Our annual trip to Utah was a wonderful thing. My mom packed, while my dad brought home provisions from the “Piggly Wiggly” (our grocery store). I loved it when my dad shopped! Hostess was a favorite of his and he brought home Twinkies, ding dongs, ho ho’s , cherry pies and my favorite, the Hostess cupcake. I loved to first surgically separate the white curlicue of icing and eat, then, peel the chocolate frosting off, eat it, break the cupcake in half lick out the frosting and finish it off by jamming the cake into my mouth. Sitting in the rumble seat in our tan station wagon with the wood paneling on the side was made bearable by shoving cheetos, m&m's, pop-rocks, and cupcakes into my mouth. I had a great dad!
I looked forward to our first trip as a married couple, expecting the food in the car to be a culinary equivalent of a carnival. Mel was finished with his finals before mine and said that he would get the food for our trip and pick me up from the testing center. We would leave for Canada from there. Mel obtaining the provisions was part of the script written in my mind. I had no reason to fear.
The test was hard, I was hungry. As we headed out on I-15 north I grabbed the cooler anticipating a party. The term "Completely Horrified" does not even begin to describe my emotions as I saw my husbands idea of provisions, I found apple slices, hard boiled eggs, celery, carrot slices, and sandwiches.
Wanting to appear grateful I grabbed a sandwich and ate. I survived the trip and I learned a different way - I did decide to procure the food for every other trip after that, but a lesson was learned. I learned that just because something is a tradition does not mean it is a necessity.
I love Paul, he talks of himself saying: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Cor 12:12)
When I was a child there was no connection in my mind between eating and health. I ate what I wanted when I wanted, and had no concern for consequences. When I became a woman I had to “put away childish things” like Paul. King Lamoni’s father said to God in a prayer “I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:18) I had to decide If I was willing to give up all my “sins”(bad eating habits) to become healthy. Sometimes good things are found through sacrificing the bad. A decision must be made between eating everything you enjoy whenever you want and being heavy or learning to “bridle all your passions” (Alma 38:12). All the power of a huge horse can be put in control through a small bridle. He is not locked in a cage, or tied up with ropes and your appetite doesn’t have to either, merely put into control through knowledge, prayer, and some sacrifice.
Road trips with my husband taught me that there was another way to travel. I was reluctant to accept it. Learning that happiness can be found in healthy eating is still hard. Each road trip I must rewrite my menu and turn it into a healthy one. Sometimes things that are good offer a pay off later (a smaller size of pants).
Here is what we do now, maybe it could help you on your Labor Day holiday. I make a menu where I decide what and how much we will need. I try to not overbuy so that we will not be tempted to overeat. You all probably do that, but for me in the past, buying provisions meant walking through the store and picking out anything that looked yummy and fun. This past road trip our menu was:
Breakfast - A yogurt smoothie, fruit, whole wheat bagels and fat free strawberry cream cheese.
Snack - grapes and sugar snap peas
Lunch: I made sandwiches with whole wheat bread, fat free cream cheese, turkey, and cranberries, (we call them thanksgiving sandwiches) YUM! Also, baked lays and fruit snacks
Snack: Froot Loops in baggies. (A nod to my childhood)
Dinner: “Tim Hortons” sandwiches, chili and whole wheat buns – If you are ever in Canada Tim Hortons restraints are an AMAZING experience. It is a doughnut chain that serves soups and sandwiches unlike any other you can find in this world. So yes, I did have a doughnut - what, it’s Canada- don’t look at me like that. When in Rome. . .
Have a happy and safe holiday!
I looked forward to our first trip as a married couple, expecting the food in the car to be a culinary equivalent of a carnival. Mel was finished with his finals before mine and said that he would get the food for our trip and pick me up from the testing center. We would leave for Canada from there. Mel obtaining the provisions was part of the script written in my mind. I had no reason to fear.
The test was hard, I was hungry. As we headed out on I-15 north I grabbed the cooler anticipating a party. The term "Completely Horrified" does not even begin to describe my emotions as I saw my husbands idea of provisions, I found apple slices, hard boiled eggs, celery, carrot slices, and sandwiches.
Wanting to appear grateful I grabbed a sandwich and ate. I survived the trip and I learned a different way - I did decide to procure the food for every other trip after that, but a lesson was learned. I learned that just because something is a tradition does not mean it is a necessity.
I love Paul, he talks of himself saying: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Cor 12:12)
When I was a child there was no connection in my mind between eating and health. I ate what I wanted when I wanted, and had no concern for consequences. When I became a woman I had to “put away childish things” like Paul. King Lamoni’s father said to God in a prayer “I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:18) I had to decide If I was willing to give up all my “sins”(bad eating habits) to become healthy. Sometimes good things are found through sacrificing the bad. A decision must be made between eating everything you enjoy whenever you want and being heavy or learning to “bridle all your passions” (Alma 38:12). All the power of a huge horse can be put in control through a small bridle. He is not locked in a cage, or tied up with ropes and your appetite doesn’t have to either, merely put into control through knowledge, prayer, and some sacrifice.
