“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” ~ Ann Wigmore

The old saying, “You are what you eat” is absolutely true. At least for me, and I believe there are plenty of scientific studies that have shown it to be true as well. I generally try to eat as healthy as possible using fresh fruits and vegetables daily. I prefer to avoid fast food. I plan my meals ahead of time to hit my macros and avoid temptation or the debacle of stress eating.

BUT . . .

There are some things that are special pleasures, cherished moments or tastes or feelings.

The occasional cup of hot chocolate before bed with either peppermint creamer or a shot of Rumchata mixed in.

Peppermint bark at Christmas.

Pasta with artichokes and lemon.

Hot tea with a tablespoon of cherry jam (a la Ruskom style)

Werther’s cinnamon creme caramels.

A tender, juicy medium-rare steak

Plain bagels with avacado, everything-but-the-bagel seasoning, and smoked salmon.

I may not always be hungry or want to talk about food, but I DO (on rare occasions) enjoy eating.

Unfortunately, I am a stress eater and a boredom eater. The past few months have been very stressful. Okay….okay….the past year has been hellatious. I have gained 38 lbs. – not from overeating, but from eating whatever was on hand. I lost all interest in cooking, in shopping, in meal planning. I was just trying to get from day to day and keep my head above water. Most of the time I felt that I was drowning.

As things have worked themselves out, I have gradually gotten back to finding pleasure in cooking and planning meals. I made sugar cookies with my son and his girlfriend – first time for both of them cutting out cookies. My Christmas gift to her is to spend an evening each month with me teaching her how to cook simple things – not from a box.

You truly are what you eat – so choose wisely.