Diet & Wisdom Appetizers

It’s happened again. Somewhere between my waking and my sleeping there must have been some sort of shift to the Earth’s axis; Mars and Jupiter are out of synch; the hole in the ozone stretched a little wider or there was an earthquake in eastern China upsetting the space/time continuum … I don’t know and I don’t particularly care.

All I know is I woke up this morning needing chocolate. Even before my feet hit the floor my brain was set to overdrive mentally inventorying my pantry, fridge and freezer desperate for the knowledge that somewhere within the confines of my house lay sustenance to appease my massive craving.

I’ve done a fairly thorough housecleaning with regards to stripping the shelves bare of any and all junk food contraband. Trying to locate anything even remotely chocolate in my house these days is much tougher than it used to be. Luckily for me, I happen to reside with a bunch of cereal killers capable of laying waste to an entire jumbo box of sugary cereal in one fell swoop, so it behooves me to have a secret stash of chocolatey crunchy cereal for just such an emergency. (Remembering where I hid my booty often tends to be a bigger problem as this old girl memory of mine ain’t what she used to be.)

After a series of failures, I finally managed to uncover a treasure trove of chocolately goodness under stacks of cake plates and Corningware bake ware – a place no one ever thinks to look, especially me since I rarely bake during the hot summer months.

My box of Cocoa Puffs presents a real challenge for me as I’m struggling with lactose intolerance. For me to succumb to the seduction of the chocolately puffs puts me in that category of being completely “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs,” because by choosing to eat them I’m subjecting myself to the discomfort that goes with consuming milk.

My love for Cocoa Puffs is actually twofold in the fact that the crunchy breakfast cereal not only satisfies my need for instant chocolate gratification, but the Cocoa Puffs turn the milk chocolatey so I have an extra taste treat once I’ve consumed the cereal.

A week ago I publically bragged that there was no food worth the pain that fills my stomach if I know I’m going to have a reaction to said foods. I stand corrected when it comes to chocolate. It’s a proven scientific fact that the human body (especially the FEMALE human body) must ingest chocolate periodically to maintain normal and healthy brain waves keeping our hormones and sanity triggers perfectly balanced thereby protecting the masses from our psychotic hormonal rage. (I don’t know, it might be true. But whether it’s true for all women or not doesn’t matter, as it’s true for ME!)

There have been reports published recently that consuming small quantities of dark chocolate is in fact good for our hearts. Because it was printed on the internet it MUST true so I’m doing my part to maintain optimal health by eating a measured amount of chocolate monthly. Now I know the reports suggest dark chocolate is preferred over milk chocolate and I’m certain Cocoa Puffs must fall within the parameters of that study because of the color of the puffs, so I’m sure I’m doing my body a service by eating my chocolatey cereal once a month. And I’m definitely getting better because I’m now able to limit miyself to one measured serving without consuming even one puff more than absolutely necessary.

Hey never let it be said that I’m not a health-conscious individual. Me and my Cocoa Puffs - I’m just doing my part for science.

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles. ~Author Unknown

If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you’re eating it too slowly. ~Author Unknown

Chocolate is an antidepressant, which is especially useful as you start to gain weight. ~Jason Love

16 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! Proverbs 25:16 (NLT)

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, I thank you for the invention of all things chocolate. Thank you Lord that I can practice restraint; thank you for healing me in the fact that I can control my flesh and not bow down to my fleshly urges and eat chocolate with limitations. Thank you Lord for working on my behalf; please continue to give me strength. I ask all these things in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.