Yes, gain.
When I think about healthy eating, I imagine a different kitchen than my own (editors note: how do you imagine your kitchen? Imagine a new one here with the Electrolux Canada Virtual Kitchen). I can clearly envision what I want to see, taste, and smell in this imaginary kitchen, and when I look around I realize I’m not there yet. But the vision inspires me.
Mmmm
I will admit it sounds a little bit silly, but it’s important because when I think of good changes I would like to bring into my life, I think of things like the fruit I like to see ripening on my counter. I mentally open a fridge full of fresh produce, simple dairy items, and healthy snacks. My pretend pantry offers a reassuring selection of staples, all ready for the meals I will prepare. I plan meals, and share them with people I love. In theory.
Yum
These are just some of the good things I am looking to add to my life as the year gets underway. You see, I’m not so big on deprivation. It’s hard for me to focus on what I shouldn’t eat, if I should lose weight and what I should do without to get there. When I focus on the negatives, the limits and the loss I should strive for, I can’t find anything inspiring to get me started.
But I have good news for you. There is a different way to look at it all, and once you start, it becomes easier and easier to fall back on. It’s time to think about all the things you will gain as you make positive shifts in how you are fueling your body. That’s right, I said gain, and I’m not afraid to do it.
Here’s what I want to gain by adding good food to my kitchen this year:
Health – no laughing matter, we all know that eating well will bring us better health. But let’s think for a moment what that looks like. I see longer lives, with less worry and struggle ahead of us. I see us gaining years, and our families adopting good habits for their futures.
Energy – we often commiserate over our low levels of energy. Imagine what you might gain if you learned to fuel your body with the right foods! Brighter mornings, more focused work days and more fun with your kids are what come to my mind.
Connection – when we are too busy to buy healthy food, to prepare nourishing meals or sit down together as a family, we suffer. Maybe in small ways, maybe more over the long term but it is common knowledge that sharing meals brings people closer. When you take the time to stock your refrigerator and pantry with tempting choices, you will be more likely to want to prepare food or extend an invitation to others.
Pleasure – shopping for good food can be good for the soul, and so can preparing it. We feel good about ourselves when we take the time to look after our bodies, and few things offer more pure enjoyment than relishing something truly delicious made by your own two hands – or even better, hands belonging to someone else in your home. Stock the fridge, leave out a cookbook or two, you might inspire someone else to cook for you!
This year, I will be chopping vegetables ahead of time so they are at the ready for snacks and lunches. I will be adding green smoothies to my days because I like the energy boost. I will be meal planning to help fight off the crazy nights that tempt us to order in. And I will be exploring cookbooks, and sharing them with my family to create more of the goodness we feel when we cook and eat together.
This year, I’m going to have my focus on what I will gain, not lose. And if it means my jeans happen to fit better by spring, well, we’ll consider that a welcome bonus.
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Don’t miss next week, when we’ll have a look at what our money situation tends to look like in January. What are we doing, what should we do instead, and what are some easy ways to improve things?
