Think what you eat

What you eat is all in your head.

(I actually started this post a month ago, and was going to post it shortly after my last post.  Life happens.  Then I had tacos again this weekend.)

Tonight I had beef for the first time in nearly 6 months on my "crazy diet."  I also had cheese and corn taco shells, more no-nos.  But I really wanted tacos for dinner and that's what the hubby was making.
As I ate I started wondering if eating beef after nearly 6 months of not eating beef would mess with my body.  Would I break out in hives?  Would I get headaches?  Would I get severe stomach aches and start hurling?  What about the corn and cheese combined with it?  Would my body go into shock?  I kept eating.  Maybe the wine I was drinking along with the tacos would negate any ill effects.  The questions were enough to make me pause for a few moments.  But I was starving.  I finished the 3 tacos on my plate, and was still hungry.  Should I have another?  I had tried to not put a lot of meat in them, and I usually ate about 5 or 6 when we would have tacos.  The uncertainty was making me nervous.  I waited a little while.  There was one shell still in the oven.  Okay, one more taco.  I'm sure I will be fine.  Have some more wine.

I started feeling...anxious.  Guilty.  Why?  It's just food.  After telling myself for so long, no red meat (nevermind those bacon cheating days recently).  And knowing that beef is one of the least healthy things for you, so far as meat goes.  And this was store brand ground beef from the local regular grocery store...not exactly meeting my new criteria for better quality food.  Is something going to happen to me?  Am I going to get sick from this?  Why am I so worried?  I had it so engraved in my head that I wasn't supposed to be eating beef that I had to second guess myself when I ate it.  Thinking about how it might really not be good for me, or might actually be doing me harm, almost made me not want to eat it.

Then I wonder: how does this kind of thinking affect how we make decisions about what to eat?  Or maybe, how does NOT thinking this way affect how or what we eat?  From all the things I've learned so far about ingredients, there are definitely some things that have turned me off of certain foods.  There are foods I will not eat, some ingredients I will not consume, or consume with great hesitation, or strongly question and look for an alternative if possible.  Some things I think, well, it's just a tiny amount, it's not going to hurt.  Or, it's just this once, just this occasion, it's okay.  But how many times do dieters tell themselves these things, and "just this once" becomes a daily ritual?  How easy it is to fool ourselves, to make excuses for what we eat.   Monday is, ugh it's Monday, I'm so not in the mood to go back to work, but I need breakfast so I have to get fast food.  Just today.  Tuesday is, well I'm running late and I need breakfast.  Fast food just today.  Wednesday is, well I was going to eat my oatmeal but since someone brought in donuts, I guess I'll eat those instead.  After all, it's free!  On Thursday the week is almost over, so why make any effort now?  I'll just get some fast food again.  Friday is, hooray, it's Friday!  Time for TGIF fast food breakfast!

Sound familiar to anyone?

Who else has made efforts to change something in your diet?  What steps have you taken to make it work for you?  What are you telling yourself to get through the changes?

EDIT: My challenge to you is the next time you go to pick up a food item at the store, turn it around and read the ingredients list.  Just read it.