Avoid These Foods If You Care About Your Health

The food and restaurant industry is incredibly smart, powerful and unrelenting.  They spend millions of dollars in the development of foods that are the perfect mix of salt, sugar and fat – foods that are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, but often not healthy.  When you eat them, your taste buds jump up and down, your brain lights up and your body screams “give me more!”  I call these foods “bliss point” foods.  They are so awesome that it’s almost impossible to stop eating them once you start.  Common “bliss point” foods include desserts like cakes, cookies and ice cream, as well as foods like chocolate, donuts, french fries and potato chips.  Your favourite “bliss point” food may be different than another person.  What’s important to recognize is how dangerous these foods can be.  Here’s my advice on how to manage them:   

Keep them out of your home and away from your workplace.  The research is strong – you eat what’s available in your environment, even when your intention is to do otherwise.  If you can’t keep these foods away, at least keep them out of sight.

Know your weaknesses and choose wisely.  For many people, for example, milk chocolate hits their “bliss point” much more than dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate is not only a healthier choice (higher in antioxidants), but for most, easier to limit too.

Do something else.  Instead of reaching for a “bliss point” food, go for a walk, call a friend or dance in your living room.  

Keep it small.  If you choose to consume a “bliss point” food, decide on a reasonable portion in advance.  Measure it out.  Don’t go back for more!

Last, but not least, remember that healthy eating can and should be delicious!  Try the recipes on this site.  The more often you eat healthy foods, the better healthy tastes! 

Lessons Learned:

The food and restaurant industry spends millions developing totally delicious, impossible-to-resist foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt.  Avoid them if you can.  Eat them in small quantities when you can’t.  Your body and waistline will thank you for it.