Changing What’s on Your Plate
Everyone knows that:
A large, juicy, piece of grilled chicken neatly laid on top of fresh greens with a homemade raspberry vinaigrette is a better choice than
A hotdog on a white bun, slathered with ketchup dripping down the side of the bun onto your fingers and fries sprinkled with melted cheese.
I say better choice…but what I mean by that is, often times a harder choice. A choice that will make you feel good, feel full, poop well, satisfied, and overall happier once you have finished your meal. Yet, the smell of the atmosphere where you would get the hotdog, the temporary good feelings that may fill you when eating the warm delicious hot dog…only lasts for a few moments but can very much feel like the better choice.
But often certain foods or sin can look delicious and easy but leave us still hungry for more and craving more of the bad. I know I went deep and we were just talking about food…but were we? Each of the choices we make matter to God and matter in our overall health. Having a proper relationship with food is incredibly important…and incredibly hard. In a similar way, making daily choices that honor God is either going to grow our relationship closer or add distance between us. Not that God leaves or ever abandons us…but the more choices that draw us away from God…does just that…draws our hearts further from Him. In the same way, the more often we choose the hotdog and fries or (fill in the blank) the more that unhealthy food is going to feed the bad bacteria in your gut that is telling your brain you need more sugar, and sodium, and the processed fats. (I wrote a great blog post on probiotics here, it will give you more details on the good bacteria that is fed when we make better choices) But in the same way, as we make good or better choices with food rich in fiber, nutrients, protein and health fat—the food God has created as close to how he has created it—the better we will feel, the good bacteria will be thriving and will help you to continue to make better choices for what you stick on your plate.
This sounds very simple. Yet, there are so many conflicting views on food how is something to know what should actually be on their plate? Honestly, that is why I have a job. As a health coach, I am able to walk alongside clients and help them discover what their individual body needs. But in short, we all need to eat the food God made as close to how he made it. For example, think an orange not orange juice…or potatoes not potato chips.
So, lets get practical. You want to make better choices about what you put on your plate. Let’s slowly but surely make a change using the crowding out method. You are filling your plate first with veggies and protein and a healthy fat and with the remaining space on your plate adding carbs or less beneficial food to your plate.
So for example: instead of a cup of rice, three broccoli pieces, a piece of chicken and 2 biscuits with jam and butter…lets fill out plate first with a heaping spoonful of broccoli (lathered in butter—healthy fat!), a piece and a half of chicken, 1/4 cup rice, and 1 biscuit with jam and butter. I bet if you tried the first example on monday night for dinner and then the second plate for tuesday nights dinner…you would notice the difference. You will be more satisfied, full for longer/content without the bedtime snack or after dinner bowl of ice cream, and you won’t feel the tired feeling that comes when your blood sugar dips. You can do this with each meal. You’ll notice a difference and soon you’ll want to choose the grilled chicken salad over the hot dog!
Try it! And email me telling me you tried the crowding out method! I love hearing from my readers and how what you’ve read has helped you on your own health journey.
