How do you decide what to eat? It’s a question millions of people struggle with everyday.
Grocery stores are filled with thousands of food choices. Fruit, dairy, meat, and bread are plentiful and easy to find. But what about the candy aisle, the sweetened cereal, the energy drinks pumped up with caffeine, the sugar laden soda pop, the salty snacks, the processed food that Mother Nature would look at with a skewed eye and say, “What’s this?”
Are a doughnut and a cup of coffee a healthy breakfast? Is it okay to fill up on macaroni and cheese and skip the carrots? How much double chocolate cake is safe to eat? Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? What about those cans of beer?
One’s mind starts to swirl when sorting out the options.
Does deciding what to eat have to be so complex? One might wonder.
No doubt, most of you are familiar with the multitude of advice and counsel coming from dieticians, doctors, nutritionists, weight-loss gurus, and their associates. Some of the advice is good and needed. Reason easily argues that it’s better to enjoy a banana than down a pound of vaporous potato chips. But implementing the wisdom seems to be a challenge for many.
Obesity is running rampant in the world and growing worse by the day. Eating habits appear out of control. People feel out of control.
Suffering hearts cry out, “There has to be an effective way to deal with what to eat and following through with making wise choices!”
I believe there is a better way—a spiritual way to resolve the quandary of what to eat.
Making healthy food choices does not have to be a tortuous fearful exercise when guided by spiritual principles and values.
Before I start sharing some of my ideas, though, I’d like to hear from you.
What values and principles guide your decision-making when choosing what to fix for dinner?
Unfortunately, too often it’s guided by what is quick and easy which usually isn’t good.
Lately though I’ve been making an effort to plate a meal so I can see what is there instead of grazing–and when it’s done –it’s done until the next meal. On the plate I try to have three/four things and a variety of colors. That’s been pretty satisfying and helpful. Grazing just wrecks havoc because you have no idea how much you’ve taken in.
Can’t wait to hear your ideas….
There’s so much in the news media – magazines, newspapers, tv, radio – about what you must NOT eat, what isn’t good for you, that I’ve turned it around to realize that what I CAN eat involves many more choices. And, not oddly, those are the things I really enjoy the most! So I’m becoming aware that when I’m tempted to over eat or over indulge in the sweets department, it’s like any other temptation and comes from error, evil. That helps me stay on track because I sure don’t want to be in league with error of any form. And, guess what?! I FEEL better. Not merely because my stomach isn’t as full and I can bend more easily, but also because I am in control of my own actions.
I got the perfect answer to all food-related queries when I asked a well-known practitioner/teacher how she decides what to eat.
She said:
I go right to the Sermon on the Mount, and to Jesus’ counsel, “Take no thought for the body, what ye shall eat….” I find this is so sound and reliable. We simply do not need to be concerned with what goes in, as he also says; it is what proceeds from the mouth that we must tend to.
MBE also handles this subject thoroughly. There are several discussions in SH and she clearly arrives at the point she articulates in her writings, (Rud. p 12, PW):
“Christian Science erases from the minds of invalids
their mistaken belief that they live in or because of matter,
18 or that a so-called material organism controls the health
or existence of mankind, and induces rest in God, divine
Love, as caring for all the conditions requisite for the well-
21 being of man. As power divine is the healer, why should
mortals concern themselves with the chemistry of food?
Jesus said: “Take no thought what ye shall eat.”
24 The practitioner should also endeavor to free the minds
of the healthy from any sense of subordination to their
bodies, and teach them that the divine Mind, not material
27 law, maintains human health and life.”
This to me, provides just a wonderful answer to this topic. God does it all…provides, decides, discerns, and so on…
We reflect.
This is divine advice that is reliable!
I myself am a vegetarian and try to eat a plant based diet although I eat some dairy.
I do have a weakness for cookies though, and do enjoy coffee.
First of all, I’m really looking forward to the follow-up blog from you, Evan! Your other articles/blogs have helped me tremendously with the “weight” issue.
Like Heather, I was going to cite Mary Baker Eddy’s words from Rudimental Divine Science, especially “As power divine is the healer, why should mortals concern themselves with the chemistry of food?” It seems to me that, as soon as we turn our thought toward food to either help or harm, we are automatically turning away from God, Spirit, as our Life. In addition to Evan’s writings, I have found a chat with Rebecca Odegaard entitled “A new view of the true you: a spiritual approach to body image” is excellent with regard to healing food & exercise related questions. Here’s the link for the transcribed text of that audio: http://www.spirituality.com/article.jhtml?ElementId=/repositories/shcomarticle/Nov2006/1163603345.xml&ElementName=A%20new%20view%20of%20the%20true%20you%3A%20a%20spiritual%20approach%20to%20body%20image
I like quick and easy, too, sometimes! And all sorts of other things, including ‘good for you foods’ as well as those considered ‘bad’. A family member is very concerned with fats/cholesterol levels in foods and I do try to make him comfortable with what I buy and prepare. It isn’t easy to ‘take no thought what you should eat’ when you have to shop for it, store it, fix it, and find a creative way to present leftovers!
