Fats and Finance

In a previous post we compared dieting to personal finance. It’s a great analogy because calories and pounds can be counted just like coins (or large bank notes, if we’re talking about pork sausage pasta). Not everyone has an accountant on retainer to manage their money, however, and not everyone has a personal fitness trainer to monitor their meals. That’s okay—here’s a simple suggestion to help you budget your weight wisely and practice culinary thrift: write down what you eat!

Could You Repeat the Question

Are you one of those people who can’t recall what you had for breakfast yesterday? Or, as Neal Maxwell put it, have you reached the point where you can safely hide your own Easter eggs?  Relax, you don’t have to answer. The weakest of pencils is better than the strongest of memories, so get a little notebook and start writing down what you eat when you eat it. It’s that easy.

Keep It Simple

Your food diary doesn’t need to be elaborate. Scribbles on Post-its are just fine. Want to use a keyboard, voice recognition software, or a fountain pen with an iridium nib on bound parchment? Go for it, but it’ll make pretty bland reading for posterity. The main thing is to regularly reflect on the food you eat to increase awareness, which translates into a better body. It’s a bit like keeping receipts from the gas pump so you can get an idea of how many miles per gallon your DeLorean is getting—and your body is certainly worth more than any vintage boltbucket. You live there! It’s your home, and your diet is a clever act of home improvement that’s sure to increase your property value. (more…)