Eating right - stop shoulding on yourself and just do it

September 3, 2022

I’m headed home from a week in the Midwest. I was out of town for a summit - part training part networking - event. We all know what we “should” be eating but doing it every meal, every day, no matter what can be a little difficult. So I’m not going to nag you or lecture you about the foods you should and should not be eating. I don’t like should-ing on myself any more than you do!

I used to eat a lot of trash while working long days: gas station food, candy, chips, soda, so much coffee. Then I’d feel the need to punish and deprive myself later. It’s hard to find healthy options while eating out away from home. I made a rule last year that I would never eat food from the gas station again. If it means finding that one WaWa in Delaware that doesn’t have gas pumps, so be it. But it’s my rule. I know that I have to prepare a cooler when I go on road trips. That’s my rule!

ADDING things is another little trick I keep in my back pocket when I have less control over my day! If I know I’m going to be out of town and eating restaurant food more than I’d like, I find little treats for my stomach - Kombucha, local kimchi, or a side salad at the restaurant first. And I always remind myself that consistency is what matters - the fact that I eat healthfully over the long haul is more important than shaming myself for having that basket of tortilla chips with Mexican dinner.

In the Burnout Protocol, my mini-course for responders, I have a whole unit dedicated to what goes in your mouth, including eating and drinking to fuel your body.

Next week, I’ll talk about alcohol and caffeine, and how it screws with people on shift work, swing shifts, and long call periods. See you then!