Were in full-blown Holiday Mode here at the Berardi house. My three little ones have been helping my wife and I with the usual chores: decorating the tree, creating cards with construction paper, preparing canned food donations for the local food pantry, and... ...making delicious cookies. But before you ask for my killer healthy cookie recipe, I have a confession: Were not making not some low-fat, gluten-free, protein-packed, artificially sweetened, possibly-hiding-beets, healthy version of a cookie. Nope, were making the REAL THING. The kind of cookie that contains butter, sugar, and flour. The kind of cookie where you want a tall glass of milk to help wash it down. The kind of cookie most nutrition experts will tell you to avoid completely this year: ********************************** DONT EAT THE CHRISTMAS COOKIES, DRINK A SMOOTHIE INSTEAD Youll thank us, we promise. ********************************** Yep, this is an actual article. Just dip some kale leaves into lemon juice with a splash of stevia and its exactly the same thing. Youll thank us. Anyway, when people learn that my family and I sometimes make treats like cookies...or go out for ice cream...or dont eat 100% protein and vegetables all the time...they get a little confused. But isnt Precision Nutrition all about eating good foods and avoiding bad foods? The answer, Im proud to say, is no. Precision Nutrition is NOT all about eating good foods and avoiding bad foods. (I dont even like those labels.) In a minute, Ill share what Precision Nutrition is really about. But first Im going to encourage you to enjoy some sort of cookie, cake, or cocktail this holiday season, too. In addition to songs, and friendship, and holiday cheer. Heres why. When men and women come into fitness, they carry their own ideas about what food is...even if theyve never really thought about it before. For them, food can be... * fuel * reward * punishment * escape * shame * freedom * and more... But for me and the rest of the Precision Nutrition team, food is information. Its a story that shapes your daily life, your health, and your function. When food is information, there is no good food or bad food. There are only choices. And thats it. But the choice IS the thing. You see, every time you choose to eat one thing over another, youre voting for whats really important to you right now. Of course, you may not realize youre doing that. But every decision IS a calculation. Of what really matters to you, in that moment. So, with the holidays here for most of us, what DOES matter to you right now? Is it... Feeling good? Connecting with loved ones? Truly nourishing your body? Feeding your soul? Remembering your heritage or family traditions? No judgement here. YOU get to decide your priorities. And sometimes other things SHOULD win out over nutrition. So Im not here to tell you what to do, think, or feel. Or to make you feel guilty, ashamed, anxious, or deprived. Instead, Im here to help you think through the question. To help you choose more consciously, with awareness and intention. And the Precision Nutrition team is here to guide you along the path YOU choose. Plus, we DO like to keep it real. Because shortbread and latkes taste great when made with love and shared with friends and family. They just do. And, while some people in fitness have a hard time with this notion, I think that feeling good is part of enjoying life and being healthy. Of course, if you struggle with this part of your food story, and would like to rewrite it to include joy, freedom, and deliciousness - all the while working toward a better body - Precision Nutrition can help. Funny enough, heres my first prescription: Enjoy a real cookie or two this holiday season! Or some other thing you enjoy but think is off limits. Just do it consciously, mindfully, and - as we teach in our coaching programs - slowly. Instead of scarfing it down and waiting for the guilt, taste what you enjoy. With intention. Then move on. Because, with the right approach, you can work toward more enjoyment and connection PLUS improved health and fitness. All at the same time. But even if youre not ready to embrace this mindset yet because restricting is your only way to feel in control... Because you cant believe that enjoying certain foods guilt-free is possible... Because youre stuck in the middle of a nasty cycle of restrict, collapse, guilt, repeat... My family and I will still share some laughs, shed some tears, and nosh a few cookies this holiday season. We might even raise a glass of egg nog in your honor. Because, around here, we know that connection, love, and enjoyment CAN exist while working toward better health together. And were hoping that somewhere along they way youll discover the same thing. Besides, well probably burn up all those cookies climbing the local sledding hills anyway ;-) Happy holidays to you and yours, -JB and the rest of the Precision Nutrition family
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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