As I’ve prayed about it, I find that I can enjoy many things in moderation. That is no longer a hardship–I have found I can turn to God to truly satisfy my cravings and I no longer feel tempted to overeat or stuff down sweets. I try not to think about all the things we hear about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food–but obviously there are things I wouldn’t want to make a meal of.
I need to lose weight and I am losing it, but along with that I’ve been losing some really ‘heavy’ emotional issues, too. So it isn’t just about food.
Truly, in Christian Science, I have found the real Comforter!
The short response to your question has come to me through thoughtful consideration of the Biblical quote you mention above. Before I eat something, I try to remember to ask myself the following question:
“What is my motivation for eating/drinking this?”
In the past, my answers would include, “I’m stressed”, “I’m bored”, “I’m doing it to fit in socially”, “Because my partner is eating.” And I realized that those were not right motives. Right motives include answers such as: “Because I’m hungry/thirsty” or “Because it would taste good and is consumed in moderation.” I’ve found this thought process to make a lot of difference in my ability to improve my eating habits.
The long answer is: I’ve made huge changes in the last year in the types of foods I eat. It started out as more of a budget problem, as I realized that I was spending ~$1000-1500/mo on groceries+dining out as well as $50/mo. for Weight Watchers. It finally dawned on me that I needed to get a handle on my spending and my principles about food consumption. Coincidentally (or maybe not), I met someone who introduced me to the wonderful world of eating local and less processed foods. When we eat a more traditional diet of whole foods rather than what the food companies market to us, we get a triple benefit: 1) The food is generally cheaper, 2) more nutritious, 3)and has a smaller environmental impact. Eventually, I found that the processed foods tasted empty, both of flavor and nourishment and they lost their appeal. Now, I’m happy to say that my budget and my waistline have slimmed down significantly!
Hi Evan,
The quality I now think about when preparing dinner is enjoyment. I used to get stressed about what I was going to make–which wasn’t any fun. But when I focused on what was important–family and friends, and not about what I prepared or what they thought about the food, I really started to enjoy cooking. So the quality of “enjoyment” came from enjoying the preparation of a meal, either by my self or with my husband and friends. Making dinner isn’t a chore, but a loving activity we take part in. And this applies no matter if it is a meal prepared from scratch or a frozen dinner. It is made with love.
I have found that I do appreciate and enjoy what we prepare, where before I would just eat.
I also think on: Gratitude to God for his daily supply. When I am Grateful, these other qualities just fall into place: Variety–of flavors; Simplicity–in preparation and types of food; Balance–of kinds of food; and Moderation in all aspects.
—–
Thanks for your blog, I find your thougths helpful and uplifting.
Shari
I was brought up with what I call common sense meals. Hopefully some little thing in the morning, a light lunch and dinner with meat, potato and veg. I never use precooked frozen dinners though do stock a frozen pizza for a quick meal when needed.
My life does not center around food. I enjoy food but endeavor to keep whatever I eat “in moderation”.
When we eat out I order something special as a treat because we don’t do this too often. This seems to work for us and we’re happy.
Thanks, Evan, for the topic. Thanks, posters who have commented on this topic.
I pray about this every day…. for myself and for others whom I am aware of this being an on-going or recurring struggle. I have read and continue to read and re-read what Christ Jesus taught and what Mrs. Eddy wrote on the subjects of food and eating. I am thankful for every moment of peace I have about making food choices. I rejoice when I hear testimonies of someone’s complete healing in this facet of human life. I have been completely healed of other addictions which is easily measurable in that I simply don’t use the so-called addictive substance and am not confused about it and very rarely tempted. However, there there are such strong beliefs about the normal human need for food and within that context, there are a lot of human opinions floating around.
I desire that my first priority is spiritual food–contemplation of the divine source of all good.
Then there is the matter of quantity and quality of human food to satisfy the apparent human need where I continue to pray for Mind’s guidance and empowerment. Finally, there is continuous need for spiritual support in order to retreat from the temptation to mortal food–that which not only does not satisfy but suggests the desire for more. Needless to say, I AM SO THANKFUL for every prayer prayed and every loving thought given to the healing of food/eating challenges, struggles, and discords. Thank you all.
I recently started reading your blog, Evan. Thank you for all that you do!
