly you didn't, with a hundred totally understandable reasons why.

The important thing is that this is NOT about guilt. Rather, it's about gentle "leaning" in the direction of gratitude and kindness. Most people agree that we should do better with our treatment of cows and other animals. So without a sense of condemnation or judgment, it's good to open our eyes and our hearts to this. Maybe it would be possible in your own life to eat a little less dairy and pay a premium for the more humane kind. At the very least, it would be good to err on the side of buying less rather than inadvertently wasting it. And when you do eat it, it's very important to truly, deeply enjoy it.

Our mindset is so important!

This is an old article, but it very much supports the idea that how we think about what we're eating makes an actual physical difference!

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/04/14/299179468/mind-over-milkshake-how-your-thoughts-fool-your-stomach

Basically, if you perceive a food as being "indulgent", it's actually more satisfying, regardless of how many calories it has. And it triggers your brain chemistry to decide you're "done".

It seems reasonable to conclude that genuine appreciation for any given food item will make you feel more satisfied, and help build a fundamental awareness for when you've had enough.

The story of a pear

I received a pear in a lunch box last week, but I didn't eat it. It seemed too under-ripe and my belly felt too full. I held on to it because it seemed like such a waste to just throw away.

For over a week it sat, invoking vague feelings of guilt for not eating it and worry that it would go to waste. How often does fruit feel that way - purchased out of a sense of "trying to be more healthy" and then left on the counter or in the crisper for a long time until (far too frequently) it's thrown out? This one was a particularly boring-looking pear. Nothing terrible about it - just a few minor imperfections, a bit lumpy-looking. It didn't seem to promise much.

So I decided to take a second look. Today, it felt like it was finally ripe enough to eat. I thought about where the pear may have come from and how far it traveled. I decided to view it as a gift. While I washed it, I felt present with the weight of it in my hand. I paid attention to the give of the knife as I sliced it into four pieces. Then, I lifted it slowly to my mouth and focused on just experiencing this fruit, as it was. Sweet or bland, juicy or mealy.

And it was very sweet, very juicy and perfectly ripe and light-tasting. Exactly what a pear should be. I was able to really pay attention for what I believe was about 30 seconds. 30 seconds of really focused attention like that is a great treasure in life!

Well, before I get into too much "brag" mode... while I was still consuming the pear I did totally lose my attention and got thinking about a myriad of other unrelated things. Hey, I'm a work in progress!

Perhaps I, and all of us, are not so much different from the pear. Nothing special, necessarily, but YES, something wonderful. Let's take second looks at each other, and see that we, like the pear, share a sacred place in the miracle of existence.

Tea

Water was my first post, and, as much gratitude that can inspire, tea takes it to the next level.

Herbal tea is the most "innocent" type. I was inspired to write this post based on some truly delicious raspberry tea. I don't know exactly what's in it, but I know it's a  really lovely combination of sweet and sour - a treat that's light, healthy and warming in a cold office.

There's nothing particularly intense about the experience of drinking it. Unlike with beverages that contain lots of caffeine or sugar, this one requires a certain kind of attention and appreciation for simplicity. Within that paying attention process comes calm and quiet joy.

Right before I take a sip, I like to take a quick moment to smell it and feel the warm cup in my hand. It helps to prepare me for the experience and to note the blessing of it.

There are times while I'm working when I realize I'm not actually hungry, but I need a break and a chance to switch focus a little. I am thankful for the free teas provided to me by my workplace, and easy access to hot water so I can use my own chamomile and mint teas.

One final note: herbal teas don't have much to them (certainly no calories!), but they DO have vitamins and other nutrients. For example, the aforementioned raspberry tea includes raspberry leaf, which has iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C and E.

Gratitude could be a better answer!

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305812.php

This study shows that negative thoughts about unhealthy foods actually increased the consumption of them by people who were dieting.

All the more reason to appreciate all foods, and then deeply focus on what your body seems to really want.

Conventional attitudes about food

I started a new job recently, and the way people talk about food, I feel like I'm in a live-action women's magazine. First, there's constant talk about exercising and losing weight, including a "Biggest Loser" contest. (The assumption being, I suppose, that "everyone" needs to lose weight.) At the same time, we had a free pizza day and fancy cupcakes at the town hall meeting. Both the pizza day and the free cupcakes were completely surrounded by talk of guilt and self-loathing about eating them.

I mentioned it's like a women's magazine, because on a typical cover you'll see a picture of a big chocolate cake with a bright bold headline to the side that reads "LOSE 10 POUNDS IN A WEEK!" But it's not just women who have this attitude, at least at my workplace. People are completely mired in this mindset, to the point where it seems invisible, and completely normal.

It's also very hard to resist the dynamic. I'm new, and I want to be part of conversations and fit in. I can't help but get caught up in it a little bit, since of course I have things to say about what's healthier to eat, or how to decide when I'm full. Plus, people notice if I don't eat dressing on my salad, or I decide to forego a cookie. Regardless of why I'm doing this (which is typically because I happen to realize that it's not something I really need at the moment), it becomes part of my identity in that environment.

The problem is that it makes it hard to simply enjoy my cupcake, the free pizza, AND the salad that comes with the pizza. I want to feel happy at my good fortune to have these delicious things. Imagine what it would be like if everyone modified their conversation to express only gratitude for their food, just for one day. How odd, but also how nice it would be!

Day 15/16: All Fruits

This will never get done in 30 days without charging through large categories of food. So I'm adding "every fruit" for the next couple of days. There are so many good ones!

I've been playing a game on my phone called "Stop", where you have to think of a variety of things that start with a certain letter. One category is fruits and vegetables. So I can think of lots of fruit off the top of my head (some that I've already included, of course): Apples, Bananas, Cherries, Durian (OK - Not sure I recommend this one... maybe Date is better), Elderberry, Fig, Grape, Honeydew, Kiwi, Lemon, Mango, Nectarine, Orange, Pear/Pineapple/Peach, Quince, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tomato (Technically...), Ugli, Watermelon, Yucca

The point is, there are SO many items to choose from here. It would be nice to try one new thing each day. Figs and dates are good ones, because they'll taste especially sweet if you haven't had sugar for a while.

When you first re-introduce something to your diet, try imagining that you are really trying it for the first time. There may be some fruits that you actually haven't had before, so that would be easy. In any case, try to maintain a sense of openness to the experience. It would be wonderful if we could do this with all the moments in our lives, but since that's a fairly daunting task, better to simply start with a piece of mango and see where that takes you.

Day 14: Bread

Bread is a "base" food in many areas of the world and throughout history. It is the subject of many metaphors about sustenance, for good reason. It provides energy - basic calories - to keep our bodies functioning. Whole grain bread also gives us some little protein, fiber and other nutrients.

If the bread is white bread, enjoy the simplicity of it, the work involved in refining & processing it. There are good intentions behind the idea of white bread - allowing more people to eat what was once considered special, and allowing the bread to last for a longer time. While not as healthy as less-processed bread, it is still food to be thankful for.

If the bread is whole grain, give thanks for the healthy option of this, and for the benefit it will bring to your body. Be thankful for it's freshness and that one way or the other you didn't need to be concerned about the shelf life of this bread.

If it is non-toasted, enjoy the soft feel of it as you bite into it. Toasted bread has its own deliciousness: crispy-soft. Either way, focus on enjoying the texture.

Give thanks for your daily bread!