Can I just start off this post by saying how ridiculous everyone in this country is by assigning labels to food? Healthy: Good. Unhealthy: Bad. I eat broccoli, I'm a good girl. I eat cheesecake, I'm a baaaad girl and should be ashamed of myself.
I can't tell you how many comments I get about my own eating habits, usually in the form of "Oh you're so good you don't eat bad stuff" or "I'm not good like you because I don't eat well" or worse, when I bump into someone at a restaurant and they're eating and behave as though I've caught them in the middle of some terrible crime, "This is so bad, isn't it?"
Why has food become so powerful in our lives? Do you think French women get together and waste time discussing how terrible they feel because they've indulged in a piece of cheesecake?
Whew...okay now that I got that out, I'd love to share with you my lunch yesterday as I drove to another city for an appointment, and got to enjoy those treats I can't find here in my little town.
Salad and Ice Cream: let me break it down.
For lunch I visited this cool little place called Salad Creations where I did just that: I chose dark greens and mixed in artichokes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a little shredded cheese, topped with a balsamic vinaigrette. Yum! I love salads, especially when I can create my own. To drink? Water...only because I knew what I was having for dessert.
Baskin Robbins: the best ice cream in the world (and no one will ever change my mind on this one, since childhood memories are also firmly attached).
I ordered my usual: two kiddie scoops of Chocolate Chip and Mint Chocolate Chip on a sugar cone. Then, as I drove home, I became euphoric as I enjoyed the treat (and it is a real treat since I only enjoy it maybe once or twice a year). I'm not kidding, I was so happy while eating, I probably should've pulled over since my attention was diverted more so than when I use my cell phone (my apologies to the guy I accidentally cut off).
Is Baskin Robbins ice cream healthy? Of course not! But who the hell cares? And now I'm going to share a secret of mine that you may find tough to swallow (although it's not a secret to most of the rest of the world): I am so healthy because I don't eat healthy all the time!
My ice cream cone didn't hold any magical powers, it wasn't "good" or "bad" and I didn't feel "ashamed" or "weak" because I indulged. And this is the key to my health and happiness. I'm tellin' ya, it's a great way to live and eat!
And by the way, my salad was pretty dang delicious too. So yesterday's lunch was all-in-all a Success!
Here's to you and your favorite foods...Enjoy!
Suzanna Quintana, Holistic Health Coach & Certified Foodie
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