Everyone knows that “healthy” foods are better and a key part of any weight loss plan.  Can junk foods, rich desserts, or high calorie foods be part of a healthy diet?  For many years I thought just one bite of dessert would lead to an uncontrollable binge.  I found nutritious substitutes that tasted like my favorite treats.  Eating these wholesome fakes did nothing to fix my warped desire for excess food.

Ecclesiastes 9:7 is, “So go ahead.  Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!” (Holy Bible,New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007)  I had misunderstood the concept of “eating your food with joy”.  My definition of eating with joy was consuming as much food as I could.  I did not really taste or enjoy what I ate.  Instead, I had this uncontrollable desire to continue stuffing food into my body, even when my stomach protested.  It was not only sweets, but also fast foods that triggered this reaction for me.  I tried eliminating”trigger” or “binge” foods for about 6 years.  It was hard to pass up food I really wanted to enjoy, since heart was in love with food.

I was gaining back weight I had lost.  I cried out to God in desperation.  He showed me I could once again enjoy my favorite foods in moderation.  This has been a process, mostly because I had difficulty fully surrendering to God’s will.  I had to learn how to taste and enjoy everything I ate.  God has taught me to “eat with joy” and freed me from overeating.