Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperHeroTeacher
I'm very careful to not reward or spoil myself with food, of any sort, because for me it perpetuates my unhealthy relationship with food.
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I think there's an important distinction between using food as a reward, and using food you enjoy to do good things for your body and mind. I think spoiling is a poor choice of words, because by it's very nature it implies excess to the point of damage. Pampering, splurges, luxuries... though are concepts I have no problem with.
I too avoid food as rewards. I reward every five pound loss with a bead that represents those pounds. If I regain, I remove the representational beads, so I'm only wearing what I've "earned."
But there are healthy foods I love that are outside my normal budget. Blackberries, even in season, are (what I consider) extremely expensive. I normally allot 20-50 cents per serving of fruit, and blackberries run $2 to $6 per serving. Paying 10 to 30 times more than normal can't really be called anything but a splurge or luxury expense (unless perhaps you have no budget and shop without regard to cost - but that in itself is a luxury).
For me the benefit of food-splurges is the realization that foods that do great things for your body can taste great too, and some expensive food items (regardless of what you consider expensive) are worth the expense for tangible and intangible reasons. It's ok to buy foods because you enjoy them.
For everyday, I'm fine with my 38 cent per pound bananas and my 33 cent Ambrosia and Braeburn apples, but sometimes I want the 80 cent Honeycrisp apple or my $3 summer blackberries (I draw the line at $6 winter blackberries). And it just wouldn't be Summer without my July Ranier Cherries (I do go a bit overboard during cherry month, but I usually lose exceptionally well in July, even if it's in part due to overindulgence and paid for with some digestive discomfort from the extra fiber and fruit sugars.
