We all know we should eat more leafy green vegetables, cut down on sugar, get more fiber, and drink more water. But is this really the only way to achieve optimal health with nutrition?  It is possible to eat  as if one is a walking nutrition textbook, but terribly isolating and difficult to maintain. Do we really want to be the only one on a diet in the office when the donuts are offered? Do we want our child to be only one at the birthday party who can’t eat a piece of cake? Of course not.

I believe there are times when we must consider feeding our spirit as well as our bodies. While proper nutrition is the foundation of good health and can be a key to overcoming many chronic conditions, there are also times when the whole person — mind, body and spirit — is best served by simply joining in the fun. There are times when we need to feed the soul and not just the body. Eating an ice cream cone on a hot summer day, sharing a pizza with friends, or toasting a special occasion with a glass of champagne can add to the joys of life and are experiences we should not deny ourselves.

The key to good health, I believe, is in determining how often a given meal or snack is a special occasion. Clearly our health will suffer if every day is donut day. Eating out at restaurants can be a challenge to our waistlines if we treat every meal as a celebration feast. But we can serve ourselves a heap of good health if we stop to think about whether this is truly a party, or is it a meal where I should be feeding my body the very best it deserves. Most of the time, most days, let’s increase the veggies, drink more water, get some fiber and reduce our sugar intake. Once in awhile, though, by all means, have some pizza. And please, savor each and every bite with gusto!

Christina Rutheiser, CNHP, Holistic Nutrition Consultant for Integrative Health Centers