by Sean Croxton
If you were to ask me what I’d want for my very last meal, my answer might surprise you.
Grass-fed steak? No.
Free-range chicken? No.
Nope, not even bacon. And I love bacon.
I’d much rather roll with a platter of homemade chocolate chip cookies and sushi rolls, along with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crust cut off. Mmmmm…
If my answer shocks you — or even borders on hypocrisy, in your opinion — I should remind you that I’m human. Although I’m the Just Eat Real Food guy, even I have relationships with certain foods that are hard to break.
In fact, my adoration for chocolate chips, sushi, and PB&J is nothing I ever wish to eliminate from my psyche. I know why I love them. I understand where it comes from. And I know better than to let these feelings dominate my mealtime decisions.
When I was a kid, my fondest memories are of those special afternoons when Mom and I would make chocolate chip cookies from scratch. I remember cracking the eggs, adding the vanilla, stirring up the batter with that humongous wooden spoon, and licking the mixing bowl clean. Those were the days.
I also remember when my Mom started bringing home sushi after work. At first I refused to eat it. The idea of “eating raw fish” repulsed me. But eventually I gave it a try and was won over by California rolls. It was an instant addiction. Mom and I ended up becoming sushi buddies.
PB&J just reminds me of my childhood in general. Crunchy peanut butter. Smucker’s jelly. White bread. Heaven.
It’s been 17 years since I left home and moved 500 miles south to San Diego. But the two things that keep me connected to my Mom — beside our phones and flights home — are my infrequent trips to the cookie shop and weekly orders for take-out sushi.
These cases of the Mommy Munchies are what this week’s UW Radio guest Christa Orecchio called associative cravings — a deep, rich connection between food and my love for my Mama.
And there’s nothing wrong with it. We all have these connections. Every one of us.
Like relationships between people, the relationships we have with food can be healthy, unhealthy, or downright destructive. As a diet and lifestyle coach my clients often exhibited signs of the latter, as many related to food as medication, a best friend, or an escape from reality. Without understanding these relationships, making long-term dietary changes can often be impossible.
In the episode below, Christa — a certified holistic nutritionist — and I discuss how she helps her clients determine their perspectives and relationships with food, as well as how they go about improving them.
You can also watch the video below to catch a teaser clip in which Christa tells a story of how just being mindful of what we eat can lead to dramatic improvements in our health.
Learn more about my guest at www.thewholejourney.com.
I hope you enjoy the show!
Now I’m off to the cookie shop.
Kidding!!!
Out.
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Sean
Dude, I feel like you’ve turned a corner – your message has become really dynamic, responsible and realistic.
Props.
Nailing it.
This explains my Pizza Problem. I can go without all else but I break for pizza.
Growing up, my family would have pizza on Saturday nights–with a side of cut up raw veggies (all you could eat) and watch a movie together.
Now I get it–the warm fuzzy feeling. 🙂
I’ve come across this just as I’ve made a meal…Well more like a super bowl snack but since I am the only one eating it…It will be a few meals. But it’s something my first girlfriend used to make and I was hooked on. I’ve since changed my eating habits (Thanks) a good deal and understand this isn’t the best thing. I even consciously thought about her as I made it.
It’s been a while since I’ve had it and now I remember why. The itis comes full force hahaha yolo
And that’s why I’ll always be a faithful fan Sean, you always keep it REAL! Others in the same field might think writing what you just wrote would ruin their reputation but not you, I would expect you to write something like this, Kudos to you!
awesome!! it’s good to know that you are human.
i always tell my friends that when i turn 100 years old, i’m going to have a deep fried snickers bar. actually, since cheesecake is my all time favorite food (now i only have it about once a year or so), maybe i’d like some deep fried cheesecake too. 🙂