I apologize for my little break
in blogging. It has been a busy summer! My middle school was on break from July 23 to
August 22. However, per my contract, I
only get 8 days off, so I worked a couple of days in my classroom and taught at
an English summer camp at a local elementary school. But, my summer break wasn’t all work. During that time I managed to spend a week in
Vietnam and get my SCUBA certification in Korea. Not bad for one month!
The summer camp started after
Vietnam, and I was feeling the need to get back on track after that trip. I did what most of us do on vacation…enjoyed
all the delicious new food! Rather than
beat myself up about splurging, I was determined to get back on track with
eating healthy. I thought that would be
easy at summer camp because I was in charge of my own lunches. What I did not anticipate was all the yummy
snacks we would be given at snack time.
 |
| The snacks I didn't eat. Patiently waiting to be eaten another day! |
I’m only about six months into
being in Korea, so many things are still new.
When I see a new food or snack I haven’t tried, I just can’t help
myself. I want to experience it! And, unfortunately, snack time wasn’t about
healthy snacks – more like baked goods from a popular bakery. To make matters worse, we taught two sessions
each day, so there were two snacks handed to me. My strategy…eat the snack in the morning and
take the afternoon snack home for another day.
Since baked goods will go bad, I froze them to make them last. I even got smart after the first week and halved
some of them for portion control.
The other benefit of this method
is better control when craving something sweet.
Sharing food is very popular in Korean culture, so portions are pretty
big. This isn’t a problem for Koreans
because another part of their culture is to do things together. It’s rare for a Korean to go out to dinner or
even to a coffee shop alone. However,
the big portions present a problem for me when I’m by myself and craving
something sweet. On more than one occasion,
I’ve overindulged when the craving hit.
Now, when I’m craving a sweet baked good, I have portion control in my
freezer. I just need a little patience
to let it thaw. J
Overall, Korea is an eating
culture. I am constantly amazed by the
amount of foods Koreans eat at any time of day (and…they are so tiny…how is
that possible!?!?!?!). I am so thankful
for all of the strategies I’ve learned in the past several years. Without those strategies, I really would be
in “big” trouble (pun intended).
Then and Now
When I look back to the past,
I’m surprised by what I see.
Wow…those eating habits,
Truly weren’t good for me.
I didn’t know any better,
What was good and what was bad.
So I had some extra weight,
And that made me really sad.
But knowledge is power,
Or so that’s what they say.
I embraced new ways and habits,
And changed the amount I weigh.
And even more than the number
I feel so healthy and alive!
Mindful eating, mindful habits
Have helped me truly thrive.
So I continue on my journey
Facing all the highs and lows.
But I’m a stronger person for it
Of that I truly know!
