Do Not Forget
Do not forget the transformative power of giving food. A lot of us on here (myself included) have problems with out-of-control behaviors around food. My personal problem is compulsive over-eating. I understand where it comes from biologically and psychologically and I try to be patient with gaining and re-gaining that fragile and easily lost sense of control. Some of us on here cannot control our under-eating, or purging, or maybe we have a medical condition that we can't control, that affects how food impacts our bodies.
All that stuff sucks. All that stuff can seriously destroy our lives!
It can be powerful to give food. It can help you regain a sense of lost control, and a healthy relationship with the place where love and food meet. It can heal anger, because we develop anger when our love is not received. I promise you that your food donation will be received with gratitude!
When I was extremely poor, I bought food with the most protein and calories to survive.
I always had a basket of food that I was gathering, to donate. I'd spend $1-2 a week on food to give back to others. At the end of the month, I'd bring it down to the food pantry to drop it off. It was never much, like a single grocery bag.
Now, I run a food program that serves 100 families per week with weekend food. This is funded through the local food bank. Other things...my students make PB&J for food bags to give to homeless people and sort in granola bars, fruit, and bottled water. It costs about $30 to make 30 bags, and each bag has about 750-1250 calories. Think what that means to someone who has been hungry for days, to eat a solid meal. My personal favorite...my husband and I cook burgers 3-4 times per year for the local homeless shelter. Fresh burgers are a high-protein, high-calorie, familiar food that tastes good. Kids and adults both enjoy a good burger, and usually I encounter a kid who has only picked at food in weeks who wants to devour a burger and get seconds. I spend about $50-80 and buy milk, buns, cheese, meat, salad, and fresh fruit for 30-50 people. I can do stuff like that now. I'm lucky. It's healing to be able to offer what I didn't have, to other people. It gives some perspective, too. I'm lucky that I can choose whether or not I want to lose weight.
I challenge you this month, to give food. Find something high in protein, like peanut butter or meat. If you save and collect for a month and have 5 jars of peanut butter to share, it is as meaningful and important as if you have more money and save up all month to feed 30 people, or if you are very wealthy and can feed 100. If you don't think your gift matters, remember that low income people donate the most, so it really does matter.
You are more than your waistline! Personal health goals are important and great, but never lose perspective that you are more, you have power in the world, and you can define your relationship with food on your own terms.
Peace!
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