Gratitude & giving - The Healthy Food Bank
Gratitude helps me during those moments I feel frustrated. When the scale doesn't move, or my measurements don't drop, I stop and think about what I am grateful for. This action invariably calms me and lets me focus again on my goals instead of focusing on whatever little thing frustrated me in the first place. I highly recommend this strategy!
One of the things that I often feel grateful for, is that my husband and I can afford to eat healthy, real food. Oh, it's not entirely easy, I shop sales, I freeze stuff, I watch for bargains, but basically, we are not worried about our next meal. Considering my 5 meals a day, this is a good thing!
At the same time, I feel for those who DO have that worry. Hunger is not only a problem overseas, it's a problem here, right in our own back yard. There are people and families who find themselves in straightened circumstances. People who might like to eat fresh fruit and vegetables and feed their children good nutritious food, but find that healthy real food is too expensive. Seriously, a single bell pepper costs $2.00 in my local stores right now. And that's not a lot of calories.
Enter a new idea... the Healthy Food Bank. A food bank looking to encourage people to donate healthy items to their local food banks and not just whatever excess junk lines your pantry.
"The Healthy Food Bank is a non-profit organization that raises money to buy nutritious staples, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, for people in need around North America.
The money we raise is distributed to local food banks around the United States and Canada, with the stipulation that it be used to buy healthy, nutritious food."
Wow! I think this is a great idea and one worth spreading the word about. It's being put together by some of the Precision Nutrition team as well as others. But whether you want to donate directly to this food bank or prefer to donate locally, consider donating some healthier staples. There's a list of good ones on the news page for the site, just scroll down for good ideas.
I confess, I have been guilty of donating some less than ideal items to our local food bank. You know the kind, junk food left by visiting relatives that you don't want to eat yourself or items you bought once, but then realized they were full of high fructose corn syrup or trans fats or sugar. My last donation was some colored pasta shaped like Santa that I received at hubby's office Christmas party gift exchange. Sigh.
I can't change the past... but I can change future giving. Healthier eating for all is worth supporting. Spread the news, let this idea grow.
