Achieving your health goals in a world of choices and temptation

Health Goals in a World of Choices

Cravings, desire, curiosity, availability

I remember, during my last food shopping trip, I stood in front of the cheese section completely baffled by my inability to make a choice.

 

Perhaps you can relate (perhaps not to cheese but another item).

You

  • have a craving for cheese but you don’t want the kind you always buy.
  • want to try something new.
  • desire a new experience, perhaps a new brand, a new variety or a new mix.

There you are, in front of the cheese section and all you see is cheese:

Asiago – Baby Swiss – Blue,Brie, or Camembert – Gorgenzola or Roquefort – Berg or Butter – Emmentaler, Farmers, or Gouda – Swiss or Mondseer – Mozzarella or Feta – Muenster or Monterey Jack – Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano – Chévrer – Manchego – Gruyére – Provolone – Ricotta or Goat – Colby – Stilton – Halloumi – Rocamado –  Livarot – Saint-Paulin – Saint- Marcellin – Tomme de Savoie – Saint Albray – …and and many many more

 

cheese, selection, french cheese

Health Goals in a World of Choices

So many cheeses –

how will I ever decide, how would you decide?

~

If I

  • had only 3 cheeses to choose from I knew I could make a decision rather quickly.
  • would throw a cheese party I knew, too, I could perhaps select a variety of different cheese – without much headache.

But, out of soooo many different cheeses how do I decide on just one?

I sensed trouble!

(now, I eat cheese for the flavor, for the experience. Cheese perhaps is a bad example in terms of healthy food choices BUT nonetheless, if I were to choose cheese for health goals would flavor, uniqueness, type of milk, fat or sodium content influence my choice, or…?)

~

In a world of choices:

How would you decide or how would you narrow your decision?

Would you decide first between soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, or hard

or

between flavor: mild, medium, strong, or intense

or

based on milk: cow, sheep, goat, or buffalo

or

based on condiments: with spices or herbs, or nut

or

do you consider origin: locally produce, french cheese, spanish cheese,…..

or 

do you look at age: young or aged

or

how you might pair the cheese: with fruit, wine, meats, or….

or

fat content

or

?????

 

Should I just buy one cheese or, giving my inability to decide, two or three? If I buy more than I actually need I’d have to eat them all, so they don’t go bad or spoil (and I’m not about to waste food).

In a world of choices: I found the sheer variety overwhelming.

My inability to determine how some cheese differed from one another added an extra challenge to an already complex situation. More, in order to decide which (new) kind I’d like to try I would have to taste test them all!

–> which, at the end, would either end in all of them tasting the same or me getting a belly ache from too much cheese!

 

Given the world of choices I knew:

I

  • didn’t want the same cheese I always buy
  • wanted to experience something new
  • also didn’t care about another cheese being better than the one I’d eventually pick
  • know and didn’t even doubt that another cheese would be better – that’s a given. I can care less about that.

Rather, I was worried that the one I’d pick wouldn’t be as tasty and palatable as I had hoped or desired……..(more often than not I have the habit of choosing the slightly rotten egg)

So, I stood there reading all labels and adding to my basket what I thought I’d like…..and before I knew it I had over 10 different cheeses in my basket.

Well, at least I narrowed my choice, right?

Throughout this whole process, which took way tooo long, I, of course, felt the unapproving eye from other shoppers and store clerks. Apparently, I really took too long to decide.

10 different cheeses, obviously still too many for one person. I didn’t want to have cheese for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

….

Let’s just say: this wasn’t a fun way to shop for cheese. Next time, I just go back to the farmer’s market. They know which questions to ask and  can, in spite of their humongous selection, stir me in the right direction. Plus, tasting the final 3 or 4 cheeses I can handle. At the grocery store, however, I was just too overwhelmed!

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Now, WHAT does this HAVE to do with HEALTH choices,

TEMPTATION, and REACHING your GOALS?

Well, unless you love cheese, you might not be tempted by cheese. You perhaps can care less about cheese, the variety or what kind of cheese to eat. You might even forgo cheese all together – it’s fatty, high in saturated fats, and at times sodium.

 

Cheese advertisement isn’t generally as aggressive as, let’s say, advertisement for cookies, chocolate, ice cream or chips. 

 

More importantly, most people don’t experience cheese cravings.

Now, if you are someone with a sweet tooth advertisement might have power over you. They might draw and capture your attention to their latest product. Their selection is huge and always growing.

 

Let’s assume you have a sweet tooth:

  • Will the availability of a NEW PRODUCT or NEW FLAVOR tempt you?

  • Are you aware if/how advertisement creates urges and cravings – will the food be on your mind?

  • Does seeing a product on sale influence your buying habit?

  • How about a limited edition – will you feel the need to buy it in fear of missing out?

  • Will large variety influence you to buy 2 different kinds of product, instead of just one (because you can’t decide)?

  • Does passing the bakery create an internal conflict – health goal versus desire?

  • Will seeing healthy food options among less healthy food options challenge your willpower, and lead to you picking the less healthy, perhaps tastier item?

 

Just take Oreo as example. Of course, variety differs between markets BUT they have a ton. Plus, their product line is always increasing.

Would

  • seeing a new box or flavor of Oreo peak your interest?
  • you want to know what it tastes like?
  • you give in to your desire to try it OR would you stay stern to your health & weight goals (in case such kind of treats are off limit- by the way: for healthy eating nothing is off-limit- it’s about balance!)?

~

What we know:

Yes, this subject has been studied by a variety of researchers for a variety of subjects. The conclusion seems always the same,

in theory, having more choices is appealing, but in reality it is debilitating.

.

Yet, what is it about choice?

