The Doctrine of D.I.E.T.s

Many define themselves, in large part, by their current choice of daily food consumption. They are, in fact, very religious about their D.I.E.T. By training such a diverse group of people, I have come to meet some who are devoutly committed to the doctrines of their diets. At the same time, there are others in these same congregations who don’t fully embrace certain articles of the particular faith. As I have witnessed, there are hot and cold times– seasons of life when you are “all in” as well as periods when you have one foot out the proverbial door. While some say that this is an extremely private matter and no one else’s business, others, however, never shy away from boldly proclaiming the things that they believe to be true and therefore helpful to all. I have seen an increasing number of people walking around with tee-shirts announcing their D.I.E.T. affiliation. Wearing one of those immediately turns them into a walking billboard for their latest food fad. The eyes of those who are yearning for something to satisfy their appetite for a new and better way are ever open and searching. Noticeably as well, are the new meeting houses which draw in legions of  faithful followers by specifically catering to their dietary desires. Other locales, without wholly subscribing to any one D.I.E.T., are now appealing to various groups by promoting their own unique translation of the menu to please these ever growing faiths.

I am not one to mock or criticize anyone’s allegiances. I am grateful for all that I have learned over the years from people like yourself. Just because we are raised in different cultures and align ourselves to a different food tradition does not mean that we do not share much in common. I do encourage everyone to continue to seek for more that is good and healthy throughout their journey. If you feel prompted to join with those of another food denomination, I hope you do so with conviction and confidence.

The reality is you do not have to abandon any of those things you hold dear about your previous “food lifestyles”. You can bring the best from your personal experiences and join it with what you now know. Adding to it will only made it better! So, don’t be too quick to dismiss the possibility that there might exist more good that you can embrace and incorporate into your way of eating.

Are you kept from trying something a little unique because you are not sure where to find it? Or are you confused because there exist so many different conflicting ideas regarding how to eat properly?

You can feel confident that you will no longer be scattered to and fro by every wind of doctrine from yet another self proclaimed guru of food. Have you discovered the Three C’s of life: choices, chances, and change? “You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.”-unknown  Have you ever heard of the elimination diet? “Remove anger, regret, resentment, guilt, blame, and worry. Then watch your health and life improve.”-Charles F. Glassman  So, do I have any specific words of wisdom to pass on to you this day? Surely, I do! Eat more delicious vegetables and fruits. Consume more whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Eat meat sparingly. Dropping as much sugar, and processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol from your life can increase your well-being. But, don’t take my word for it. Experiment and find out the benefits and blessings yourself.

Whatever you decide, I have a feeling that I’ll be hearing what you are up to one way or another. There exists today the opportunity to declare and share the tasty details of one’s food relationship to the four corners of the earth via various social media. What a magnificent time we live in!

photo credit: Road-side apple via photopin (license)