A few years ago when I was teaching my weight loss class in Florida we had a conversation about eating food from the trash. Do you or don’t you? Have you or haven’t you? I found this whole conversation fascinating because eating from the trash can was where I drew the line. If an M&M fell on the floor I may eat that, but not if food was in the trash can! Apparently though, in that particular group of ladies, eating from the trash happened occasionally, but there were rules.
- 1. The food had to be really good
- 2. The food had to be on top of the can
- 3. The food had to be freshly disposed of
I laughed along with them, but I was thinking – “What!! You have got to be kidding me! Food from the trash?” The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had been guilty of doing the same thing. Not by eating food from the trash can, but by eating trashy food. What nutritional value did I get from inhaling large amounts of chocolate before 10:00 a.m. Wasn’t the over processed, fried food bad for my heart and health? Candy bars in twos and double dinners were trashy for my body. The food didn’t come from the trash, but it may as well have for all the good it did for my health and my weight.
How are you doing these days with your food choices? Is the food you are choosing to eat healthy and nutritious for your body, or are you filling yourself up with trash? The more weight I lost the more I developed the desire to eat foods that were healthy and satisfying. I still loved food, but my love for certain foods shifted. There are a lot of sites with lists of healthy foods, but here is a nice list I found at the World’s Healthiest Foods website. In reviewing their list I realized that when I changed my eating habits I added in a lot of foods from this list, just by gaining an awareness of the nutritional value of the foods I was eating, and the foods I was serving my family.
Weight loss can be achieved by following a low calorie, nutritionally poor diet, but losing pounds that way isn’t the way to long term improvement in your health and well-being. Years ago, when I was in high school some of my family and I tried one of those diets where you have shakes twice a day and then a “healthy dinner.” We all lost some weight doing that, but the minute we started eating food again, we promptly regained our weight. Don’t settle for losing pounds and your health at the same time. While losing weight try and focus not just on the amount of food you are eating but on the health of the food you are eating. You will be glad you did! Diane
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This is really funny! One day we were having hot dogs, and I was just eating a salad. My teenage son got up and threw his 3rd hot dog in the trash. A few minutes later, as I was heading to throw something away I saw it sitting there. I really wanted that hot dog, but I resisted. I am trying to lose weight, and I hope that I can do it this time. Love your blog!
@Jen – As a young woman this is the ideal time to get healthy and fit. I wish I had started my weight loss journey earlier, actually I wish I hadn’t gotten obese at all! Thanks for the comment and I’m glad you like the pictures.
@Sandy – I’m glad you resisted the hot dog – not only because it wasn’t good for you, but also that it was in the trash can. You can succeed in your weight loss quest, just take it one day at a time. I’m glad you like the blog!
For me, reading this reminds me that I need to be careful of what i eat everyday. I’m young and I don’t want to be not healthy. I like your honesty and the pictures are really motivating for me.
My goodness I can’t believe people would actually think about eating food from the top of the trash can. But I like the analogy since I am often guilty of eating food that isn’t always good for me. Thanks for the reminder that clean food is important.
Connie,
I’m glad this helped remind you that eating healthy food is important, and I’m glad you wouldn’t eat from the trash either! Thanks for stopping by and for the comment. Diane
I must say, I have eaten leftovers from other people’s plates before, but I’ve never eaten from the trash!
My journey is all about health, so the first step for me has been to start eating healthy foods and eliminating unhealthy foods from my diet. Only once I feel confident and settled in that area, round about now, can I start concentrating on actually eating smaller portions. It’s a two-step process for me…
@Hanlie,
You have such a healthy approach to your weight loss journey. Eating healthy is so important, and I know a lot of people who have lost weight by just cutting calories and eating junky things. Conquering one thing at a time is a smart way to do it. I think you will be more likely to have long term success too. Thanks for the comment.
Great post! Ugh…not the trash! Thanks for the reminder today! Off to make a green monster for breakfast!
Rhonda, I’ve seen those green monsters and I’m just not sure about them! I know they are good for you, but how do they taste? Would I like it or would I want to toss it in the trash???!! Just kidding – thanks for visiting the blog.
Great blog! I have found that cutting out the “trash food” of my diet makes me feel better! If I slip and eat something high in fat or junk food I feel really bad the next day and it’s not worth it. I usually give myself a good talking to and go back to eating healthy and feeling great!
Tresa, I too found that when I started to eat less junky food and more healthy food I felt better physically and emotionally. I think feeling ill after eating unhealthy foods is God’s way of reminding us what is good for us and what is not! Thanks for commenting and the nice compliment! Have a great weekend!
Wow – thanks for the link the the foods – that is a great tool! I definitely favor more on the list than not now, so at least I am working in the right direction!
And….I’ll admit to pulling a doughnut off the top of the trash back when I was 370. Looking back, it just sickens my stomach. Nice to know I couldn’t do it any longer.
Pam – I’m glad you liked that link. I did a search for “most healthy food list” and that came right up. I think the owner of the site owns Dole? I enjoy reading your blog and you are doing a great job with your journey into health and fitness. I’m glad you aren’t tempted by trashy food anymore! Diane
I can honestly say I’ve drawn the line at the trash can also, but not always at trashy foods. Thanks for the good reminder!
Leah – I’m glad to hear that you draw the line at the trash can! I did too, but I do know some people who have grabbed something out of the trash and eat it! Yuck! I still have to remind myself to eat nutritious foods, as I still like the trashy stuff!
This is a great analogy by the way. It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode when George went to the trash to dump something, saw some kind of pastry, and got caught eating that pastry that was in the trash by his girlfriend’s parents. During the re-harsh with Jerry and Elaine, they were trying to figure out whether is was touching anything, how long it has been there, etc.
Have I been caught eating from the trash? No. But have I? Well, let’s just say I have not been caught.
asithi
Asithi – I remember that Seinfeld episode. They could talk anything to death! I also loved all the soup Nazi shows. They were so funny. Thanks so much for the comment – I really enjoyed reading through your blog. Diae
I love this post so much. You’re right: eating junk is just the same as if we were eating it from the trash bin. It’s terrible for our bodies, and we shouldn’t treat them like that! Very well said.