Resolving to eat more naturally and healthier has made grocery shopping a unique experience. I have a keen eye for items that are either unhealthy due to added chemicals or amount of sugar or fat. Blindly picking up an item that looks yummy or easy to make are no longer how I make food choices. While, I never ate terribly I was no stranger to processed foods or the occasional fatty or sugary snack. I find giving up certain foods is both freeing and confining. It feels free to avoid aisles of junk food or processed foods. I am free from the added chemicals and fat plus free from having to think about buying certain items. However, giving up certain foods will confine you to about 1/3 of the grocery store. It is often difficult to think of complete meals without darkening the frozen food aisle for some easy fixes.
So what have I given up? I am giving up dairy and cutting back on meat and processed foods. My reasons were not solely based on weight loss but on health. I find myself feeling sick after eating dairy and processed foods. I am not fond of meat to begin with and eating it often makes me feel tired. As far as losing weight my plan is the tried and true measure of moderation and wise choices. So, I stroll though the grocery store easily passing by certain items because I simply crossed them off my list. However, adjusting to cooking a different way or thinking of meals in different terms is proving difficult.
I encourage you to think about what you eat. Are there foods that make you feel sluggish or sick? Do you pick items in a grocery store like a kid in a candy store? If your cart is filled with foods that do not benefit you then put them away. Cross items that you should not eat off your list and never look back. You will begin to feel a freedom from being drawn in by unhealthy food. You will feel freedom from a transformed mind that thinks of YOU first and not your stomach. My advice for anyone cutting out foods they have long depended on is to prepare oneself. Before you head to the grocery store and fill your cart with things you “plan” to give up, arm yourself with new recipes. It’s hard to switch gears when your switch leaves you lost. Search the internet for meals that incorporate foods you need in your diet. Find some low fat dessert recipes to treat yourself. With the right attitude and tools you can escape the temptation of the cookie aisle.
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