WORDS OF WISDOM AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The memories still are very strong in my head.

"If you read that chapter in the Bible, I will take you for a treat."

"If you clean your room, we will go get a treat.”

"If you are a good girl, we will go get a treat."

That treat was usually an ice cream sundae, or donuts or heading to the local 7-Eleven for a Slurpee and a candy bar or our favorite…a McDonalds Ice Cream Treat.

I was as around as 5 years old at the earliest memory and earning "treats" lasted well into my teenage years (I have read the Bible 3 times). And treats and rewards were based around food. And sugary, unhealthy foods at that.

Don’t lie…we are all guilty of this right?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Recently this has been a lightbulb moment for me in understanding how we learn to relate with food. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's ok to eat things that feel like "treats," but we have to quit calling them that. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Your food is neither a reward nor a punishment. We aren’t dogs! And why do our rewards need to be unhealthy foods?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And I get it…..you’ve been told your entire life that you can be "treated" if you do something good. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As an adult, you also "treat yourself" when things feel hard 🤷 Got that new client? Did you reward yourself? Nailed that presentation? Did you celebrate? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What if you ate what your body wanted, without labeling it?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What if you avoided things that your parents used to give you as "treats" and instead chose what felt best for you in any given moment...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What if you did so without judgment?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's possible when you know your unique nourishment style and make these choices from a truly aligned place. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That is what TRUE nourishment is all about. Think about NOURISHING the mind and the spirit too. Look I love a good donut or Vegan Ice Cream Sundae, but I enjoy those things because I want them not because I earned them. And so do my kids. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And for the LOVE of ALL THIS HOLY….do not look at Thanksgiving as a CHEAT DAY or a TREAT DAY! We are in a PANDEMIC! If you are blessed enough to be able to be family….enjoy your family, enjoy your food, fill your cup and the cup of others and enjoy the day. Do not and I repeat…DO NOT put one bit of food on your plate with a condition to it other than you nourish your LIFE!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Happy Thanksgiving!⠀

xoxo,

Lucie Mitchell

Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach