VALLEY PATRIOT EXCLUSIVE Let's talk
about food
12-07-11
Pennie
Hale - Valley Patriot Food Columnist
Let’s talk about Food
Pennie Hale December is a month chock
full of events. We all have work parties,
family gatherings, travel plans and busy
schedules. There are meals to prepare and
desserts to bake. Sometimes we give food
as gifts and we also receive them. Food
seems to be in abundance for most of us.
How do we get through (and enjoy) the
Christmas season without giving into carb
addiction? We don’t!
I think that we should all allow
ourselves to enjoy holiday food. However,
overindulgence is never a good idea. Our
caloric intake is hard to track when we’re
nibbling on cookies, pies, cakes and
other treats. Personally, I enjoy all of
the different meals and treats and I know
that if I control my portions and
increase my activity level, I can
maintain my weight and not gain.
Some of the foods that I look forward to
each year are the colorful sugar cookies,
cream cheese chocolate chip bars, pies
with whipped cream, meats and cheeses,
the appetizers and hot main courses, the
dishes at the potlucks, the December 25th
streusel and danish, and all of the
plates of home-cooked goods that come
wrapped in colorful cellophane. Different
cultures prepare different dishes. We all
have our favorites.
The preparing and serving of food is part
of what we do as friends and family when
we are able to spend time together.
Baking with my children is always a fun
event and one that I enjoyed with my
mother. When you allow yourself to enjoy
the process of cooking and baking, and
share what you have prepared, it’s a
good feeling.
So when we are faced with an
overabundance of sweet, delicious food,
how do we keep control over that
inevitable urge to overeat? That can be
tricky. What I plan to do is to start
each day knowing that at some point, I
will be faced with that challenge.
If I start my day off with a small bowl
of oatmeal with fresh fruit, I leave room
to have a small pastry when I get to the
office. If I eat a lunch that’s low
in calorie and carbohydrates, perhaps I
can have a small chocolate chip cookie
for dessert. If I have a salad with a
healthy protein for dinner, maybe I can
have some hot cocoa later on in the
evening.
Food is good! It’s enjoyable! We all
have our traditional dishes that we like
to prepare with our friends and family
members. I know that my oldest daughter
Megan likes blueberry crumb-top pie. My
son Nathanial likes cookies. My youngest
daughter Emily likes to bake. She likes
trying new recipes and experimenting in
the kitchen. She likes cupcakes. My
coworkers like candy. Cortney, my best
friend, likes dark chocolate covered
roasted coffee beans! Tom Duggan, the
editor of this newspaper, likes
cheesecake!
We can’t avoid food. We must eat.
When we let our unhealthy food addictions
control our food choices on a consistent
basis, day after day, that’s when we
gain weight. When we give ourselves
permission to be in “holiday mode”
and start celebrating with food at every
event and every meal, we can expect that
our pants will get tighter and we will
see a difference on the scale. I am still
trying to lose weight.
I don’t want to gain. So this time
of year is a challenge for me. And if it’s
a challenge for me, I know it is for most
of you. I don’t have an iron will. I
will never be one of those people you see
out jogging at 5 am. I won’t ever
say that I have my carb addiction under
control because that would be a lie.
I won’t ever say that I don’t
eat carbs at all because that’s not
practical and more importantly, its’
not necessary! Yes if you have an
addiction, you must abstain from the
substance to which you have become
addicted because having just a small
amount makes you want more.
But an addiction to food is a bit more
complicated than that. You can avoid
certain foods but you can’t avoid
food altogether. And in moderation,
treats are okay! I know that I’d
rather have a small piece of pie than sit
and think about not being able to have
pie. I’d rather have some pudding
than throw mental daggers at the people
eating pudding!
I want to keep enjoying food but I know
that I must be careful because I know
that gaining weight is not what I want
for myself. It’s not healthy. And,
quite frankly, I like being able to be in
a holiday photo without fear that I will
look larger than everyone!
I hope you all enjoy this holiday season.
Share and enjoy food with those you love.
Relax and make the best of the spirit of
the season. If you have an overstock of
food, think about sharing it with an
elderly neighbor or a shelter. If you are
in need of food, seek out your local food
pantry or email me and I will try to
connect you with resources.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
If you struggle with an addiction of any
kind, I urge you to seek support. If you
struggle with a food addiction or
disorder, know that I understand. I would
like to hear your story.
What I know for sure is that several
things help me with my struggles with
weight. Talking about it is at the top of
that list. Talking about food addictions,
disorders, obsessions and unhealthy
thoughts about food is a common daily
occurrence for me.
Discussions about healthy food recipes
and exercise routines are also common.
What I would like to do with this column
is to offer you, the Valley Patriot
reader, the opportunity to share your own
personal stories with me.
I am not a food, weight loss or eating
disorder expert. I am not someone who is
qualified to offer advice or tips. I
would, however, love to read your story
and possibly share it with other readers
and continue my own personal story in a
monthly column. If you are interested,
please email me at pennielacouture@verizon.net
Let’s talk about Food
Pennie Hale December is a month chock
full of events. We all have work parties,
family gatherings, travel plans and busy
schedules. There are meals to prepare and
desserts to bake. Sometimes we give food
as gifts and we also receive them. Food
seems to be in abundance for most of us.
How do we get through (and enjoy) the
Christmas season without giving into carb
addiction? We don’t! 
