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From:	Jeff Novick, MS, RD, LD, LN (novick.vegsource.com)
Subject:	Re: Treats
Date:	August 28, 2007 at 10:04 am PST

In Reply to: Treats posted by Richelle on August 28, 2007 at 9:00 am:

Hi Richelle

Trick or Treat?

I am always amazed at how the food companies and our society
have "tricked" us into calling purely junk foods (with no redeeming
health value) as "treats". We know other things in moderation may
not kill us (ie, tobacco, cocaine, etc), but we dont "trick" ourselves
into calling them "treats" or think that we or are kids deserve them.

Part of the problem is that we still see these foods as "treats". And
if we dont have them, that we are somehow "deprived". As long as
we do that, we will want to treat ourselves with these treats. We
will be "tricked".

If we look for the "middle" ground in our path to health, than our
health will be somewhere in the middle between unhealthy and
healthy and our middles will continue to grow, If our goal is
health, than we have to choose the path that leads to health and
balance the path amongst healthy choices on the path. The more
we stay on the path, the healthier we are.

This whole thought process of being tricked into calling junk food
treats, is what contibutes to us having the feelings of "deprivation"
that you mention. Change the label. Junk is junk. Its not a treat.
It may be an indulgence or an indiscretion, but its not a treat.

Celebrate the path and reward yourself with health promoting
foods and healthy behaviours. If you need a treat, choose a real
treat, or treat yourself to a great homemade healthy dinner, or a
massage or a good book or movie or a nice long walk in nature.

>>>Obviously the optimum eating plan would include no
unhealthy foods,

I dont know if i would agree with that, but i think it is important to
not think of unhealthy foods as treats.

>>but if I do include them, what's a reasonable amount? One
serving a week? One serving a month? One serving a day? (yeah,
right)

The less the better. :)

Stay on the path, and keep the goal in mind, and enjoy the process
along the way.

And dont be "tricked" into "treats" that are really unhealthy for you.

In Health
Jeff

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