Most people who know me well know that I love ice cream. It has been my favorite comfort food since early childhood, when the Good Humor truck came around daily and a local luncheonette sold double cones for US$0.25. But a new friend was shocked to learn that I routinely keep about six 2-liter cartons of ice cream in my freezer.
They are not all for me. A few are flavors favored by my twin grandsons, who spend two afternoons a week at my house. Still, quite a few have my name on them, and I don't hesitate to indulge almost nightly.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
You see, despite my well-known interest in healthful eating, I don't believe in deprivation. I learned long ago, when I struggled unsuccessfully for more than a year to lose 16kg, that deprivation feeds desire and can lead to overindulgence at the first opportunity.
And so I adopted a philosophy that I call controlled indulgence. In the two years it took me to return to a reasonable weight for my 1.5m frame, I allowed myself one small treat each day - perhaps two cookies, a thin slice of cake or pie or a few tablespoons of ice cream. The strategy worked, and I continued to use it in the decades of weight maintenance that followed.
For as long as my twin sons lived at home, rather than buy commercial cakes and cookies, I baked quick breads and muffins that were relatively low in sugar and fat and loaded with healthful ingredients like whole wheat flour, bran, wheat germ, fruits and vegetables. They served as the family's desserts and between-meal snacks. I took some to work with me every day to enjoy when the coffee cart appeared midafternoon.
But back to the ice cream in the freezer. My approach starts with smart selection. I read the nutrition label; the only ice cream I buy provides a maximum of 150 calories a serving, and usually less, 100 to 130. Most are the slow-churned reduced-fat flavors, and some are frozen yogurt. But none are fat free or sugar free, which to me tastes ersatz.
Equally important, of course, is how much to eat at any one time. One serving. Do you know what a serving of ice cream is? It is 0.11 liters. I measure out my daily indulgence. And I made a rule for myself. If I start eating more than a serving, all the ice cream has to go. Because I would rather have it around when I want it, I stick to the half cup.
Some people I know say they could never do that. If the ice cream was in the house, they would eat far too much of it. They say they are safer buying a cone when an irresistible urge strikes. But I resent spending US$2.50 for a cone when I can buy a 2-liter tub for US$2.99.
Ice cream is not my only passion.
Chocolate, that is, dark chocolate, runs a close second. There was a time when a box of chocolates could sit in my house for months and I would never eat even one piece. Those days, it seems, are gone forever. I blame menopause for my current cravings for chocolate. And I keep quite a lot of it around, especially chocolate-covered almonds and Trader Joe's minipretzels smothered in dark chocolate. Again, the house rule is portion control. Four almonds or two pretzels a day or out they go.
STRATEGIC RATIONING
Having heard too many stories about children whose parents forbid them to have any treats who then sneak and hoard the forbidden fruit at every opportunity, I chose a different approach with my sons. Nothing was forbidden, but some foods were just not readily available.
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