Today I was sitting down to post a new blog on my definition of “diet.” After I opened up my internet browser I noticed this article “They Did It: Weight Loss Success Stories.” One success story reads “…I strongly believe that addressing the psychological reasons for misusing food is absolutely critical to long-term weight-loss maintenance."
Misusing food? As in this success story, during bouts with stress people often misuse food, although people who handle their stress just fine misuse food too. Who doesn’t occasionally misuse food? For instance, an Orange Mocha Frappuccino with all its processed whipped cream, milk, and orange syrup yummy goodness, who can resist? Especially people who need help!
In times of stress one of my new favorite foods to misuse is the Medjool date. It used to be the Orange Mocha Frappuccino but not anymore. Starbuck's got rid of the orange syrup. I did a comparison of the Medjool date versus the OMF and here is what I came up with:
A container of Medjool dates has 11 servings and only 110 calories per serving. 2 dates is one serving. They cost about $10.00 for a container at Whole Foods and I can use food stamps too.
In my neighborhood, a 12 ounce Orange Mocha Frappuccino (only one serving!) is 310 calories and costs $3.40 plus tip. Multiply that by 11 trips to Starbuck’s and I was spending $37.40 plus tip and gasoline for the truck.
So when stressors in your life cause you to misuse food, reach for a whole food to snack on instead of a processed food. Apples, oranges, and bananas topped with melted Theo's chocolate. Now that's how to misuse food.
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11 years ago
I love the title of your post. :) One of my favorites is those date-nut rolls they have at Whole Foods spread on a banana... mmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteso you're saying it's ok to "misuse" food as long as it's a whole food? and just a piece or two? is that what people who are misusing food do? just eat a bit??
ReplyDeleteThought-provoking comparison!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments. Sabrina, I know what you mean...mmmm mmm.
ReplyDeleteIotkol, it's never ok to misuse food but it happens. Everything in moderation is best but when life's stressors are too much, sometimes a whole carton of Ben & Jerry's gets eaten in one sitting. I'm only offering a suggestion that if someone were to eat a whole food instead of a processed food during times of stress, the whole food will do more good than a whole carton of Ben & Jerry's.