Commentary by Jenny Swisher
At what point in our lives did our food turn from good for us to good tasting? Remember when you were a child, held hostage at the dinner table until you finished “five more bites” of the food you hated? We all have stories of hiding our carrots inside of our baked potato, or spitting our vegetable into our napkin.
Then came teenage life, when we argued our way out of eating what we hated, or simply left it on the plate in obvious dispute.
Then, we move on to adulthood, and we spend the first few years expressing our freedom with rebellion. ‘It’s 2a.m. and I have no one to report to? Then I’m going to Taco Bell, so boom!’
And then somehow, in the midst of life and work and stress, we find ourselves overweight and wishing we could change, knowing it’s an uphill battle. We join a gym, but then reward ourselves with that cheesesteak that sounds so dang good.
I’ve got news for you. And you’re probably not going to like it. You need to grow up.You are an adult, and only you can decide to make a change. You would not believe how often I hear statements like:
“I hate fruit.”
“Green vegetables creep me out.”
“Water? Ew, that’s boring.”
We all have things we don’t like. Me? I despise beets. But I eat them. Why? Because I know better. Because I know how my body feels when it’s properly fueled, and I crave that feeling more than any temporary satisfaction.
Start today. Try a food you haven’t had in years, or eat one you know you like but usually don’t choose because it doesn’t taste as good as those nachos. What you’ll start to find is someone inside of you that’s open to change, not just wishing for it. And by trying and doing, you may get to stay and feel alive that much longer.
Happy kale cooking to you, friends!
