Are You Friends With Your Food?

Remember the words of wisdom “Choose your friends wisely?” Think about what might happen if you re-word that thought to something like, “Choose your food wisely.” What do you look for in a friend? What do you look for in food? What do they have in common?

We all know some friends are better friends than others, easier to get along with, more supportive—a positive influence on our lives. And, we also know that some friendships are actually unhealthy. Some friends might be controlling or make unreasonable demands, leading to feelings of resentment and guilt. Some are love-hate relationships. Sounds a lot like food . . .

So, how does one go about making friends (the lifelong kind of friend) with food? For starters, there’s the “break-up.” Yes, it’s hard, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do. Sometimes you have to break-up with unhealthy food habits and find a way to make food one of your best friends—for life. Literally, for life. To reach a happy and healthy relationship with food (and that’s a key point), you have to identify the attitudes and self-destructive habits that get in your way—and break-up with them. Then, it’s time to make new friends.

Find new food “friends” that support your goals. Look for the food friends that don’t leave you with feelings of resentment, self-doubt or guilt. Find food friends that support your efforts to make positive choices, are there for you and your health, in happy times and sad, and who won’t sabotage your best intentions with self-serving or distorted views of “comfort.” In other words, food “friends” that will sustain but not disrupt or derail your health / lifestyle objectives.

We’ll bet you know who these friends are, and if you don’t, ask us. We’ll send you a “food friend” list.