In the article profiling weight gain books, someone was quoted as saying something to the effect that food items that used to be big treats had become part of our daily diets. That person used the example of coke. Drinking a coke used to be a treat (and just think, the bottles and other servings were much smaller then too). Now, I bet there are people who consume a couple big gulps each and every day. I imagine they can't even taste the sweetness anymore.Since reading that comment I've been thinking about the concept of having a treat. I haven't had ice cream in a long time -- since I finished off the Haagen Dazs near the beginning of my journey to get to a healthy weight. No more ice cream sitting in the freezer since. Yesterday, I had a real treat. I finally made it to the Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco. I had what they call a "single" which is a small scoop each of two flavors. I tried salted caramel and honey lavender. It truly was a treat and I savored every molecule.
While I'm not an advocate of deprivation, it seems the easy availability of foods that used to be considered treats and a mindset that we deserve treats with each meal or every evening, has ultimately cheated us of the rich experience of truly enjoying a real treat.
~♥~
10 comments:
You are so right on. I grew up without dessert every night, but a lot of kids I know expect that. I think the lack of "specialness" to food often contributes to the ease with which we gain weight.
Sometimes I felt like I had to eat the whole bag of peanut M&M's before I could be satisfied!
I really see your point. Mindful eating has really helped me savor treats. However, I think it's a lesson I will constantly have to keep in mind and constantly stay aware of. It's so easy for a treat to lose it's treatness.
"Sometimes I felt like I had to eat the whole bag of peanut M&M's before I could be satisfied!"
Oh, I can relate to this!
"It's so easy for a treat to lose it's treatness."
Well said!
Great post! Like Diane, I grew up with having a very fattening treat every night along with many during the day too! It was just part of what we did.
When I was first losing weight, I did have to stay away from stuff I could not stop eating. After time, I just kept denying myself until I learned that having a treat now & then was OK & I could do it & get right back to my regular healthy eating. It was a learned lesson for me... now I realize that denial made things worse for me BUT I do understand that you have to be at the point in your weight loss journey that you know you can have that treat & not lose control. That is the key. It is all individual.
I still have a healthy treat every night & that satisfies me fine & when I most weekends I enjoy a big ole cookie or two & I don't worry about it. I don't go crazy, I just enjoy something I really want & get back to business as they say.
Growing up for me meant that treats were exactly that ...
Peanuts, chips and pop were served at parties.
Dessert was often fruit or nothing.
As I went out on my own I "treated" my self daily.
It was a "trick" that I've paid for.
Last year after having dieted for several weeks, a friend and I visited a local park where they serve soft ice cream. I ordered a kiddie-sized cone and was in heaven for the duration.
That was the best icecream I've had since.
p.s. Food Inc. is in book form as a companion reader to the documentary. I'm only several chapters in to it and I'm fuming and angry. I urge everyone to go read this and educate themselves.
I can't thank you enough for posting the video that day of the documentary.
You are so right! Sometimes I still struggle with this... I have such a sweet tooth! Something to work on
I completely agree, Lee. I believe that a multitude of factors have led to obesity in America. And this is one of them. My Mom actually defined "rich and grown up" as being able to have a six-pack of Dr Peppers in the refrigerator. Going out to eat isn't a treat for most, it's become a part of everyday life. Having a soda (at least for me) is no longer a treat, it's something that I indulge in several times a day. They are diet drinks, but I KNOW that I should give them up.
We've come to expect more and more and enjoy it less and less. I'm with you and Karen on the ice cream - I've backed completely off of treats, but when I decide to go have some, it will be in very small doses, with time enough to savor.
Excellent post, per usual.
Honey lavender? mmmmmmmm
I treat myself to ice cream or gelato almost everynight. Just one serving, in a cup. I found out that even the low fat ice cream/yogurts still have about the same amount of calories as regular ice cream. So, what the f***k.
Well, if I ever do have ice cream, I want you to place the order for me!
I guess I am lucky that we did not grow up with treats on a regular basis. Mom would make homemade fudge once or twice a year. On occasion, we would make homemade peach ice cream when we had out-of-town company. And about once a month we would have a small serving of fruit cobbler or banana pudding at my grandmothers. (It had to be small because there were so many of us!) And that was it. When I was thirteen, my grandmother also gave me my first Coke...the one in the 6 or 8 ounce glass bottle. I almost cried it was so painful to drink--I had never had anything like that. I did grow to love Dr. Pepper, but gave those up a long time ago.
My personal weight battle really isn't due to treats, just too much food at meals and not enough physical activity. But I know that it is a struggle for many people, and treats have become as common as brushing your teeth.
You nailed it. Treats are no longer what they use to be. Now, treats are....? Something ungodly considering that the norm is a whole liter of Pepsi. Gross, huh?...and sad.
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