Everything in moderation…including moderation

Contributed by: Angela Coon

There's a saying in Chinese Medicine: Everything in moderation, including moderation.

I’ve always loved this saying as it leaves room for interpretation. What is moderation? Well, the avoidance of extremes or excess. But it’s all relative.

Even with nutritious food we can overdo it. Ever eat a huge bowl of blueberries and regretted it? Or something so garlicky you could taste it for days? These very healthy anti-inflammatory foods can wreak havoc on our digestion when eaten in excess. Food is medicine and like all medicine, it serves us best when taken in the right amount at the right time.

It’s important to take this into consideration on the 21-day Program. When we say “Eat as many vegetables as you want” we do truly encourage this yet need to emphasize variety. If you love sweet potatoes, great, but consuming a giant bowl of mashed sweets with every meal could impact blood sugar leaving you with cravings or even weight gain. The same goes for bananas. If you love kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbages, remember, they are sulphuric and can be hard to digest. Lentils and rice are delicious but not all of us can manage their high fiber content when eaten in large quantities. We are, after all, uniquely different.

Everything in moderation including moderation applies to healthy fats, roasted seeds, green tea, and protein. These food groups contain many constituents that support balancing blood sugar, immunity, and brain and muscle strength. But in excess, we may end up bloated, constipated, jittery, or with an overly acidic gut.

Smooth digestion, restful sleep, and regular exercise are the pillars of good health.

Our awareness of food thresholds helps us achieve more balance. This, in return, supports better sleep, digestion, and energy, all of which can lead to making consistent choices.

Not that we need to live by some Golden Rule. If you want to eat the cake, eat the cake (but not while on the cleanse!). Just not the whole cake. Or a whole bowl of grapes. Or an entire bag of pumpkin seeds.

How does focusing on this help you find the balance you are looking for on Day 22 and beyond? What are the areas where moderation can be more challenging?

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cherries (or other fruit)

• 1/2 cup quinoa uncooked

• 1 cup coconut milk

• 1/3 cup water

Directions:

1. Rinse the quinoa and allow to drain. Set aside.

2. Place the cherries in a medium saucepan and cook over a high heat until the cherries have completely thawed and a syrup starts to form, stirring often (for about 5 minutes). You may need to add some water if using fresh cherries or fresh fruit.

3. Add the quinoa, coconut milk and water, stir thoroughly, cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a low simmer and cook for 35-40 minutes, until the quinoa has softened and thickened, stirring every few minutes (ensure the mixture doesn't stick to the pan). If the mixture starts to bubble up too much open the lid a little.

4. Serve hot or cold with toasted seeds, coconut shreds, fresh fruit or simply on its own. The pudding will thicken as it stands (you can add a bit more coconut milk or water if you prefer it thinner).

2 servings Adapted from everydayhealthyrecipes.com