by Katie Haarala

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.  – Aristotle

Be excellent. 

Now, generally I write about specific foods that have health benefits, but this time, I have decided to delve into the idea of simply eating for health, for happiness, and for excellence. 

I enjoy good food like the rest and happen to find myself tasting a treat from time to time, but when asked if I could stay perfectly healthy off of pizza and chocolate chip ice cream, would I choose it over fruits, vegetables, and whole grains?  The answer is simply “no”. 

Sure, staying fit and trim off of cheese and chocolate may sound nice, but think of all the delectable flavors your taste buds would be missing out on!  The diverse flavors that can stem from whole grain pasta topped with sautéed green beans, with side notes of black pepper, garlic, and olive oil are prodigious! And have you ever actually paid attention to the how you feel after you eat an entire devil’s food cake versus a light nutritious dish such as the one mentioned above? The difference is quite vast!

Now, not to say devil’s food is not an option, but remembering it’s all about the portion control and making sure you’ve had a lot of the good stuff already.

So what is the bit about excellence?

As a society, we seem, unfortunately, unconcerned with our health.  First, remembering that the reason we eat is to provide our bodies with energy to chase the kids around or to take the bad beagles for a walk, and then recalling that we perform better when we are energized with nutritious dishes versus, oh say, a bag of laboratory created cheese-like powdered snack chips or highly fluorescent gummy candies. 

The point being is that we do our best work when we are nourished properly.  Overindulging on greasy burgers and fries will leave you feeling lethargic and inevitably leading you to become one with the couch for the remainder of your day.  You don’t feel motivated to get in some exercise, tend to the garden, or to partake in any other hobbies you enjoy, but rather, you feel tired and not wanting to move until your next birthday. 

Moral of the story, feed yourself properly so you can feel energetic and nourished to do the things you love, to be excellent in the way only you know how to be.  Our society is in need of all that you can offer, so it’s quite imperative you are feeling well and motivated to share with us your passions. 

Perhaps you believe the relationship between food choice, motivation and energy is rather obscure, but I beg to differ.  I urge you to pay attention to how you feel after you eat a nutrient packed meal.  I’m sure it is a feeling you will want to duplicate by making those healthy choices once again!

Let’s heed Aristotle’s wise words and make our meal choices habitually healthy. 

Eat on, friends, and enjoy all that is associated with healthy and delicious dishes! 

Katie

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About Katie Paige Haarala

Kate Paige Haarala is a registered dietitian (R.D.) from Minnesota who has an undying passion for nutrition education and helping others incorporate healthy dishes into their daily menu.  She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Food, Nutrition & Dietetics along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science. You can catch more of Katie on her blog by clicking here.