Do you eat to live or live to eat?

Have you ever asked yourself the question- Do I live to eat or eat to live? Do you know whether you do? Have you thought about it? Do you even care?

If you are reading this, you are alive. ( Although some of you may not feel like it) If you are alive, you need to eat. Seems obvious doesn’t it? Well then, why do we eat the way we do? Why do we make the unhealthy food choices we make? We are slowly killing ourselves. We are slowly sabotaging our health, happiness and our lifestyle.

When we live to eat, all we want to do is eat for the sake of eating. Maybe with some joy but certainly not for health, energy and vitality. When we live to eat we eat for recreation. We eat whatever is around. We eat for comfort. We eat mindlessly, and we eat to fill an emotional void. We eat in large quantities and we pay no attention to the ingredients.

When we eat to live, we eat mindfully. We eat consciously. We eat with our health, happiness and our body’s best interest in mind. We may even eat with a higher conscience to vote with our dollars and support companies that we know support our health and right to choose.

There is a difference! Which do you prefer? Which do you choose? How can you change if you are living to eat?

First, start where you are. The first step is being aware you want to make a shift or a change; good awareness! Next, start cleaning out the foods you keep around that do not nourish you or are not nutrient rich. For example, get rid of the Kraft macaroni and cheese. Get rid of all white refined products, like white flour and sugar. Get rid of all packages and cans that are not whole foods or that have more than 5 ingredients. All ingredients should be pronounceable and known to be real food. Another example, canned tomato products. Cans have chemical liners. Substitute fresh tomatoes or tomatoes in glass, also some boxes of tomato products may be safe.

Next, go to your local Farmer’s Market or Health Food Store and replace all staples with organic whole foods. Example, white bleached flour can be replaced with organic unbleached flour. Better yet, organic whole grain Spelt flour. Buy organic cage free, free range eggs. Fill your fridge with fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably in season to reduce a carbon foot print. Foods that have to travel farther are not as fresh and cause us to commit more to an unsustainable future by being addicted to petroleum. Buy meat that is grass fed and humanely treated. Shop at stores that give you more choices, and that share your values of quality and service.

Educate yourself about harmful ingredients. When you read a label and do not know what it is, educate yourself. Investigate what it is and how it affects your body. The Environmental Working Group is a great resource for this. (ewg.org)

It may seem daunting and overwhelming at first, but as you practice, and it is a practice, you will become more comfortable with it. It will become your new chosen healthy lifestyle!  Shopping this way really makes life easier because when you pick up something that contains an ingredient you choose not to eat, put it back, then onto the next thing!

If you still feel overwhelmed, contact me! I love to help you make better food choices and clean out your fridge and pantry.

When we have a clean inventory, we draw from a better foundation!

Happy, healthy eating!