In the early 1970s, I had the privilege to teach in the program, “You are what you eat.”
This was a nutrition education program specifically designed to help families make better food choices, shop, and plan balanced meals on a limited budget. There was also emphasis on weight management and personal images.
Eating lots of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, candy, sodas and breads will often provide what one might call a “plump” look (obesity). On the other hand, eating fruits and veggies might give one a “lean” look.
Learning a good balance is the objective. Eat healthy, yet be satisfied.
Many of the families accepted the teachings. They learned to make meal plans, shopping lists and budget their food dollars. Others seemed to be unable to make any changes. This seems to happen in other areas of our lives also.
Over the years, the “you are what you eat” philosophy has served as a metaphor for me.
While the wrong food choices may cause obesity and other health issues, abuse of different drugs cause other noticeable issues.
The meth users commonly have rotten teeth, pocked skin, and sunken eyes. Other drug users suffer malnutrition, and are thin and scraggly looking.
Others may be jittery and constantly scratching or rubbing their skin as if something is crawling over their bodies.
At any rate, there are noticeable signs of discomfort, anxiety, and often-unattractive physical changes.
Alcoholics may exhibit signs of slurred speech, stumbling and red eyes. On the other hand, abusers of alcohol or drugs may not have any obvious outward signs-for a while.
Sometimes we have a tendency to blame the choices we make on our environment. While environment is a big factor, our environment is where we are, and it is not who we are or whose we are.
We must recondition our minds to the belief that people do not determine our destiny, God does. Look to the scriptures. Read Psalms 105. Do not settle for mediocrity and get rid of excuses.
Many of us have witnessed parents who teach respect, but then fail to practice that teaching. The children, unfortunately model the behavior they see. What they ingest, you see.
Metaphorically, children are a perfect example, of “you are what you eat.” The words that come forth from the mouths of children give a good indication of what kind of language they hear in the home.
How the child interacts with other children can also serve as a thermometer for what they are seeing at home.
Whether it is food, drugs, alcohol, manners, respect, foul language — what goes in will come out — one way or another. Garbage in — garbage out!
2Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Read your Bible and fill your mind with His goodness. Think about what goes in your mind, and what goes in your body. Know, “you are what you eat” (ingest)!
In comparison, although most of us don’t like to think about mortality, the reality is out of 1,000 of us, 1,000 will die. You are what you eat!
Contributing columnist Joann James is a Harrison County resident.
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