Historically, nutrition has varied in a very large way across cultures. Even so, common dishes became very prevalent for the health that they fostered, even in the midst of limited food availability. Foods like beans and rice are commonly served together not because people always knew about how they together provided all 9 essential amino acids, but because better health and nourishment were undoubtedly noticed by those who consumed such a combination of foods. So, foods like beans and rice became an efficient way to achieve proper nutrition for centuries. This shows how, even though we don’t always take it seriously, nutrition definitely has a huge impact on the way that we feel both physically and mentally.
Many Bible passages shed light on nutritional practice in the Christian life; one of them being Peter’s vision in the book of Acts (Acts 10:10-15). Foods that were once seen as unclean were now acceptable to eat. At a deeper level, this showed that people who were originally seen as unclean (Gentiles, which means non-Jewish people) could now be seen as clean under the blessing of God. Isn’t that amazing!? I am residing in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas worshiping the same God as a Messianic Jew in Jerusalem! Wherever you are; Texas, Colorado, California, New York, Africa, Asia, Europe, and so on; if you are a Christian, you are worshiping the same God as the Christians in every other area of the world. As non-Jewish believers, we were once considered unclean, but now we are seen as clean through the purposes of the Creator. Moreover, other passages like Mark 7:18-19, and Colossians 2:16-17 exemplify how we can have liberty in the ways in which we eat. However, this does not necessarily imply that all modern diets are created equal.
According to the World Health Organization, better nutrition is associated with improved infant, child, and maternal health. Additionally, it is related to stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, and a lower risk of diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (1). Taking this into account, we are not eating just for the moment. We are actually eating to recover from yesterday, to maintain ourselves today, and to prepare for tomorrow. This may seem like a tall order, but there are simple principles that we can stick to that will help us to prioritize proper nourishment.
“WE ARE NOT EATING JUST FOR THE MOMENT. WE ARE ACTUALLY EATING TO RECOVER FROM YESTERDAY, TO MAINTAIN OURSELVES TODAY, AND TO PREPARE FOR TOMORROW.”
1. The first thing to recognize is that we are all different. No two people have the same exact life goals or will respond to a particular diet the same way. So, not only does wrongly used comparison give rise to envy, but it is also very impractical. The only comparing we should be doing is concerning our own past. All we can do is play the cards that we are dealt. We can’t change the deck. Still, we can all take steps to optimize how we fuel our bodies.
2. Ditch the junk food whenever possible. It is not that all junk food is inherently bad. It is just that foods that are very processed tend to be more calorie-dense, and do not fill you up as much. Think of it this way: 2 tablespoons of peanut butter has close to the same amount of calories as 2 plain potatoes. But, which choice is going to fill you up more? This is not to say that potatoes are superior to peanut butter; I am simply trying to show you how portion sizes and calories are not always proportional.
3. Find your groove. This may seem lax, but it can have a huge impact on your health and wellbeing in the long run. When you become familiar with what you are eating, when you are eating, and know what foods settle well with you, you are setting yourself up for success. To know how many calories you generally need, you can use a TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) calculator. Having some basic guardrails can provide you with the structure you need to effectively achieve your fitness goals. Awareness is a valuable step in the right direction, and you may be surprised by how big of a difference it can make.
When it is all said and done, remember this: we eat to live, but we do not live to eat. Nutrition is certainly important, and is of course a pillar of our health. In the end though, even if our diet is perfect, these bodies won’t last forever. Knowing this, we should not let our focus on food consume our lives. There is a purpose in our enjoyment of good food in the company of family and friends. We ought to appreciate that blessing. Yet, we know that we will become hungry again soon enough; for man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
