Friday, June 23, 2006

Things that make you go mmmm....

....Or things that make you go eeeewww. This is an eye opening look at "10 foods you should never eat!"

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

While I'm certainly no health food guru (nor do I aspire to be!) this list has pushed me a little bit closer to the more nutritious side of living. I do try to be semi-conscience of the things that I put into my body, but one some of my weaknesses are definitely of the fast food nature. Add to that, the fact that one of my favorites (Burger King french fries) made the list! I am guilty.

One thing that should motivate me to stay on track with my eating habits is to remember that my body is a temple. Am I taking care of it in a way that brings glory to God (ouch!)? Am I being a good steward of my body and of the food that has been provided for me, or am I wasting these resources that I have been given. And on a deeper level, what is the testimony that I give to others if I seem to lack self-control in one area? Does it spill over to the other areas of my life as well (my words, thoughts, Bible study, diligence, etc, etc.- I could go on and on with this!)?

I like food. I like it a lot. So much so, that I'm tempted to make it an idol (I'm willing to sin if I don't get it.) I get grumpy when I'm hungry, I complain (in my heart) if it's not quite what I wanted that day, I spend money that I shouldn't on food that I don't need. These are just a few examples of my sinfulness concerning food. How silly is that in light of serving a Holy God?!! But Christ knows our hearts so well that He addresses even this issue in scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul says "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Of course he wasn't speaking of gluttony in this passage, but the fact that he acknowledges simple food and drink as a possible stumbling block for our Christian walk speaks volumes. Do even the things that we put into our mouth bring glory to God? Just some food for thought:)

7 comments:

Hannah said...

You are not alone. Although I really do not enjoy fast food anymore and will avoid it at all cost. I will indulge and overdo it on the things I have in the house. I just love eating. I would eat all day long. This is where my struggle with self-control comes. I will set in my mind that I don't need to eat anymore and then my hand is stuck in a bag of chips like last night. Ahh I can control myself, but I know without God's help I can do nothing.

jigawatt said...

Good post, Anita.

Here I intend to open up a can of (healthy) worms:

Should the government impose regulations and restrictions on our food choices?

My wife, brother, sister-in-law and I got into a big discussion about this a few months ago. With the Click-it or Ticket law, you can be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. But not wearing a seat belt harms no one but yourself, and that's only if you get into a wreck. The same arguments for Click-it or Ticket could very easily be used to justify dietary laws. For example, you might have a quota of vegetables to eat per week, or maybe you could only legally consume 2500 calories per day.


thoughts anyone?

Anita said...

jigawatt,
perhaps there is some foreshadowing of this (gov't regulations) already happening. we can see this in schools where healthier foods are being required in the cafeteria and vending machines. i can agree with this to some extent. if i were to send my children to public school (a whole 'nother subject) i wouldn't want them to be surrounded by junk food; and i would want them to be taught how eating healthy food vs. junk food affects their body. but these are children and not adults, so there is some difference there.

what about insurance companies? maybe they are doing the gov't's part of imposing healther lifestyles by have higher premiums for smokers and tobacco users. their next step could possibly be to target unhealthy eating that causes health problems (i.e. diabetes, leg, feet and back probs, heart disease, etc.) it wouldn't surprise me.

maybe, in an indrect way, not wearing seatbelts, does affect other people. more injuries in car accidents, means more hospital care, which means higher healthcare bills, which means more moneys insurance companies have to pay, which means companies raise our rates because of higher costs that they are incurring all because people are not wearing their seatbelts! (whew! sorry for such a long sentance!)

i don't really have a conclusion, just some random thoughts! but that's what you asked for!

anita

Krista said...

I have been reading Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse FitzPatrick and your post complemented it perfectly. Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts!

Aaron said...

ANITA!!!??
COULD YOU PULL YOURSELF AWAY FROM THAT COMPUTER FOR FIVE SECONDS AND BRING ME ANOTHER BOWL OF ICE CREAM??!!

Kathie said...

Okay Anita...so last night I told you I read your blog...I have enjoyed the pics of the kids and things like that BUT if you are going to start posting things that step on my spiritual toes....I may have delete your blog from my favorites list :D Really, it was an excellent post. I think that is an area we all struggle with but don't really think about because we NEED food, right? Thanks for being open and transparent...better get the cheif that ice cream :)
Kathie

jigawatt said...

At least he didn't say "BRING ME ANOTHER BEER!"