What You Eat Matters

It’s the beginning of a new year and the start of resolutions. Eating healthy could be on your list for this New Year . Eating healthy, however, is something near and dear to my heart (no pun intended). You see, for years and years in my youth I ate just about whatever I wanted. I was so thin that eating was a good thing – “It might put some weight on you,” I often heard. Then as I was mothering my young and oh-so-dear children I began to think more about our diet. Now, after several more decades, I am bearing the fruit (oops, no pun here) of my years of eating all the yummy foods and not eating the healthy ones.

I’m here to tell you I now know what to eat and what not to eat and the big difference is – I’m doing it. When my inflammation numbers showed significant improvement in my blood work, I became a true believer. So many foods seem healthy and actually cause inflammation, which in turn causes illness. This doesn’t happen overnight. It can take years.

I’ve also learned that food contributes to our mental health. It has been studied in schools and prisons and found to make a difference in behavior, mood, and mental health.

I encourage you – take a long hard look at your diet. Learn what happens when you eat junk. Change what you buy and what you have in your pantry. Your refrigerator will overflow with fresh veggies. Give it time – a few months – and you will notice the difference.

   I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. I have experienced the potholes, pests, and perils of being the single head-of-household. As an educator in regular and special education for twenty years I know a great deal about child development and how to handle kids. I am the founder of SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I'm a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon.