Eat Right and Enjoy Every Bite - ABCs of Self-Care for Caregivers

In this episode, Karen talks about the need to eat real food in order to stay healthy and strong.

Takeaways:
1) Develop a taste for good food

Most of us crave a hot fudge sundae rather than a salad. See, I bet the picture you saw was of hot chocolate sauce melting into the creaminess of the vanilla ice cream.

But what if we started feeling the same way toward the salad?

What is your favorite salad? How about your favorite healthy snack?

Fill the refrigerator with wholesome yummy food and take the extra time to prepare it. Remove all the unhealthy stuff for a while so that you are not tempted. Eating well takes forethought so that you have the right snacks and balanced meals.

Hope Tip: Look for recipes for the vegetables that are in season. Go to the Farmer’s Market to get a good deal on the organic version.

2) Adjust your appetite
At the beginning of each week, set aside a few hours over the weekend to prepare healthy snacks. Put them in the snack resealable plastic bags so you can pack them with your lunch. Once you start eating the right foods you will no longer crave the unhealthy ones.

It’s okay to treat yourself sometimes with dark chocolate. Berries are always filling and a tasty treat.

Hope Tip: Talk about the healthy food you enjoy most rather than what you can’t have.

3) Reward yourself with non-food items

What’s your favorite book?

What are rituals that you have in the evening (besides eating)?

Light your favorite candle and put on music that lifts your spirit. I especially enjoy worship music and scented candles.

Buy yourself a new journal and write in it every evening.

Make your day about your life and not the food that you eat.

No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34 (Voice): “So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don’t realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too. So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.”

Hope Tip: Let your loved ones know about your favorites – candles, books, music, perfume, etc. Don’t save any of it for special occasions. Use it every day.

Prayer
Thank You Lord that you are always good. Even in the midst of the weight of caregiving I declare that You are good and You provide just what I need when I need it. I partner with You now to not be consumed with what I will eat, drink or wear. I don’t want to be consumed with what I eat. I want to seek You first and all that is right. Thank You for giving me everything that I need just when I need it. I give you my worry about tomorrow and thank You for the grace to be faithful in serving __________________ today.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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