Finally, although you may likely be expecting to next read a list of organic, hand-crafted, local, unprocessed, nonGMO foods you should eat and a list of high fructose, sugared, processed, trans fat foods you shouldn’t, I skipped all that. Yes, those lists have wisdom, but are only part of the equation. I think the simple (not to be confused with easy) suggestions below are essential, no matter which other lists you follow.
1
3 MEALS, 2 SNACKS a day
That’s it--eat discrete meals and snacks. Make a plate, sit down, eat, get a little more if you need it. Then stop. The concept of grazing, though has appeal, means your organs aren’t getting to rest. There’s something about letting your body have fuel and then letting it pause and rebuild to feeling hungry that helps the system work better. It’s kind of like those old rechargeable batteries: it was better to let them drain all the way down and then recharge them. A snack is fine between meals, but even here, it’s a finite process and not a constant stream. If you are always eating, you are never hungry and never full, so your body can’t help you regulate your food intake. But, if you are like me, this is a huge challenge--constant snacking feels so right--until your body starts speaking up with inflammation, digestion irritation and weight gain.
2
EAT T O 80% CAPACITY
When you do eat, don’t eat until you are full... it’s too late, way too late, by then. Eat what is reasonable and then stop. Let your body catch up to your brain and start giving you the signals to stop consuming. Leave the kitchen for a bit, go for a walk, get busy on the computer, and then come back to clean up. Find a strategy that works for you to allow you to be finished with the meal. The Japanese call this food restraint Hara Hachi Bu. Look it up. Feasting has a place in life, it just should not be every day! Of course, eating until you feel full, so incredibly full, feels so good--until the bloating, weight gain, bellyaches, chronic disease and digestion issues start up.
38 | SARATOGA FAMILY | SPRING 2021
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