Stop Using Food Like This

I used to do it all the time. Back when my kids were young. I didn’t know any better. And judging from the other parents around us, neither did they.

Nor did my parents. Or probably their parents before them.

All our kids played sports. When the practice or game was done, it was time for a treat. You worked hard in practice. You deserve a reward.

That’s the problem. We used food as a reward.

And that reward wasn’t a big juicy steak. Or a salad.

It was some sugary, processed treat. Donuts after early-morning hockey practice. Dairy Queen for the team after a big soccer or lacrosse game.

The team would even have a schedule for whose turn it was to bring the treats.

We’d have competitions to see which player could sell the most discount coupon cards for fast food restaurants. Winner received some special prizes.

Our culture puts it in our heads at a young age. Do a good job at something. Get a treat. You deserve it. Heck you might be the worst player on the team. You still made it through practice without the need of an ambulance. You deserve a treat.

And on the off chance we needed to call an ambulance for you? Well then you deserve a treat for being so brave at the hospital.

I remember my Mom taking my brother and I for ice cream to celebrate how brave we were for enduring our vaccinations at the pediatrician.

That pattern of reward sticks with you. When you’re an adult, you use it to rationalize a lot of bad eating habits.

For a lot of guys, beer becomes a reward.

“Buy you a drink?”

Or more food. I was good. I skipped breakfast. So I can have a treat after lunch.

Our company had a big sales win. We should celebrate. Let’s cater in lunch from [insert unhealthy restaurant here].

It also fuels our emotional eating.

I had a bad day at work. Processed food will help me feel better.

We need to break that cycle. We need to think of processed food more as sin to be avoided. Just as sin tempts you with thoughts of immediate pleasure, so does processed food.

Food should not be your reward. It should be the path to eternal damnation.

Ok maybe that’s a little dramatic. But the parallels are there. You may feel tempted to cheat on your spouse. You feel the craving. It’s the same craving you feel for that soda, alcoholic drink or candy bar.

You generally don’t crave salmon. Or a steak. Or a salad. Sure they taste good. But do you really crave them? Your rule should be ‘if I feel cravings for it, I shouldn’t eat it.’

Obviously easier said than done. Think of the times you’ve resisted temptation. Either from the charms of the opposite sex, when you turned in a large sum of money you found, or when you turned down some food you knew was bad.

Didn’t it feel good in the long run? Remember that feeling the next time you’re tempted. Come up with another reward for yourself - like setting some time aside to do something you really enjoy. Or measuring your progress to your goals. Checking your biological markers and seeing improvement can be very rewarding.

Even just overcoming temptation can be it’s own reward. Find something other than food to make you feel good. If you falter, resolve not to do it again. And remember that leading yourself away from temptation is the path to heaven.