Road trips with my husband taught me that there was another way to travel. I was reluctant to accept it. Learning that happiness can be found in healthy eating is still hard. Each road trip I must rewrite my menu and turn it into a healthy one. Sometimes things that are good offer a pay off later (a smaller size of pants).
Here is what we do now, maybe it could help you on your Labor Day holiday. I make a menu where I decide what and how much we will need. I try to not overbuy so that we will not be tempted to overeat. You all probably do that, but for me in the past, buying provisions meant walking through the store and picking out anything that looked yummy and fun. This past road trip our menu was:
Breakfast - A yogurt smoothie, fruit, whole wheat bagels and fat free strawberry cream cheese.
Snack - grapes and sugar snap peas
Lunch: I made sandwiches with whole wheat bread, fat free cream cheese, turkey, and cranberries, (we call them thanksgiving sandwiches) YUM! Also, baked lays and fruit snacks
Snack: Froot Loops in baggies. (A nod to my childhood)
Dinner: “Tim Hortons” sandwiches, chili and whole wheat buns – If you are ever in Canada Tim Hortons restraints are an AMAZING experience. It is a doughnut chain that serves soups and sandwiches unlike any other you can find in this world. So yes, I did have a doughnut - what, it’s Canada- don’t look at me like that. When in Rome. . .
Have a happy and safe holiday!
11 comments:
Great post! I can identify with a lot of that.
We'll excuse you for one doughnut. It proves that you are a real woman and not superhuman! After all, healthy eating is a lifestyle...and who wants never to eat a doughnut again their entire life? The difference is one every 6 months...not 1 dozen every 6 hours.
Many of my childhood memories revolve around food. One of my earliest memories is of walking to the auto parts store with my Dad and stopping at a Bakery along the way to get these figure 8 shaped pastries with jelly filling in the middle of each figure 8. I think that because most of the good memories were memories of getting special food treats from my Dad (we really didn't get along well until I was a grown up)or eating junk food as a family, those were my substitutes for hugs and affection that I didn't get. No wonder I turn to food first when I am feeling down. Its a hard habit to overcome. Thanks for helping me along the way.
Trips are so hard for food! (And our trip home is 1/3 of yours!)Thanks again for putting so many of my thoughts into words - you do it so well!
I'm canadian and totally related to the nod to Tim Hortons! :)
Another terrific post! I can totally relate! When I was helping my mom plan the food for our most recent road trip I suggested we make bread and cut-up veggies for our food. She was surprised. The bread (whole wheat, of course) was a hit and the veggies a delight! Now on to my everyday...
Rebecca, I need to confess something, it was two, but they were honey crullers, it was a life experience, and I ran every day I was there. I think I evened it all out.
heffalump, isn't it funny that we try to eat memories? I am glad to see I am not the only one
Kelly, Yea, but you are doing so good! How much have you lost so far? How is the ipod?
her - Yea canada! Yea Tim Hortons, "always fresh because you keep eating them" isn't that their slogan?
Amy, you are way ahead of me, when I was your age, oh so long ago I wasn't quite so evolved!
Oh, hostess... my favorites were the Ho Ho's. I also loved the pink marshmallow chocolate cake snow balls, or whatever they were called. It's been so long since I've had either of those. But, I guess that's probably a good thing.
I am love, love, loving your blog! I have been reading the past posts and have come away very inspired. Thank you for sharing your experience of how your life has changed because of the choices you have made and the ongoing effort, that is truly the hardest part! In the last 5 years I have lost 30 pounds and gained it back and then 17 pounds and gained it back because I had only changed the outside, but not the inside. I'm so ready to change the inside! I have long been trying to change my mental attitude toward my body and your posts have expressed the way my thoughts have been going as of late and put many of my murky ones into focus for me. I have been doing well with my approach to eating, but exercise is what I'm up against now. I've gained a lot of ideas and motivation from your posts on running, and I love the one on incontinence. How brave of you to keep going and then to share something so personal. I'll be checking in regularly!
I've lost 36 so far...and I love my ipod. It's the only thing that gets me through my running spots!
Isn't it amazing how much of our lives are about food. What a great posts. I'm so glad I happened to find your blog. I've looked at your earlier posts and have found so many great things. Thank you.
thanks Mindyluwho, I am glad you are here!
Kelly - 36!!! Amazing, way to go!!
Yvonne, I'm glad you are here too!
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