I have a couple of thoughts here. First, to me, eating is about “tasting LOVE,” since Love is what has brought to the table what I am about to eat (e.g., hands of farmers, the one who cooked the meal and … most importantly … God who always provides us with so many “care ideas”). The other point is that “feeling full” at the end of a meal means that we are just REMINDED that we ARE already complete – we are not filling a void.
Bless you everyone for your inspiring and helpful contributions which are so timely. I can’t wait for your comments & ideas, Evan, which I’m sure will be the icing on the chocolate cake……I’ll have my cuppa ready, ok? hahaha just joshing….love you all!
It seems to me that if one considers a carrot to be more healthy or nutritional than a donut, then you’re giving power to them. I’ve always felt, like several other have mentioned, that moderation is the main thing to consider. I eat when I’m hungry, but don’t feel I need to have three meals every day at a certain time. Maintaining weight has never been a problem for me. I’ve never felt that any food was more important than another. Once again, moderation seems to me to apply.
Thanks, as always, Evan, for you wonderful blogs
Thank you, thank you, dear Evan, for tackling this subject of overeating and obesity. I’ve struggled with being addicted to the compulsive behavior to overeat for years and have yet to find the answer so that I can be healed. I have a binder of CS articles I’ve collected over the years, and I review them from time to time. Also, I re-read your blogs which deal with the subject. Also, I re-listen to Sentinel Radio programs on the same subject. What in the world do I need to learn? — that’s the question I keep asking myself. Perhaps your upcoming blog will do the trick.
I believe the scripture reference, “take no thought, what ye shall eat” does not mean; to eat anything and everything with complete disregard to being in harmony with the needs of the body.
We were designed for health. and man as a compound idea was designed to live in complete and whole health.
In the times of Jesus, there were no super markets with 88,000 items on the shelves. the foods were simple whole and complete.
today we have extracts and isotopes and synthesis of things previously known as food.
the chemistry found in a box or a can today reflects the mortal thought for shelf life, appetites and the physical senses.
To totally disregard the consequences of the ingestion of aspartame and other extracts found in soda drinks and believe we can ignore their results is foolish.
Harmony in the body starts with the harmony with Mind and Spirit, for sure. Yet, we cannot ignore principles of good health simply because we are daily prayers for health. Wisdom means application of principles for health.
The average American consumes 55 cans of soda pop a year and 170 pounds of sugar a year. This sounds thoughtless to me. Taking no thought what we shall eat doesn’t mean to ignore consideration of the kinds of foods we should be eating. It means to not be in a state of worry or fear if we will be provided sufficient for our needs. Indeed, there is an abundant supply of food for our daily needs without our own need to control that process.
Yet, gluttony in the scriptures is discouraged. As is drunkenness. Both are a disharmony to the Spirit and produce misery and suffering.
For myself, I am happiest when I eat in gratitude and simply. And I can tell when i vary from the approach. I don’t feel in tune with the Spirit.
I realize I have thrown a lot of disjointed ideas out there. But thought to speak for the need to indeed “taking thought” of eating in harmony with the Spirit.
And that does require some consideration, not to be ignored.
The power that made the body is the same power that heals the body and there is indeed a fuel that is in complete harmony with truth.
I dont need to count my calories or measure my sodium but I do need to choose my foods with thoughtful consideration asking is this food made by man or a food created by God.
An apple will always be more in harmony with the body than apple pie ala mode.
Just a thought
Woody
This topic has generated some really thought-filled comments, evidently an important subject for all of us since we exist in a system that requires eating to survive. A practitioner recently reminded me to regard food as God’s loving gift, or provision, nutriment for us, a means of receiving Her love. Have pondered the subject for years and believe the passages already cited by many from Jesus and Mrs. Eddy are key. But, don’t think we can just “take no thought” and decide any food is fine. I feel food is another “world belief” like everything else, dangerous sun rays, poison vegetation, frostbite from the cold, etc. The world has beliefs about food and it’s impact on our bodies, so I’ve decided I need to really prove, demonstrate my exemption from material laws about calories, sugar, cholesterol, meat, whatever, not just decide that because Jesus said, “don’t worry about it”, I’m fine. I need to rise in consciousness to that level. Until then, for me personally, I continue with the “moderation in all things” I’ve usually practiced with regard to food, while I regularly learn to pray to know it’s all spiritual and has no intelligence to help or harm. I’ve also recently cut further back on certain things in protest of the way the food industry treats animals, a kind of love protest, not out of health concerns. Not to mention there’s so much debate about whether there’s really a “need” for some things we may not need at all, i.e. a need to eat meat, or not to. So, perhaps it’s a matter of asking God, “What shall I eat today Lord, what would you have me eat?”
Sancy