When I was young, I read an article by my father, which said the more you eat fruits and vegetables, the more fat you can get from them without counting it against your daily quota. A few years ago I started to read up on that correlation again, and it occurred to me that since I was so determined to be healthy, I would have to cheat. So, once or twice a week, when I remember that I needed something to eat that didn’t contain sugar, flour, or other suspect additives, I might look at the sticker of a fruit or vegetable I’ve never had before to see if it’s loaded with sugar or has some ingredient that I know will make my blood sugar spike.
It has been a balancing act for me. I don’t want to eat fruit or vegetables when I’m hungry. And I’m not foolish enough to eat fruit or vegetables when I don’t feel like eating them. Maybe I feel that I shouldn’t have the sticker, because I don’t want to spend all day wondering if I’m eating enough fruit or vegetables. And really, what fruit or vegetable is perfect for me? The pineapple is super sweet; the cantaloupe has a ton of fiber; and the pineapple, cantaloupe, and rhubarb have a lot of fruit inside, and hence, a lot of fiber.
Fortunately, lots of people swear by the practice, and even though I get a few munchies, I still don’t hesitate to turn to the sticker. Maybe it’s just not eating what is on the sticker, but looking at them has reminded me to make a more balanced meal, which in turn has meant more lean, tasty and nutritious options.