“The Moderation Treat”

 

It’s that time of year again-the official start of the “candy holidays,” kicked off by Halloween. It can be sheer torture, facing the overwhelming displays of treats now. There seems to be food everywhere! And, for a lot of us out there, it can trigger disordered eating patterns.

So, what do we do? We can’t stop Halloween- and all “candy holidays” from coming. No, it’s not an easy situation. But we can look for perspective and help, even considering the temptations and issues we face, dealing with food and “trigger” situations.

When I was a kid, involved in 4-H, this time of year offered some specific, Halloween-themed treats. One such treat brought out was the Cheez- Wiz Pumpkins my mom made for our October 4-H Club meeting each year. You take a round-shaped bun, smear it with Cheez-Wiz and then decorate it with olives, creating a Jack-o-Lantern face, hence a Cheez-Wiz Pumpkin.

Fairly self-explanatory, eh?

Within my faith, there is a scripture, a “moderation scripture,” if you will, that can shed some permission on not being completely, unrealistically, perfect, even concerning food issues…

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

1 Corinthians 10:23

This holiday food, like any season’s candy or like junk food, by itself, is neither evil, nor good. It’s inanimate. It has little-to-no nutritional value; and yes, it’s loaded with sugar, salt, other preservatives and colors.

Let’s face it, Cheez-Wiz is not, exactly, “health food.”

But our personal morality is not at stake if we eat it. If we eat a Cheez-Wiz Pumpkin, or any other designated treat, we will not burn in Hell. We need to realistically look at what the food is and our viewpoint concerning it.

Therefore, the “moderation” issue comes into play. We need to look at eating Cheez-Wiz Pumpkins, candy, or any other guilty food pleasure as a choice.  So, according to 1 Corinthians, it’s “lawful,” but does it “edify?”

These less-than-healthy food choices will not harm us, if, the constant staples in our lives are healthier food options, balanced exercise, sleep, relationships, support and daily spiritual, emotional and physiological choices. It’s about overall health.

Yes, it’s challenging, facing the overwhelming flavors, colors, choices- and emotional ties that certain foods can represent to us.

But remember, moderation.

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

1 Corinthians 10:23

Sometimes, not all the time. Yin AND Yang.

For some of us out there, that may mean having some candy today; for others, it may mean choosing another option.

Regardless of what you choose today, this designated, guilty pleasure food is not your best friend or your worst enemy. It’s food, junk food, candy or Cheez-Wiz Pumpkins; that’s all.

Celebrate your life beyond any food. Celebrate all that life has to offer!

Copyright © 2021 by Sheryle Cruse