Growing up, my parents didn’t have crazy food rules. I wasn’t forced to eat any particular food, and I wasn’t glued to the table until I finished my broccoli.
But, there was one rule that stuck out: dessert was earned.
If I wanted a treat at the end of the day, I had to eat healthy stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
If I checked those boxes, I earned dessert. Back in the day, those Little Debbie snacks were worth the compliance. This could happen every day without issue, if I did my job.
Some people think food reward is a problem. I think food restriction is a bigger issue, as long as there are boundaries and guidelines on what you need to eat to achieve better health.
There’s no shortage of diets, meal plans, and complicated formulas designed to support your health.
Consider the 3 primary healthy eating outcomes it achieves:
- It’s built around eating 80-90% non-treats (ideally, healthier options)
- It doesn’t force foods
- It avoids restrictions while still creating limits.
At some point, I stopped eating dessert every night and ditched Little Debbie. But, she served me well and helped me build a great relationship with food.
This might not be your end goal, but if you’re looking for a place to start, The Little Debbie plan might be a good fit for you. If nothing else, mastering those 3 outcomes will likely do more for your long-term health than the majority of other diets you might try.
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