How to glorify God with a balanced diet

Consistently following a balanced diet can be a big challenge. This is because we are constantly barraged with unhealthy food options left, right, and centre. However, we Christians are called to honor our bodies and treat them as temples of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). One way to glorify God with our bodies is to nourish ourselves with healthy, whole foods.

Once upon a time, I was nonchalant about what went into my body. A balanced diet was one of those things that I never took time to seriously consider and implement. If food looked good and tasted good, I ate as much of it as I wanted. This included refined carbohydrates, fatty animal proteins, processed food, lots of pastries, and carbonated sweet drinks with much sugar. Whenever I saw food, I ate it and sometimes in excessive quantities.

Therefore, I gained weight. I also lacked mental and physical energy. But so what? The freedom to eat whatever I wanted to whenever I wanted to do so felt so good.

The Turning Point

Then came the cancer diagnosis and then a period of deep reflection. Was the cancer purely as a result of my genetics? I wondered. Was it the result of eating all that junk in the past or was it because of inadequate exercise? The truth is, I will never know. At least not on this side of eternity.

What I soon realized, however, was that I needed to do better with what was within my control. My cancer treatment wasn’t a walk in the park; I was determined to avoid that journey again. To start with, in addition to exercising more frequently, I had to start practicing balanced nutrition.

Balanced nutrition? Now, that was going to be a huge challenge. Although I had eaten healthily in the past, I had never been able to sustain it beyond a few months. So, how could I incorporate a balanced diet into my life for the rest of my life?

During my deep reflection, I figured that a very strong motivation was crucial for sustaining healthy habits. In the past, using weight loss and disease prevention as my motivation only took me so far. I realized that the only motivation for lifetime consistency of any healthy habit was to do it for God’s glory.

This motivation seems to have worked because I’ve been able to consistently sustain a balanced diet for over four years now. I will now share some tips on how you can stick to a balanced diet for the long-term. But first, we will discuss what a balanced diet is and why we should adopt it.

What is a Balanced Diet?

The graphics below show balanced diets based on the Canada food guide (left), and the US food guide—MyPlate (right). These food guides are very similar to the common Mediterranean diet.

A balanced diet consists of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and proteins in the proportions shown in the graphics. Although you can have dairy, these guides encourage making water your drink of choice.

Some foods to avoid include heavily processed foods like high sugar beverages and high sodium store-frozen meals. Processed red meats like sausage and bacon, refined grains like white bread, and foods with saturated fat should be avoided.

Why follow a balanced diet?

A balanced diet provides your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and stay healthy. Its health benefits include improved overall health, increased energy, healthy weight management, and improved mental health. Other health benefits are improved cholesterol levels, healthy blood pressure, controlled blood sugar, a strong immune system, and healthy aging. By making healthy and nutritious food choices, you can enjoy these benefits and maintain good health for life.

How to Consistently Follow a Balanced Diet

With the core motivation of glorifying God with your body, here are some tips that may help you sustain a balanced diet:

1. Ask God for help and guidance

Seeking God’s guidance and wisdom concerning your health and well-being is a wise thing to do. Ask Him for wisdom in making the right food choices. Also ask Him for the discipline and strength to resist the temptation to make unhealthy food choices.

2. Plan nutritious meals in advance

By planning your meals ahead, you are more likely to attain your nutrition goals and avoid making impulsive food choices. Spend some time weekly to plan out nutritious meals and snacks. This will help you avoid the temptation of eating fast food or unhealthy snacks at home or on-the-go.

3. Choose whole, nutrient-rich foods

With the food guides discussed above as reference, focus on eating whole, nutrient-rich foods that include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. The nutrients from these foods will help your body function at its best. Avoid choosing processed and packaged foods that are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

4. Control your portion sizes

Eating too much or too little can impact your weight, which can affect your health. Being balanced with your diet is not just about what you eat, but how much you eat. So practice portion control. You can use smaller plates or measuring cups to help you stay on course.

5. Be well hydrated

Staying hydrated helps you feel full and resist the urge to eat unnecessarily. To stay hydrated, it is helpful to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Depending on your climate, you might need to drink more or less than the recommended eight glasses per day. Remember that the water in your tea, soups, and fruits also count towards your hydration.

6. Lean on a friend or a community

An accountability partner or community can be very helpful in helping you to stay consistent with a balanced diet. Consider joining a Bible study group or a fitness class to connect with others who share your goals. Such like-minded people can also encourage you to stay on track.

7. Be thankful—always

Always practice gratitude for the food you’re privileged to eat and the nourishment it provides for your body. Be thankful for God’s provision and the opportunity to care for your body. A healthy body allows you to do the good works God planned in advance for you to do.

In conclusion, being consistent with a balanced diet is a great way to honor God while taking care of ourselves for His purposes. By seeking God’s help, planning our meals, choosing whole, nutrient-rich foods, practicing portion control, staying well hydrated, finding accountability, and being thankful, we can nourish our bodies in a way that glorifies God.

These are some tips that have helped me to consistently maintain a balanced diet for over four years now. I hope they will help you too! Don’t forget to share in the comment section below, some tips that have helped you sustain a balanced diet if you are already on that path. I look forward to hearing from you!

Until we chat again next month, enjoy your life, stay safe, and be healthy!

Yours truly,