Perspective, it's all in how you look at things

Yesterday was a good day!  Family all around, lots of laughter and fun.  The food was amazing, if I do say so myself, and there was plenty for all.

I find myself amused at some of my family members.  Around noon, when the family from up north joined us, on of my favorite people asked.  "Are you guys still on your strict diet?"  I chose not to answer, but hubby jumped in with a quick, "For the most part."

Part of me wanted to laugh.  Strict diet?  Well, okay, I guess you could call it that.  Personally I view it as a way to live.  You can't shake Diabetes like you can 10 pounds.  I guess it's all in how you look at things.

If I chose to look at our new lifestyle as a strict diet, then, from my perspective, I am doomed to failure. No one can maintain and eating plan if they perceive it as strict; that makes you think only of what you can not eat.

I am trying to think of our new eating plan as a fun and interesting challenge.  Can I really make it through the grocery store and avoid the cookie isle?  Is it possible to make food taste amazing without salt and a ton of sugar?  Since I don't like cooked veggies, how many different ways can I find to prepare them so I don't get bored?

Viewed this way, I am challenged every day to come up with something new and flavorful.  I don't need sugar and salt when I have an entire cadre of spices and herbs to use.  Come on, why salt your food when you can add the zing of ground mustard and dill to your morning eggs, or flavor the Thanksgiving turkey with lemon, oranges and sage?  For extra fun, you can slip a mixture of dried cherries and cranberries under the skin so that tangy flavor sinks deep into the meat.  

I'm telling you, it was the best turkey I have ever made, and no part of it was at all dry.  My mom found a new recipe to replace pumpkin pie, and I found that way more tasty than carb loaded pie crust!

Strict diet?  I guess you could view it that way, if you wanted to torture yourself by thinking about all the things you can't have.

Much more fun and interesting, however, to view the process as a challenging journey.  I can not maintain a strict diet all of my life and not cheat.  I can  look forward everyday to discovering new and interesting things to eat.

It's all a matter of perspective.