Beautiful Mix

‘Food is the way to my heart. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate. Laughter is brightest in the place where the food is. Food is our common ground, a universal experience. There is no love sincerer than the love of food. All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.’

Those all quotes about food. I could go on and on. I’ve never considered myself a foodie but I do love food. A picky eater at times – nevertheless I cherish a good meal. My delicious concoction above is cassava ( also called yucca in the Latin culture) with blend of some of my favorite veggies. I love yucca but it does have a high glycemic index. This is a fancy way of saying it causes your blood sugar to spike rapidly. This is no fun for those diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes. The former has been my sentence for the last 15 years or so. So far my A1C [ a blood test that measures the average level of glucose in the blood over a period] has remained the same with little effort on my part. What a blessing!

So, how do I balance my love of carbs with common sense eating? Finding the right mix while keeping it flavorful has been a sweet spot for me. Life is too short to eat bland depressing food. I’ve developed the art of listening to my body. That’s how I monitor my diet. Throughout my life time I’ve stopped eating foods and drinking potions when I no longer enjoy them. Some like cold cuts and hot dog started to make me nauseous – I listen and I stay away. There are tons of amazing veggies and herbs [fruits too] that allow us to enjoy those pesky carbs in a controlled yet delectable manner. It just takes a little research and some creativity in the kitchen.

So lets get to the meat of the matter. This is not just about food. This is life as we know it. Not everything that feels good or looks good is beneficial, especially in excess. Exercise is good, yet overworking our muscles invite injuries. Being with people is a beautiful thing but we need to balance it with solitude. Our souls need it. Even the scriptures remind us that ‘there is a time for everything’. I cannot help but remember the popular proverb from the 1600s – ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy‘. Someone also cleverly added this piece in the 1800s – ‘all play and no work makes jack a mere toy’. Do you get the idea?

Life was meant to be lived. Rather than throwing out the computer and all these devices ‘from hell’ 😂, let’s try a little balance. Eat the cookie and drink water! Like me, savor one big spoon of ice-cream and walk away! I found out that periodic fasting is not just a religious rite, but it helps in developing discipline and self-control. Saying no and a midday nap are cheat codes to better days. Join me in finding the beautiful balance that brings out the best in us. Above all, find peace with yourself, others and God. Slow down and breathe a bit. A lovely reminder from Christ:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

“Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces.”[ Borrowed]