 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Hi'iaka's Healing Herb Garden : Column Index : 2003 : Sept03
Coming Soon...
Confessions of a Chubby Child
Or Do Your Best But Don't Obsess About Diets
Nowadays, we hear a lot about different diets and ways of eating that are supposed to promote good health. Many of them do, but there is a lot of information and misinformation about food circulating around our mixed-up American culture. Whatever your particular food preferences might be -- whether you're a meat eater, a vegetarian, vegan, or perhaps you believe in a raw food diet -- I'd like to present some simple, common-sense thoughts about the way we eat.
Chubby Children Are Not Acceptable
Having spent my whole life as a chubby child and an ample adult, I have been subjected to food restrictions, and even guilt, since early childhood. Oreos? Never had 'em. I was allowed two 20-calorie ginger snaps as a treat for dessert, along with a piece of fruit. "Just skin the butter on your toast, dear," was one of my mother's familiar admonitions. We never had fried food, fatty meats, or rich desserts in my family because everyone was always on a diet. Saccharin was a staple on our table: we used it instead of sugar in our hot and iced tea. We consumed pasta and potatoes in small quantities because of their high carbohydrate content. In spite of these well-meaning restrictions, by the time I was 12 years old my weight had ballooned to an unacceptable level, so the good old family doctor prescribed a miraculous little green and white capsule called Dexamyl to young Barb. It worked! By the end of the seventh grade, I was 30 pounds lighter and my life became fun. And my parents were happy because, finally, I was "normal." I'm not sorry I took them -- I'm just sorry that our society puts such superficial importance on being thin and does not allow us to comfortably be what we are by nature.
I continued taking my diet pills through high school to keep my weight under control, then when I went away to college I learned what they were because the other kids wanted to buy them from me to stay up all night and cram for exams! So I tried to stop taking them, which was impossible because I would fall asleep in class. So I waited until my first semester break and when I went home for Christmas vacation I went cold turkey. I slept 14 hours a day for two weeks, after which I was able to function without them. But the weight started creeping back. So it's been one diet or another for the rest of my life, and I've been on some wacky ones, like the one that used to be legal where you got shots of pregnant women's urine and basically fasted on a 500 calorie a day food plan with no carbos or sugar.
Too Much Deprivation Can't Be Good For Us
That's why it's hard for me to understand the stringent restrictions that some of today's diets demand of their devotees. I have heard many people express beliefs about food that are curious to me, such as, "don't drink liquids with a meal," "don't eat fruit along with a meal that contains protein," "eat right for your blood type," "don't eat dairy products," "don't do this, don't eat that." While I am a whole-hearted believer in a healthy diet consisting of lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat, not too many carbos, limited sugar (and honey), I feel that many of us place food and dietary prohibitions on ourselves. Why do we feel the need to do this? Do we believe that by doing so we will live to be 125 years old, without ever having any disease? Well, that's just not possible! The psychological effects of too much physical deprivation cannot be good for a person. If eating one Reese's peanut butter cup a week gives you a moment of happiness or joy, I say go right out and buy one today! It's not going to kill you and if you don't overdo treats like that, you can keep to a healthy diet 99% of the time. Do your best but don't obsess. If you totally deny yourself any food pleasures, you might be on your way to a binge, which of course is NOT good for you.
Food, it seems to me, has taken the place of religion for some people in today's crazy mixed-up world. Perhaps we have too many choices. Perhaps we're stressed out about our jobs, the economy, the world situation, whatever. Perhaps by adhering to a certain diet or food belief system we feel that we are regaining control over one aspect of our lives. Perhaps that might make us feel happy. If that's the case, fine. But as I always say about using herbs, "know what you're taking and why you're taking it." Do your homework. Do some research before venturing off into a food regimen that appeals to you because you know other people who are doing it and you want to fit in with the crowd.
Be Sensible and Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
I believe that a well-balanced diet is the best way to live. Get enough protein from fish, legumes and an occasional fresh farm egg. If you haven't already, try some tofu. Take the skin off your chicken if you eat that. Don't eat too many Whoppers. Eat lots of fresh, beautiful, organically grown Big Island fruits and vegetables. Start using some freshly-cut herbs in your teas and salads and other dishes. Eat brown rice instead of white rice a couple of times a week. Don't eat lots of sugar, starches, and fatty foods. Limit your Oreos, potato chips and Tostitos (my personal downfall, especially the lime-flavored kine...). But relax. Enjoy life. There are so many rules, regulations and restrictions that we must follow in so many areas of our lives, maybe it would be a good thing to ease up on the rules we put on ourselves about food. Be more concerned with developing your mind and being a good person rather than focusing on the superficial aspects of how you look. You're not going to stay 25 and firm forever no matter what you do.
