The "Diet" Mentality

Several people have asked me recently about the "diet" Scott and I are on. I try to explain that it's not a " diet", but instead "just the way we eat now", however that doesn't seem to convince them. This got me thinking about the whole "diet mentality" in general.

Isn't it funny when you think about it? We decide that we need to go on a diet because the way we normally eat has made us FAT or has made us SICK. So our plan is to STOP eating the way we normally eat and try eating a DIFFERENT way until we are no longer FAT or no longer SICK. But once we have achieved those goals, what do we do??? Most of us go right back to eating the way we did BEFORE we went on the DIET!

Why is it so hard for us to figure out that the way we NORMALLY eat is causing the problem in the first place and the problem is only going to return when we go off the diet?? Is it because we're addicted to the foods that make us fat and sick? Is it because if we weren't fat and sick we would have nothing to talk about with our friends and family?? Is it because our health care system and the USDA sets us up to be nothing but fat and sick? Is it because we live such hurried, stressful lifestyles? Is it because we don't exercise enough?

I've pondered all of these things and I've come to the conclusion that being fat and sick is very much a cultural experience here in the United States. When you combine obesity and disease you are very much in the minority if you are NOT fat and/or sick. In fact, if you eat healthy, exercise and don't experience any medical problems, you're down right "counter-cultural".......and who wants to hang out with someone who is counter-cultural?

I mean seriously....let's think about it. We all know doughnuts are not good for us, but what do we serve every Sunday at church? WHY do we do that? Because it's a cultural norm, right? We all know chips, cookies, pastries and candies are terrible for us, but what do we serve our sick and overweight friends at every party? WHY? Because you're NO FUN if you serve vegetables and fruit, right? Sadly, our culture dictates to us what is acceptable and what is unacceptable when it comes to food and I, for one, am tired of all that.

Our family doesn't have all the answers for the perfect "diet" but we do trust in three things. We believe we should eat food that God intended man to have as food, we believe we shouldn't alter the food that God intended for us to eat and we believe we shouldn't let any one food become our God. So if by applying these three principles we appear as counter-cultural to you, then praise God!!

What The Bible Says About Healthy Living
The Rosedale "Diet"