Like it or not, Facebook and all of its colloquialisms has woven its way into our vernacular. “Friending” is an especially ubiquitous FB term. Suddenly we’re “friending” and “unfriending” people left and right. Some friends we know, some we don’t, and some are friends we thought we knew – until we read their FB posts. That’s when the “unfriending” option is particularly handy.
That got me thinking about other things people may friend or unfriend. Like food.
It’s not uncommon for people to be wary of friending food. It’s almost as if they’re afraid to get too close, that the food will somehow take advantage of them, like a friend that always takes and never gives (NOT a true friend, btw).
Perhaps they feel that friending food will lead to a loss of self control. Keeping food at arms length offers protection from eating the wrong thing, eating too much of the wrong thing, feeling uncomfortably full, gaining weight.
You know that old saying, the “wrong side of the tracks”? Remember when parents used to warn their kids about getting involved with THOSE kinds of people, because it could only lead to no good? I regularly see people in my private practice who follow that same line of thinking, only it’s about food.
Friending foods from the right side of the tracks, you know, the “good” foods, assures us that our diets will be virtuous, our bellies flat, and our jeans skinny.
Friending foods from the wrong side of the tracks, foods that are “bad” for you, but oh-so-much-fun, can only lead to no good; weight gain, pudgy bellies, goodbye skinny jeans.
Surrounding yourself with friends (virtual or not) who support you and make you feel good is a smart move. You are the company that you keep. Same with food.
But think through your list of friends. I’m certain you have many who are reliable, predictable, and “good” for you, yet I’m also pretty sure you can think of one or two who are crazy, adventurous, and get you to do things waaayyy outside of your comfort zone. And it’s fun. And it doesn’t make them “bad” for you.
You may only be able to take those crazy friends in small doses – too much of a good thing, and all that. Friends, like food, are best when balanced. You see them occasionally, and enjoy the heck out of your time together – no regrets, no bad feelings.
Try applying that logic to food. It’s the same principle as occasionally eating cookies, a slice of pie, or French fries. Once-in-awhile will not make you gain weight, your diet “unhealthy”, or your skinny jeans too tight.
So consider “friending” all food; enjoying it with no regrets, and no bad feelings.