Confessions of a Chubby Child
Or Do Your Best But Don't Obsess About Diets
Nowadays, we hear a lot about different diets and ways of eating that are supposed to promote good health. Many of them do, but there is a lot of information and misinformation about food circulating around our mixed-up American culture. Whatever your particular food preferences might be -- whether you're a meat eater, a vegetarian, vegan, or perhaps you believe in a raw food diet -- I'd like to present some simple, common-sense thoughts about the way we eat.
Chubby Children Are Not Acceptable
Having spent my whole life as a chubby child and an ample adult, I have been subjected to food restrictions, and even guilt, since early childhood. Oreos? Never had 'em. I was allowed two 20-calorie ginger snaps as a treat for dessert, along with a piece of fruit. "Just skin the butter on your toast, dear," was one of my mother's familiar admonitions. We never had fried food, fatty meats, or rich desserts in my family because everyone was always on a diet. Saccharin was a staple on our table: we used it instead of sugar in our hot and iced tea. We consumed pasta and potatoes in small quantities because of their high carbohydrate content. In spite of these well-meaning restrictions, by the time I was 12 years old my weight had ballooned to an unacceptable level, so the good old family doctor prescribed a miraculous little green and white capsule called Dexamyl to young Barb. It worked! By the end of the seventh grade, I was 30 pounds lighter and my life became fun. And my parents were happy because, finally, I was "normal." I'm not sorry I took them -- I'm just sorry that our society puts such superficial importance on being thin and does not allow us to comfortably be what we are by nature.
I continued taking my diet pills through high school to keep my weight under control, then when I went away to college I learned what they were because the other kids wanted to buy them from me to stay up all night and cram for exams! So I tried to stop taking them, which was impossible because I would fall asleep in class. So I waited until my first semester break and when I went home for Christmas vacation I went cold turkey. I slept 14 hours a day for two weeks, after which I was able to function without them. But the weight started creeping back. So it's been one diet or another for the rest of my life, and I've been on some wacky ones, like the one that used to be legal where you got shots of pregnant women's urine and basically fasted on a 500 calorie a day food plan with no carbos or sugar.
Too Much Deprivation Can't Be Good For Us
That's why it's hard for me to understand the stringent restrictions that some of today's diets demand of their devotees. I have heard many people express beliefs about food that are curious to me, such as, "don't drink liquids with a meal," "don't eat fruit along with a meal that contains protein," "eat right for your blood type," "don't eat dairy products," "don't do this, don't eat that." While I am a whole-hearted believer in a healthy diet consisting of lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat, not too many carbos, limited sugar (and honey), I feel that many of us place food and dietary prohibitions on ourselves. Why do we feel the need to do this? Do we believe that by doing so we will live to be 125 years old, without ever having any disease? Well, that's just not possible! The psychological effects of too much physical deprivation cannot be good for a person. If eating one Reese's peanut butter cup a week gives you a moment of happiness or joy, I say go right out and buy one today! It's not going to kill you and if you don't overdo treats like that, you can keep to a healthy diet 99% of the time. Do your best but don't obsess. If you totally deny yourself any food pleasures, you might be on your way to a binge, which of course is NOT good for you.
Food, it seems to me, has taken the place of religion for some people in today's crazy mixed-up world. Perhaps we have too many choices. Perhaps we're stressed out about our jobs, the economy, the world situation, whatever. Perhaps by adhering to a certain diet or food belief system we feel that we are regaining control over one aspect of our lives. Perhaps that might make us feel happy. If that's the case, fine. But as I always say about using herbs, "know what you're taking and why you're taking it." Do your homework. Do some research before venturing off into a food regimen that appeals to you because you know other people who are doing it and you want to fit in with the crowd.
Be Sensible and Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
I believe that a well-balanced diet is the best way to live. Get enough protein from fish, legumes and an occasional fresh farm egg. If you haven't already, try some tofu. Take the skin off your chicken if you eat that. Don't eat too many Whoppers. Eat lots of fresh, beautiful, organically grown Big Island fruits and vegetables. Start using some freshly-cut herbs in your teas and salads and other dishes. Eat brown rice instead of white rice a couple of times a week. Don't eat lots of sugar, starches, and fatty foods. Limit your Oreos, potato chips and Tostitos (my personal downfall, especially the lime-flavored kine...). But relax. Enjoy life. There are so many rules, regulations and restrictions that we must follow in so many areas of our lives, maybe it would be a good thing to ease up on the rules we put on ourselves about food. Be more concerned with developing your mind and being a good person rather than focusing on the superficial aspects of how you look. You're not going to stay 25 and firm forever no matter what you do.
| Home
| Tour the Garden
| Learning Center
| Buy Our Book
| Blog
| Stay at the Garden
| Giftshop
| Join Us
| Contact
| Friends and Favorites
|
