We all know eating healthy is important and in many cases even vital. When then is it so hard? There is no easy simple answer. Often, it comes down to our relationship with food. How do we see it? What purpose does it serve? How readily available is it and at what cost? Is it quality? Like any other relationship, we ask these questions which determines how food fits into our lives. For many, myself included, it is an outlet. I eat when I’m stressed but I also eat when I’m celebrating, using it as a reward. In changing gears from prior posts on spirituality, I’m going to introduce some key points for nutrition but also some insight on how we can bring God into this relationship and take some of the pressure off.
As in any practice, we need to see the value in it if we’re going to stick with it. We go to work because we see the value in earning a paycheck while contributing to our families and our community. We stick with it because those things are a priority. We shower because we see the importance of cleanliness for health and societal norms. What about nutrition? We may eat unhealthy foods or quantities because of how it makes us feel; justified, happy, warm, and all those other psychological factors that keep us hooked. But more importantly, those are high priority. Why would we not keep doing something that makes us feel good, at least in the short term? Seems logical. The problem lies in the long term and we as humans, faulty and frail, prioritize the short game. It’s hard to justify the future when it’s not guaranteed. It take discipline to say no to the hedonistic self and do what is best for future me instead of present me. In short, we have to deny ourself.
“Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) As Christians, we want to follow Jesus. That is one of our core beliefs. In other words, a top priority, if not THE top priority. And how could it be otherwise? What’s more important than following Jesus? So a next step would be asking ourselves “What is in alignment with that top priority?” I would argue our nutrition is in alignment with that. When we provide our body with vital nutrients, we are following Jesus by giving out body the energy and the care to do His will. We are saying yes to the invitation of good health, knowing we will produce good fruit. As a comparison, in taking care of a houseplant we want to flourish, we give it the right sunlight, fertile soil and proper temperature. We give it the nutrition it needs to thrive and produce a robust life from root to leaf. Why should our body not be the same? In doing do, we need to deny ourselves the things that serve the present me.
Now, the picking up the cross is that piece that involves doing the thing that is difficult. Having the self control when we’re at the store or restaurant to not succumb to that craving and purchase the thing that isn’t good for us. Or when we have something at home and having 1 cookie instead of 10 (guilty as charged here). The good thing is that we can always as Jesus to help us carry that cross. Invite Him in. “Jesus, help me to serve You and give me the courage to say no, knowing it will be for Your glory.” Now this is not to say we will slip up and eat the wrong things or the wrong amounts. We won’t overindulge and do our future self a disservice. We just want to strive to make the proportion in the right amount.
Having some of what we enjoy is healthy but it needs to be moderated. We know these things. More fruits and vegetables. Less processed foods. More water and less soda. Less alcohol. We’re bombarded with the knowledge but there is a barrier in putting it into practice. So the challenge remains; invite God in to help feed your inner man or woman.
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