Comfort Food

[Guest guest]

For many of us, the problem of food cravings and comfort foods is NOT

really about the physical food cravings. It's more about the emotional

eating, the attachment to food that is even more difficult to

overcome. Believe it or not, WE decide what foods we consider to be a

" treat " . If we grew up associating cakes with parties and cookies as

rewards then it's hard to let those ideas go - but it is possible. We

can learn to connect healthy foods with good times and we can learn to

consider healthy foods to be treats or rewards.

I've tried to be on Bee's program before, but this is the first time

it's working so well for me. And here is one of the biggest things

I've done differently – I make it a point to make every meal

" special " . That way I never feel like I am depriving myself. If you

think you are the only person who has to do without, and the rest of

the world can indulge in the foods you love, then that will depress you.

Instead, I " treat " myself with foods I previously considered too

expensive, or extra special, or utterly delicious. And I minimize

things I don't like.

For example, I love bacon and eggs - all my life they've been a

splurge to me, so now I make it a point to eat them almost every

morning (just because I enjoy them so much, and because I can). Think

about other foods that are allowed on Bee's program that are somewhat

indulgent, and include the ones you like the most. What about fresh

salmon grilled in butter. Steak with garlic. Guacamole made with a

squeeze of lime juice. Homemade chicken soup (amazingly comforting).

Shrimp in garlic butter. Roast turkey - any day of the week. Pate.

Beef stew. Asparagus drizzled with butter. Tomatoes with fresh basil.

Salad with fresh dill. Green bean casserole. Crab quiche. Beef and

broccoli. Turnip fries. Stuffed zucchini. Salsa. Colorful stir-frys.

Pesto. Home-made Hollandaise sauce. And Swiss-water process coffee (I

adore coffee) with a dash of non-irridiated allspice.

Learn to use substitutes like stevia. Learn to add variety with spices

and herbs. Heap your plate with lots and lots of healthy food (as

recommended on Bee's program), so you never feel like you are doing

without.

There are foods on the program that you like, and some that you really

love. Have as many of the ones you really love as often as you can.

And start to see that it doesn't have to be just sugar or grain filled

food that is comforting or " special " . There are other foods that you

could consider a special " treat " , if you look at the food list on

Bee's website and use your imagination. It's all in our heads what we

consider to be " comforting " – we make those associations.

Make EVERYTHING you put in your mouth as spectacular as possible.

Savor every morsel. Pretend you're in a high class restaurant - eat

with pride - it sure beats trying to sneak food out of the fridge when

nobody is looking (like so many of us carb addicts have been doing for

years).

If you feel a need (and can manage the result) allow yourself ONE

cheat a week. Pizza on Saturday night? Cake on Sunday afternoon? But

just one. If the thought of a cheat is what it will take to get you

through, then so be it. But when you get to the end of the week, and

still have not had to cheat, you might be surprised how easy it is to

put off your cheat for another week (and then another?). Take it one

day at a time. And one week at a time.

Thanks Bee, for your excellent program. And I'm surprised how easy it

was to re-think my concept of comfort food. It's making such a big

difference to my success.

Lis