When you’re in the healthy eating business like I am, walking your talk is everything. Teaching about real food is the easy part. Actually doing it — day in and day out — in the context of a busy life is a whole other can of worms! But I’m very proud to say that leading by example is one of my strengths.
So, naturally, people want to know if I ever cheat. Do I ever indulge in anything that doesn’t quite make the “real food” cut? As a matter of fact, I do. Every year on Christmas morning, I deliberately choose to eat a full-on, gluten-laden, sugar-filled, carb-rich, anti-real-food splurge. And I savour every single bite!
My grandmother’s homemade cinnamon buns are legendary. Warm, gooey, and undeniably delicious, it’s a longstanding tradition in our family to enjoy of few of these (covered in butter!) as we open our stockings on Christmas morning.
I’ve done my homework, and no matter which way you slice them, these doughy little works-of-art are totally incongruent with my healthy lifestyle. But once a year, with the Christmas tunes a-blarin’, I intentionally set my health goals to one side for two of Nan’s famous cinnamon buns. And the word regret never even enters my consciousness!
Do you have any intentional cheat meals? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
On that note, I’m taking a tech holiday until after my cinnamon bun feast. I’ll see you all back here in the New Year on January 7, 2016. Happy Holidays from the Eat Real Food Academy!
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Happy Holidays to you! I enjoy reading your articles! My problem is letting go and enjoying a treat now and then.