Do you always pass on dessert for the sake of your diet?
There is no doubt that too many carbs in the form of refined sugary treats aren't good for you. We know that increased blood sugar levels from the over-consumption of desserts & processed carbs can lead to weight gain. But the occasional dessert could actually be good for you & possibly help you lose weight by creating a good relationship between healthy boundaries & the pleasure of food.
You may not realize that by always passing the dessert, you might actually be harming yourself. When we perpetually restrict ourselves from enjoying certain foods, we increase our chance of over-consuming those items when we finally give in. Always having rules & restrictions around something makes you want it even more.
If we are continually labeling food as "good" or "bad," we assign a moral value to it. Then when we eat what we deem to be "bad," we consider ourselves failures. But if we eat what we think of as "good," then we might consider ourselves morally righteous.
Unfortunately, over-consumption leads to guilt surrounding food choices. God never intended for us to feel guilt over food but instead wants us to live in self-control regarding the gifts He has given us. Food is one of those gifts.
The truth is our food has no bearing on our right standing in society or with God.
We should instead be asking questions of our food like, “Does this choice make me healthier?” “Will this be enjoyable because I get to share it with someone I love?” Or “Can I be thankful for this pleasure God has given me right now?”
Having some parameters around what you will eat & when you will eat are not bad. In fact, one of the essential things we are told to exhibit as Christians is self-control. But self-control doesn't always mean self-denial. Self-control can also mean wisdom in how & what we choose to do.
God made us to consume food for the necessary need of keeping our bodies going. But He also gave it to us for the enjoyment that it brings. We can enjoy savory dishes, which are full of protein, veggies & healthy carbs, and we can also enjoy things like cookies & cakes.
Eating a moderate amount of dessert on occasion can be not only delicious but can lead us into a healthy relationship with food.
In fact, studies show that occasionally eating dessert can improve relationships, mood & the ability to choose nutrient-dense foods because you don’t feel deprived of never having dessert.
Here are some ideas of guidelines you might consider putting in place to keep yourself from over-indulging:
Eat dessert with someone else ~ when we enjoy a dessert with someone else, we are more likely to eat less & focus more on the relational aspect of the time spent eating instead of the dopamine jolt we get from hiding out with our own sugary food in a dark corner. We are way less likely to over-indulge if we keep our treats to special occasions with people we care about.
Eat desserts made only from whole food ingredients – our bodies know how to process whole foods. However, they are completely confused by the chemicals found in pre-packaged, highly processed desserts found in most stores. Keeping our desserts centered on whole food ingredients is a great way to make sure your body knows how & where to store what you put in it. Commit to only eating homemade desserts or sweet treats from a high-quality restaurant or bakery, so you know that they are made from whole food items.
Pray before you enjoy – this one may sound cliché, but trust me when I tell you it works. By taking a moment to stop & be grateful for the pleasure of dessert & asking for the self-control to be wise with the amount eaten, we hand over to God our submission to enjoy the gift He’s given us in the best way possible. We also re-train our brains that we are not in control, but we need His help to use Spirit-filled self-control. He will never fail us in this area.
Do you need help with your nutritional choices? Get in touch with me today & let's talk about nutrition coaching to help improve your overall health.