Grazing. Food is Fuel

I've been there. That Mexican restaurant that has the chips and salsa I think about all day, and then finally 5:00 comes - it's happy hour. Salted margaritas and those lovely chips and salsa. What could possibly be more delectable? I've enjoyed a few baskets of chips and without realizing how much food I've inhaled, the entrees come and I am beyond full. My dad, and probably someone you may know, calls this mindless mowing, "grazing". And for food reason. 

I used to pick on my dad because he had a dry erase board glued to his fridge that always read, "FOOD IS FUEL!!!" He told me that he had to constantly remind himself that food does not exist to comfort, but to fuel the body. He said food is fuel, not therapy. He admitted that he had been eating his emotions, which I also stated in an earlier post, is an issue for me. All these years later, I stand inspired by his dedication to re-training his mind to treat food like fuel. Pretty much, would you cram a handful of dirt in the gas tank of your car? Heck no. Not unless you're what Judge Judy calls an "idiot" (I love her).... We will perform physically, mentally, even emotionally, according to how we eat. 

Today for lunch I had a salad, and some homemade chicken and rice soup. I also had some strawberries and yogurt. I've been eating oatmeal for breakfast every morning and it keeps me full until around 10:00AM. I've tripled my normal water intake and I can tell a difference in my skin. I wish eating better would stop these gray hairs from sprouting.