Oh $#*%! I Had Chocolate!

Day 66

One of my stocking stuffers this past Christmas was a bag of Lindor Truffles. Over the course of the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I devoured all 45 pieces that the shiny crimson bag contained. I was munching on them while watching movies at home, driving in the car and etc.

I got them for Christmas—what was I supposed to do, throw them out?!

I have heard horror stories of unhealthy vegetarians. These are usually people that, even though they have eliminated all meat from their diets, still eat unhealthy by devouring tons of junk food.

Why give up meat to be healthier if you still have other unhealthy eating habits you still cling to? Going meatless was also an excuse for me to look at what else I eat and to reflect upon unhealthy eating habits I’ve had in the past. A couple of examples I will write about in this space soon.

I think it’s okay to please your sweet tooth every now and then but not in regular and huge amounts. My holiday chocolate binge was an exception and not the rule.

And what a sweet exception it was.

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Day 6

Today I was having a morning cup of coffee and my 8-year old niece suggested I flavor it with M&M's.

I had put in some 2% milk and a spoonful of blackstrap unsulphured molasses (my veggie friend, Audra, tells me it is a great source of iron, calcium and potassium) and of course I wasn't going to put in M&M's.

It did get me thinking though. No wonder we are one of the most obese nations in the world. We are brought up with candy as a constant presence in our lives!

Think about it for a second.

On Halloween we are told it is tradition to dress up in a costume and come back with a sack full of candy.

For Christmas (if one celebrates it) candy fills our stockings.

For Easter (again if you celebrate it) we get a basketful of sweets!

If we are good while grocery shopping Mom and Dad may just approve of you getting candy at the check out.

And, particularly during the holidays you can't go to most offices and not encounter a bowl of holiday themed candy sitting on the reception desk just waiting to be picked over!

I have never known a child to turn down free candy. Most even spend their allowance on some. Most adults I know also just cannot walk by a candy bowl without snagging a piece to munch on.

We have so much candy shoved in our faces, it's almost like we're programmed to take it, especially when it is free.

Candy is good once in a while but not if you consume a pile of it all at once. We adult humans all have brains. We can resist overconsumption of sweets if we just stop and think. That's all it can take.

Ask yourself if it is really necessary to eat this empty calorie confection?

If I am truly hungry are there healthier alternatives around?

Why do you have to eat it all now? It will still be available tomorrow.

My niece did end up plopping a piece of Bubble Yum into my coffee. I took it out and made her chew it.

Hope you like the taste of blackstrap unsulphured molasses. Brat.