„Free choice is the basis on which markets work, driving competition and generating economic growth.

It is the cornerstone of liberal democracy.“

(Economist)

We are influenced by marketing but also by this idea that new, different, crazy is better – it’s something to be tried. We are often told it’s something we need, we want. Something that makes our life better, adds richness and diversity, and freedom.

Just think about all the different cheeses or God for bid different flavored yogurts or different types of cookies or chips (or shampoos, household cleaners, or cereal) available. Do we really need so many (especially unnatural flavored yogurts)? Does it have to do with meeting individual demand, preferences, or taste (or making profit)?

Individuality might not be an aspect. Research tells us we generally follow the brand we trust, the marketing campaign that speaks most to us.

What about responsibility – particularly in terms of health and weight?

Does this freedom to choose weaken or debilitate our desire to make healthy food choices?

~

Is having 30 choices really better than having 6?

Not really, even companies have recognized that less is more. Reducing variety can lead to increased sales.

Yet, I wonder. Why, for example, are chocolate, candy or cookie manufacturers constantly coming out with something new, constantly evolving? To stay ahead of competition, to make sure we (consumer) aren’t bored with their standard product?

 

We are encouraged to make healthy food choices, exercise regularly, live a balanced life, be at healthy weight……

………while surrounded by temptations.

 

It’s like locking up a sugar addict inside a bakery

Even though we know: „Too much choice is demotivating and stops consumers from buying“ supply continues to increase.

This actually reminds me of an article I read some years ago in the Economist, and it mentioned among all available choices we end up picking but not choosing.

 

We „pick”, but no longer “choose“

I think many have forgotten how to choose. Some of you might wonder if there is even a difference:

To pick: choose something from a large range of good or bad things

To choose: pick out (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives

Now think: last time you went food shopping, did you PICK or did you CHOOSE your selected items?

 

Are your food choices based on picking something to eat or choosing something to eat?

 

What did you base your decision on?

 

Picking is easy; it is quick. To add, picking doesn’t require lots of brain power, nor willpower. You just pick – more often than not it’s something you have always picked. Sometimes it’s based on marketing or price, availability or mood, cravings or stress.

But choosing:

What is the right choice? Is there a right choice?

Which choice will support my health, fitness, and weight goals?

To make matters worse, choosing

  • requires lots of information (based on item to be chosen).
  • can be difficult and complex, and time consuming.
  • also implies we might regret our choice if it wasn’t THE correct choice.
  • is exhausting.
  • can also include forgoing temptation, especially if the chosen item (based on goal) doesn’t agree with temptation or craving.

So, let me ask you again: do you pick or do you choose?

~

In terms of food choices that relate to health and weight:

  • Is there really ONE correct choice?

There are basic choices. And in terms of food, basic is never wrong.

What is a basic choice?

Basic is

simple

fresh

less processed

boring (for some)

natural

not nicely wrapped

not heavily promoted by advertisement

often not on sale

important for health

a way to  sustain or achieve healthy weight

stable energy

an opportunity to balances cravings

happiness

Basic is………

Don’t pick, rather choose. Choose you. Decide for your health. Choose your goals.

In a world of choices, choose to:

  • not be influenced by variety and availability.
  • acknowledge marketing’s agenda.
  • understand your REAL goal and factors that support or hinder goal achievement.
  • think long term over short term!

More importantly, if you really want to be healthy and fit then choose YOU.

Ignore products, especially new products. Ignore advertisement. Ignore sales.

You are NOT going to miss out!

~

Stick with basic. Stick with what you know. Stick with what supports your health and weight goals and recite for yourself:

What Would I Rather Have?

And ask yourself:

How will trying something new influence my (future) behavior?

Can I control myself – just have one or two or will it throw me off my healthy eating path?

Will giving in to momentary temptation hinder me in reaching my goals?

(And, in terms of my cheese problem: would you have just picked any cheese or chosen a cheese? I chose a cheese!

I didn’t want to pick out any three which I’d end up eating all, over the next couple of days. This wasn’t planned. I didn’t want to have three cheeses which would lead to increased energy intake. Most likely, I would not reduce my food choices elsewhere, hence, my energy intake would have been increased.

Hence, I took my time to choose a cheese – a cheese I hoped to enjoy. Was I happy with my choice?

YES! I ended up selecting a goat cheese – Garrotxa, to be exact, and let’s just say it is divine. A daily treat, no heavy splurge. A treat I enjoy. A treat that gives me satisfaction. A special treat that is in line with my health goals.)

Is this how you make choices?

Resisting (temptation, choices, availability) is easier for some than others.

Do you need to resist. NO- of course not. A healthy life is a balanced life. If, however, you are always pushed of track unable to achieve your goal behavior, unable to make sustainable choice, some resistance might prove to lead to success.

Ultimately, resistance

  • is not about denial or forgoing pleasure!
  • is about ignoring advertisement & abundant choices
  • can come in form of removing oneself successfully by choosing the „less is more“ life
  • ultimately, is a decision to live simply

 

Ignoring new products- living with less

Where do you see advantages to having more or less choices?

Why or why not – what do you really fear?

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For me, less is more. It’s a lifestyle & a personal choice.

I choose to indulge when I CHOOSE to indulge.

I pick based on choices I have previously made, based on choices that support my goals.

As a matter of fact, I know I don’t miss out as I KNOW most unhealthy* food companies don’t have my best interest in mind.

 

(*Unhealthy = everything is fine in moderation and as such isn’t unhealthy but we generally tend to always over-consume which makes it unhealthy. Healthy eating means sometimes we eat more and sometimes we eat less. Listen to your body’s needs and focus on health.)

 

Thank you for reading, sharing, liking, and commenting!

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