Family fun routs healthy eating (on Sundays only)

by Lisa Plorin

My family loves NFL football! During the season we like to get together on Sunday afternoons and cheer on our favorite teams.

Some folks like to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday by donning their team’s jersey, loading their plates with chicken wings, nachos, chips and dip, and park themselves in front of the big screen. In our family, every football Sunday is treated as Super Bowl Sunday because junk food is on the menu that day.

After over indulging on high calorie goodies and watching that Minnesota Viking win (I’m the only one in my family who roots for them), we end the day with heartburn and belly aches. When the Monday morning alarm goes off, my body can feel pretty lousy, both physically and mentally.

When I think about what I put into my body, I wonder what God is thinking. God’s given me this body and this life to make a difference in the lives of others.

On these Sunday afternoons, I don’t do a very good job of taking care of “my temple” (1 Corinthians 6:19). But I’ve learned not to beat myself up for it. I don’t think anyone should.

[bctt tweet=”The better our health is, the more we’ll be able to finish the work God has asked us to do.”]

I just think we should try to fill in the blanks between our eating and our physical and mental state. There is a connection. We all have a purpose in this life: It is to be a blessing to others. The better our health is, the more we’ll be able to finish the work God has asked us to do.

Healthy eating plays a major part in our overall health and wellbeing.

You’ve heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” We need to eat well so that we can be a blessing to others and serve our Lord with energy and enthusiasm – so that God can be glorified.

As of this writing, there are 59 days, 6 hours, 41 minutes, and 56 seconds until the National Football League season begins. I’ll be there in front of the TV wearing my #5 Teddy Bridgewater jersey, with a plate of goodies, screaming at the players and referees.

And when Monday morning rolls in, I’ll be back on track with a healthy breakfast and a good workout so that I can honestly say, “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Lisa Plorin is a first-term Women of the ELCA executive board member from Upham, N.D.

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Photo of Lisa and her Green Bay Packer-fan husband, Steve.