It is that time of year again where we rack our brains to come up with things we resolve to do in the coming year. We always make them with the best of intentions, but somehow, for most of us, they are put on the shelf for a rainy day...and forgotten. Life is funny like that.
Lisa and I have a big clay pot in the shape of an elephant. Every year we write out our intentions, our resolutions, our prayers for the coming year and place them in the elephant. (Hey, an elephant never forgets, right?) Anyway, before we place our new ones in the elephant, we remove the old ones and burn them (unread) releasing them to the cosmos. It does not guarantee a higher success rate, but it makes you think every time you pass by the elephant. So that is our ritual, along with eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day for good luck (Hey, it is a southern thing. What can I say?).
My resolutions for 2008 are not written in stone yet, but they might go something like this...
1) I resolve to continue to fight my diabetes by watching my diet, taking my medicine and walking at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.
2) I resolve to get back on track with my writing projects and get my second book written.
3) I resolve to find the time to paint and find a gallery for my work. Perhaps even a show?
4) I resolve to be a better husband, father, grandfather and brother.
5) I resolve to judge less, be more tolerant and remember that everyone has a story to tell.
6) I resolve to be more positive and to worry less.
7) I resolve to live more and more in the Present and seek to remember...what I already know. (mysterious, I know)
I am sure there are a few others that I will place in our elephant for the New Year, but at least it is a start.
Whatever your New Year traditions, I wish you all a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. May you find what you are looking for and look for what you are finding.
FOOD for THOUGHT...
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
An Unconventional Christmas
When Lisa and I moved to San Antonio, we discovered a Goodwill Store near our house. They are resale shops for things that people no longer want. Instead of tossing these unwanted items into landfills, they are dropped off at several sites around town for repurchase at bargain prices. The money from the resale of clothes, electronics, kitchenware, and even furniture goes to support Goodwill Industries.
Goodwill Industries started in 1941. Today they are the leading nonprofit provider of education, training and career services for people with disadvantages such as welfare dependency, homelessness and lack of education or work experience. Their reach extends to people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Last year, local Goodwills collectively provided employment and training services for more than 930,775 individuals.
Lisa and I decided to do most of our Christmas shopping at Goodwill and to limit our holiday gift buying for each other to $20- $30. You would be surprised what you can find for a small amount of cash at one of these stores. We have discovered vintage videos, books, CD’s, antiques, kitchen appliances and a host of other treasures waiting to be found. One year, Lisa found a set of silver bowls that had been discontinued years ago. You cannot find them anywhere. They were very expensive when they were new and whoever donated them probably had no idea of their value. She bought them for our dining room table for only a few dollars. Yes, there is a lot of junk amid the treasures, but that is part of the fun. Some of the items have seen better days, but they can be cleaned up and look great once we get them home.
As a society, we have come to value the new, the shiny, the latest, hot, new “whatever” and often overlook the wonderful treasure right under our noses. As Americans, we consume so much stuff and then toss it in the trash when the next new thing comes along. What is wrong with saving money on quality items that others no longer want? It becomes a double blessing when you realize that the money we spend at Goodwill goes to give a second chance to people who could use a hand.
Now, I do not expect everyone to abandon their Wal-Mart and Targets for Goodwill stores, but next year you might consider going on a treasure hunt there for a few small things to go under your Christmas tree. You might even find yourself doing what Lisa and I do on a regular basis now. We walk through the store looking for bargains and future gifts. Who knows, it might even become trendy! Oh, we bought these beautiful, antique silver salt and pepper shakers at...Goodwill! Oh my!
FOOD for THOUGHT...
Goodwill Industries started in 1941. Today they are the leading nonprofit provider of education, training and career services for people with disadvantages such as welfare dependency, homelessness and lack of education or work experience. Their reach extends to people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Last year, local Goodwills collectively provided employment and training services for more than 930,775 individuals.
Lisa and I decided to do most of our Christmas shopping at Goodwill and to limit our holiday gift buying for each other to $20- $30. You would be surprised what you can find for a small amount of cash at one of these stores. We have discovered vintage videos, books, CD’s, antiques, kitchen appliances and a host of other treasures waiting to be found. One year, Lisa found a set of silver bowls that had been discontinued years ago. You cannot find them anywhere. They were very expensive when they were new and whoever donated them probably had no idea of their value. She bought them for our dining room table for only a few dollars. Yes, there is a lot of junk amid the treasures, but that is part of the fun. Some of the items have seen better days, but they can be cleaned up and look great once we get them home.
