Doughnuts, Twinkies, and HoHo's, are snacks that many people list as "bad" foods. If they are "bad" why do they taste so "good?" Do you always categorize foods as "good" or "bad?" One of my daughters maintains that any food that is good for you, tastes bad. Her theory also states if your food tastes good, it can't be "good" for you! Here is a more accurate concept. It is hard to use only "good" and "bad" categories. Consider that there are foods which are very high in energy (calories) with very little other nutrients (see the list above). There are foods that are high in energy and are also good sources of additional nutrients, such as, pizza, tacos, and lasagna. Another category would be those foods that are very low in energy and provide little or no other nutrients such as iceberg lettuce, sugar free gelatin, and diet soda. Another group of foods are low in energy, but packed with lots of nutrients, namely vegetables and fruits. This healthy food grouping is beginning to sound like a full-time job!
We have been categorizing our food into "good" or "bad," and living with the guilt for so long, it might be hard to change this thought process. Just remember, there should be no foods you delete completely from your diet. All foods can fit!
I'm not recommending doughnuts for breakfast seven days a week, but they could fit into breakfast — occasionally. The catch - you knew there would be one - is that the foods chosen for the rest of the day should be jammed - packed with nutrients and be a little lower in energy.
Think about the skills we use when shopping for clothes. Very few of us dash into JC Penney, grab the first thing we see, plop it on the counter, dole out the 50 bucks, and climb into it before we even get back to the car. When Michelle shops, she will first peruse the selection available. When she finds something she likes, she will then decide whether or not she likes it well enough to pay $50 for it. She also thinks, will this go with anything I already have? Will I get $50 worth of wear from it? Does it fit my budget? Do I love it?
When we are making food choices, we should be asking these same types of questions. Does this food provide the nutrients, calories or satisfaction that I need? Does it fit in with the other foods I have eaten or plan to eat today? Do I love it? If the answers to these questions are no, then it might be too expensive for your diet today. Maybe you want to have a food that is high in energy content, but also very high in nutrients. On top of that, it is one of your favorite comfort foods that you are feeling the need for today. You are positive you will be very satisfied after eating it. Then, this would be a very economical food choice for you today. See how easy this is?
You did notice "satisfaction" on the list of reasons to select a food. If we keep eating around a food that will satisfy us, we can end up eating a ton more food and energy than we need and never get satisfied. There are times when we are better off to eat the doughnut for satisfaction and adjust to low calorie, nutrient dense foods for the balance of the day. We need to learn to nourish the body and satisfy the appetite. The key is — moderation and sensibility.
