If indulging in our favourite foods is not the way to happiness, then how exactly do we use food to achieve that state?

We live in a world where we are bombarded with millions of diets fighting for our attention and in most cases, our wallets. There is always some new discovery in nutrition that makes us want to jump on yet another diet train… usually leading to nowhere… Why did we loose our natural connection to food, and when did that happen? When did our relationship with food become so complicated? The problem starts with food industry being a very big business. If we look at a story of fat and sugar for example, we can see how turning food into such huge business is not working very well for us. In the 1950’s there were studies done on cardiovascular health indicating sugar to be a big risk factor. To protect its market share, sugar industry started to sponsor studies that focused blame on fat***. We now know that sugar is also one of the major culprits behind our obesity issue. But with big money behind it, sugar was able to protect its market share, and shifting blame somewhere else, at the expense of our health…

Why did we loose our natural connection to food, and when did that happen? When did our relationship with food become so complicated?

At this time, there is a very popular diet called keto, which is based on vilifying carbs (but lovingly approving healthy fats). The issue with keto is that our bodies need carbs for proper brain function, and to feel good, among other things. We’re again facing a very biased approach to food.

In all the chaos and misinformation surrounding diets, most of us simply forgot the basics of how to eat. We end up relying on band aid solutions for quick fixes while feeling out of whack most of the time…

This simple guide aims to get us back on track. It will cover three basic and important aspects of eating: when to eat, how much to eat, and what to eat. It will help you feel good, stay content and balance your mood, in other words: It will make you Happy!

1. WHEN TO EAT

Multiple studies shows that our sugar balance is the key to stable energy levels. Stable energy leads to good mood and overall well being. One of the strategies to help balance sugar levels is having regular time intervals between eating. Having meals every 3-4 hrs from the moment we wake up until about 3-4 hrs before going to bed will start the process.  

Your first meal should be consumed within an hour of waking up, or after your morning work out. For example:

if you get up at 7 am, your breakfast should be at 8 am, the latest,

then your brunch/lunch between 11am-12pm,

your late lunch/early dinner between 3-4pm,

your supper around 7-8pm,

and then bed time between 10pm and midnight.

This well balanced eating schedule will help keep your sugar levels steady. This will also help to balance your mood, and you can be all smiles and full of energy, all day long. It will also help you with your resolve when it comes to avoiding bad foods. I know from my own experience, every time I go longer than 4 hours without food, I pretty much end up with zero self control. Especially at 5 hrs mark and beyond, I will eat anything in sight, not to mention that I will also get really bad ideas, like creative ways to sugar overload or some crazy processed fat options … Sugar levels also depend on how much you consume and the type of foods you eat.

There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There’s .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set.

I want more numbers than I’m likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.

There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.

Linda Grayson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our dark-ness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be bril-liant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as

I can never read all the books I want; I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life. And I am horribly limited.

So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me… everyday. We are what we pre-tend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.

Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.