Indulge in The Temptation and Enjoy

Temptations are everywhere. If you set a goal to lose weight or to eat healthier, temptations to stray from that goal seem show up everywhere.  Magazine covers with displays of cakes and cookies that look deliciously irresistible instantly catch your eye. Grocery store displays may tempt you to buy high calorie, low nutrition food by making it prominently visible.  And, of course there are the almost unavoidable television commercials that entice us to purchase food that is anything but diet friendly or healthy.

Since most of us are visually attracted to food, we need to establish our own set of acceptable temptations.  Doing so will help us be more successful in reaching our goal of choosing healthy foods and maintaining healthy eating habits.  The best place to begin setting yourself up for acceptable temptations is in your kitchen.
     Look around your kitchen.  What temptations exist there? Do you have a cookie jar or candy dish on your counter tempting you to indulge each time you pass by it?  If so, remove that temptation and replace it with a beautiful bowl full of fresh, colorful fruit that you can indulge in guilt-free. It’s difficult to walk by dark red or bright green apples, vibrant oranges, or beautiful yellow bananas without being tempted to reach out and grab one. You can indulgence in this temptation and enjoy the fruit without it conflicting with your goals. As an added bonus, the beauty of the fruit gives your kitchen counter or dining table an uplifting appearance.
      Arrange the items inside of your refrigerator so that when you open the door you are faced with healthy temptations.  Keep carrots, celery, grapes, kiwi  or any other fruit or vegetable within easy grasp. This is a good temptation.  Indulge and enjoy.

Having a basket filled with vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and garlic on your kitchen counter will encourage you to prepare healthy food.  Tomatoes are versatile. Because of their variety of size, shape, and color they make a beautiful counter top display.  Keep a big bowl of them in your kitchen to use in recipes and to eat as a snack. Grape and cherry tomatoes look lovely in a tall glass container. There’s no need to resist the temptation to reach in, grab a handful  and enjoy.

Hang pictures of enticing fruit and vegetables in your kitchen and dining area.  These pictures will tempt you to enjoy a piece of fruit or a vegetable rather than a piece of cake, a cookie, or a bowl of ice cream. If you have a cookbook or a magazine that has a photo of healthy, diet friendly food on the cover, display it for inspiration.

You can even reinforce the temptation to enjoy fruit and vegetables by using dishes, rugs, towels, placemats, napkins, or various other kitchen and dining accessories with a fruit or vegetable theme.

We all like for our home to smell good and there are numerous scents available in a variety of forms to assist us in maintaining a pleasant aroma in our home. However, there is no reason to torture your senses by burning cookie dough or apple pie scented candles in your kitchen. Although the aroma may be wonderful, it may also tempt you to indulgence in a cookie or a piece of pie. A citrus aroma such as lemon, lime, or orange is refreshing and uplifting. Scents of this type are a better choice when you are trying to achieve your goal of losing weight or eating healthy.  Candles, air fresheners, and scented oils are positive indulgences if you choose your fragrance wisely.

Most likely at various moments throughout each day you will be faced with the temptation to stray from your healthy eating goal. You can’t maintain control over every aspect of your day, but you can reduce your exposure to temptation within your home. It is easier for you to remain committed to your healthy eating goal and to your diet plan if you prearrange your own set of temptations that allow you to freely indulge and enjoy.