As a society, we have come to value the new, the shiny, the latest, hot, new “whatever” and often overlook the wonderful treasure right under our noses. As Americans, we consume so much stuff and then toss it in the trash when the next new thing comes along. What is wrong with saving money on quality items that others no longer want? It becomes a double blessing when you realize that the money we spend at Goodwill goes to give a second chance to people who could use a hand.
Now, I do not expect everyone to abandon their Wal-Mart and Targets for Goodwill stores, but next year you might consider going on a treasure hunt there for a few small things to go under your Christmas tree. You might even find yourself doing what Lisa and I do on a regular basis now. We walk through the store looking for bargains and future gifts. Who knows, it might even become trendy! Oh, we bought these beautiful, antique silver salt and pepper shakers at...Goodwill! Oh my!
FOOD for THOUGHT...
Sunday, December 9, 2007
The Return of Santa?
My wife read an article in the paper yesterday about how Walmart was bowing to pressure from religious groups. They have decided to allow Santa Claus back into their stores this year. Now, where the heck have I been? Santa was banned from Walmart stores...any store...at Christmas time!? I cannot believe that the jolly, old, fat guy who brings all the toys got banned from any place that depends on him to make their bottom line for the year-end. What were those folks at Walmart smoking?
The other thing that struck me was that it was RELIGIOUS leaders that were putting the pressure on Walmart to bring him back. I thought Santa was a pagan figure. Sure, he is well known and beloved by all, but I cannot find him mentioned anywhere in the Bible at the birth of Christ or anywhere else. (Perhaps I missed it.) Shouldn’t these religious folks be pushing stores to have big manger scenes with Baby Jesus and wise men and camels instead of some hairy fat guy in a red suit that steals down your chimney at night while you are asleep?
What is this world coming to?
FOOD for THOUGHT...
The other thing that struck me was that it was RELIGIOUS leaders that were putting the pressure on Walmart to bring him back. I thought Santa was a pagan figure. Sure, he is well known and beloved by all, but I cannot find him mentioned anywhere in the Bible at the birth of Christ or anywhere else. (Perhaps I missed it.) Shouldn’t these religious folks be pushing stores to have big manger scenes with Baby Jesus and wise men and camels instead of some hairy fat guy in a red suit that steals down your chimney at night while you are asleep?
What is this world coming to?
FOOD for THOUGHT...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
What Are You Eating?
A good part of dealing with my diabetes is watching what I eat and how much I eat. Before I knew I was a diabetic, I never thought twice about eating fast food. Forget about fat content, calories and salt. I ate what I wanted and what tasted good. I had no reason to think about such things. All I cared about was that it was fast, it was hot and it filled me up.
Lisa and I attended a diabetes class at a local hospital here in San Antonio a few weeks ago and part of the class was getting a suggested diet from a nutritionist that specializes in the disease. She recommended a diet of 2,000 calories a day for me. It requires me to balance my intake of protein, carbohydrates and fats to meet this daily requirement. I cannot just get all my calories from a bag of potato chips and a chocolate shake. I have to eat things like fruits and vegetables and limit the amount of sugars, fats and salt in my diet. I was given a booklet that breaks down the amount of calories, fat and salt (among other things) in popular fast food items. As I checked out the fare of several well-known restaurants, I was shocked at the numbers. Let me give you some examples:
1 Burger King Whopper
700 total calories (with 370 from fats)
1002 mg of sodium (salt)
1 Medium Fries
360 total calories (with 160 from fats)
640 mg of sodium
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
This one “meal” at Burger King cost me 1,191 total calories (with 530 from fats) and that is over half of my allotted calories for one day. I still have two more meals and several snacks to eat before my head hits the pillow. Oh, and how about that salt intake? This one meal put 1,650 mg of sodium into my body. Nutritionists say we should be limited to no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day and no more than 1/3 of our total calories should be from fat. Are you starting to get the picture? Here are some more examples:
1 McDonald’s Big Mac
560 total calories (with 270 from fats)
1010 mg of sodium (salt)
1 Medium Fries
360 total calories (with 160 from fats)
640 mg of sodium
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
KFC (3 pc) Crispy Strips (chicken)
400 total calories (with 220 from fats)
1250 mg of sodium (salt)
1 Medium Fries
360 total calories (with 160 from fats)
640 mg of sodium
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
(Only 1) of 8 slices Pizza Hut 12” Medium Hand –Tossed Pepperoni Pizza X (how many slices?)
