Hugs from comfort foods!

Sometimes we just want to self -soothe..

You know… do something to give yourself a hug

For a long day or a difficult week perhaps…

To be honest it is part of what makes life enjoyable

Right?

Food is an easy self-soothe…

It doesn’t judge you

Welcomes you with arms wide open

Listens without the talk back

Hugs your taste buds without you even asking

But…

Is there a way to self-soothe even with food that will not affect our health negatively?

The cravings … handling them without the guilt or the overeating?

May I suggest one…
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or two?

Start off with a “reasonable size”

(Are you still “listening”?)…

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I’ll give examples…

3oz scoop of ice cream (not the standard ice cream bowl) with fresh blueberries hidden as a “surprise” in it …

1/8 of a Hershey bar ( not the whole)

2 cups of COOKED RICE (standard cup size not the “cup” in your cupboards)

Taking time to chew and taste your food…

Like really taste the food…

Leave your phone and other distractions…

Taste the spices and the flavor

Smile … (at least I do)

Savor each delectable flavor …
it is after all what we seek to enjoy..

Why do it this way?

it will help with maintaining a healthy weight without the guilt

you absorb more nutrients from your food

you self-soothe with self-control which is a great trait in the journey of wellness.

It allows your brain to send signals to your gut that “this is good and you are full” sooner than later

Thank you for reading!

Join me in practicing the above,

Dr. Olabintan

Author

Dr. Tolulope Olabintan MD, AAHIVS, FAAFP, dipABLM Dr. Tolulope Olabintan is the Co-Founder and Medical Director of Livingspring Family Medical Center. She is a Christian, Family Physician, writer, mentor, mother and wife. She takes joy in empowering her patients and readers to live their fullest lives possible. She helps patients live long and well as she believes that the quality of life is just as important as the quantity of life. She is also a foodie and loves the colors teal and orange. Dr. Olabintan completed her medical degree at UMDNJ Rutgers Medical School in 2007. Dr. O went on to finish her Family Medicine Residency from Albert Einstein College of Medicine Family Medicine residency where she also served as a Chief Resident. She then went on to complete a women’s health/surgical obstetrics fellowship at St Francis hospital in 2011. She is a board-certified Family Physician, Lifestyle Medicine, a HIV specialist and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.