Crappy Foods

You should have heard the conversation around our lunch table today. 

Some non-moral issues are more important to some people than to others.  For example, food.

Food can be a moral issue if someone is gluttonous or greedy.  If food controls them more than they control it.  If they eat so much junk they aren't healthy enough to be of service to anyone, especially God.  In which case, to me, it becomes a moral issue.  If we can think of food and excercise as a tool rather than a rule, I think it changes our outlook.  I happen to like eating healthy food.  I don't like exercising anymore (I used to)but I see the benefit, so I do it.

Anyway, in our house, on a certain level, I see eating healthy as a moral obligation.  After all, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  And so what comes into this house and into our bodies...especially my children's bodies...is important to me.

At lunch today we were talking about all the foods that are crap.  Crap is not really a bad word in our house.  Although I prefer the kids not to use it around other kids so I don't get in trouble by other parents.  But when the shoe fits, wear it.  And so we had a great time talking about all the crappy foods.

Someone told me once if I made my kids eat so much good-for-them food, they would grow up and eat all the junk food they could get their hands on.  I disagree.  If my children understand the why of eating the things God has given us and of being good stewards of the bodies He has given them, they will hopefully be wise when they they are grown and on their own. 

Oops!  A whole bowl of fresh watermelon.

Does that mean we never eat crap around here.  No.  We do. And in the last couple weeks it feels like it's more than usual.  Which is why we had the conversation at lunch.  My list of foods to avoid is pretty long so I'll tell you what I consider healthy:

Food that God gives us...preferably processed as little as possible. 
We eat meat once or twice a week and try to make it free range, no hormones added, no antibiotics, etc.

I would prefer organic everything but unfortunately we're probably not even halfway there.

I often hear that eating healthy is too expensive.  Here's how I look at it.  You can pay more to eat healthy now or pay later for the drugs to counter all the cheap junk you think is saving you money.

And for the record, our grocery budget for our family of 7 is only $700 a month.  And that is without buying cheap processed dinners, etc.  But, again, we also don't eat meat every night.

Now what do we do when we go to someone else's house?  We eat the gift they have prepared for us.  Just as we teach the children that food at home is a gift to be eaten in gratitude without complaint, we are thankful for whatever someone has taken the time to prepare for us.  We do not expect a special "healthy" meal on our behalf.

I have no intention of being legalistic about it.  And although some people think I'm crazy (mostly family members), I'm okay with it.  I'm obligated to do what I consider to be in the best interest of the family God has given me.  What anyone else does is between them and God...that is, as long as it doesn't interfere with what I'm teaching my kids.