Women, Food, and God

I recently read Geneen Roth's Women, Food, and God. Roth weaves a powerful message of addressing unmet spiritual needs before they result in physical manifestations like anorexia, bulimia, or crash dieting.  I've never had a problem with dieting, nor do I think most Crohnies out there!  I've never really stressed about an extra ten pounds on the scale.  Being a Crohnie, I'm in a constant cycle of losing tons of weight during a flare and then taking ages to get back to the other side of normal.  As you'll read on my blog, I've been trying to eat healthier lately, and a gluten-free diet has done just the trick!

As I read about "The Eating Guidelines", I couldn't help but wonder what they would look like for Crohn's patients.  Here are Roth's guidelines:

1. Eat when you are hungry.
2. Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car.
3. Eat without distractions.  Distractions include radio, television, newspapers, books, intense, or anxiety-producing conversations or music.
4. Eat what your body wants.
5. Eat until you are satisfied.
6. Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others.
7. Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure.

So... allow me to put a spin for us Crohnie's, and let me know what you think!  Send your additions, edits, and notes via email, or post a comment!

1. Eat 4-6 small meals a day.
2. Eat in a peaceful environment, with a readily available restroom nearby, and a spare pair of undies handy!
3. Eat without worrying what noises your body starts making, and remember every person is paying less attention to you than you realize.  When it doubt, make a light-hearted joke!
4. Create a food diary, and use it religiously.  There are Apps for your phone, but it works just as well in a journal.  Add your stress levels, bowel movements, fatigue levels, vitamins/supplements, exercise and other key data as well.  Then eat what your body responds well to, and forget the rest!
5. Juice when you can't eat.
6. Eat as privately as you need to, and always remember to eat a bite before going to a party, restaurant, or social occasion when you're not sure if there will be options available that your body can tolerate.
7. Eat what you can, when you can, with enjoyment, hope, and contentment.  Know that even during trying days and weeks, we're still so blessed compare to many peoples in the world who have no food to eat, or clean water to drink.

Send me yours! :)

Crohnies unite!