Our Favourite Things: My Favourite Food Word
Last year I wrote a story called Embracing the”ish”, which I posted on my blog. This year, I received the most thoughtful birthday gift from a good friend and colleague (thank you, Andrea!). “Ish” is a beautifully written book that can apply to all aspects of our lives, and my favorite thing this month is the word “ish.”
I would like to share an excerpt from that post, as it really captures the spirit of ish….
Food is an interesting thing. It is something that has no feelings, but yet it can be the culprit of so many feelings within ourselves. We may feel good about eating a yummy beet salad, and guilty for having the bacon mushroom cheeseburger and onion rings. I enjoy all foods, and truly believe that all foods can fit. It is how we make these foods fit into our lives that counts. Healthy eating is not about perfection… I tell this to my clients constantly, because as soon as you have the word “perfect” in your head, you are destined to feel as if you have failed. Instead of striving for perfection in eating, go for the “ish”-factor. It’s not about measuring food and reading labels obsessively. It is about knowing what you are eating and becoming a really good and honest guesser as to how much is on our plate (most of the time). I mean, who really cares if we have a cup of pasta or if it is a bit more? And really, if we enjoy and savour a great meal at a diner…does it really matter? What matters is that we are okay with eating healthy-ish. I eat healthy most of the time, but I have room for other foods too. Embracing the “ish” can help us with not feeling guilty and make us remember that it’s okay if we are not perfect with our food choices. A wise man (and my uncle) once said, “It may not be perfect, but it can be excellent…” some good food for thought!
Sadly, my uncle passed away quite suddenly this year, and I dedicated my favourite thing this month to my favourite uncle…I know he would be proud.