250 total calories (with 80 from fats)
570 mg of sodium (salt)
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
Just think how many millions of hard working parents of modest means at the end of the workday just want a quick, cheap and easy meal for their kids. Let’s go to McDonald’s, kids! And so it goes. Why should we be surprised when diabetes, stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure are exploding in America and not just among adults, but also with our children?
Even if you try to eat sensibly and limit your intake of fat, salt and sugar, check out the nutrition labels of some of your favorite foods. You might be shocked to find high levels of sodium, trans fats and corn syrup. Convenience foods and processed foods are among the worst offenders. In our society today, you can find no end to unhealthy diet choices. They line our grocery store shelves! Over time, our unhealthy diets and fast food choices can shorten our lives and make those shortened years miserable and costly.
Healthcare in this country is in crisis. The cost of that healthcare is rising out of control for most of us. As a people, we are becoming obese and burdened with chronic illnesses. Will there be enough healthcare professionals and resources to take care of a population headed for disaster?
Modern medicine has given us many wonderful drugs to help manage our disease, but what about prevention? The bottom line is that no pill can replace a healthy diet and regular exercise. I challenge you to know what you are eating. Do not expect McDonald’s or Burger King to look out for your health. That...is still up to you.
FOOD for THOUGHT...
Lisa and I attended a diabetes class at a local hospital here in San Antonio a few weeks ago and part of the class was getting a suggested diet from a nutritionist that specializes in the disease. She recommended a diet of 2,000 calories a day for me. It requires me to balance my intake of protein, carbohydrates and fats to meet this daily requirement. I cannot just get all my calories from a bag of potato chips and a chocolate shake. I have to eat things like fruits and vegetables and limit the amount of sugars, fats and salt in my diet. I was given a booklet that breaks down the amount of calories, fat and salt (among other things) in popular fast food items. As I checked out the fare of several well-known restaurants, I was shocked at the numbers. Let me give you some examples:
1 Burger King Whopper
700 total calories (with 370 from fats)
1002 mg of sodium (salt)
1 Medium Fries
360 total calories (with 160 from fats)
640 mg of sodium
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
This one “meal” at Burger King cost me 1,191 total calories (with 530 from fats) and that is over half of my allotted calories for one day. I still have two more meals and several snacks to eat before my head hits the pillow. Oh, and how about that salt intake? This one meal put 1,650 mg of sodium into my body. Nutritionists say we should be limited to no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day and no more than 1/3 of our total calories should be from fat. Are you starting to get the picture? Here are some more examples:
1 McDonald’s Big Mac
560 total calories (with 270 from fats)
1010 mg of sodium (salt)
1 Medium Fries
360 total calories (with 160 from fats)
640 mg of sodium
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
KFC (3 pc) Crispy Strips (chicken)
400 total calories (with 220 from fats)
1250 mg of sodium (salt)
1 Medium Fries
360 total calories (with 160 from fats)
640 mg of sodium
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
(Only 1) of 8 slices Pizza Hut 12” Medium Hand –Tossed Pepperoni Pizza X (how many slices?)
250 total calories (with 80 from fats)
570 mg of sodium (salt)
16 oz Coca Cola Classic
131 total calories
8 mg of sodium
Just think how many millions of hard working parents of modest means at the end of the workday just want a quick, cheap and easy meal for their kids. Let’s go to McDonald’s, kids! And so it goes. Why should we be surprised when diabetes, stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure are exploding in America and not just among adults, but also with our children?
Even if you try to eat sensibly and limit your intake of fat, salt and sugar, check out the nutrition labels of some of your favorite foods. You might be shocked to find high levels of sodium, trans fats and corn syrup. Convenience foods and processed foods are among the worst offenders. In our society today, you can find no end to unhealthy diet choices. They line our grocery store shelves! Over time, our unhealthy diets and fast food choices can shorten our lives and make those shortened years miserable and costly.
Healthcare in this country is in crisis. The cost of that healthcare is rising out of control for most of us. As a people, we are becoming obese and burdened with chronic illnesses. Will there be enough healthcare professionals and resources to take care of a population headed for disaster?
Modern medicine has given us many wonderful drugs to help manage our disease, but what about prevention? The bottom line is that no pill can replace a healthy diet and regular exercise. I challenge you to know what you are eating. Do not expect McDonald’s or Burger King to look out for your health. That...is still up to you.
FOOD for THOUGHT...
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