It took me almost 2 years to look at my food differently.
Before I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes two years ago, popcorn and bubble tea were my soul mates; noodle and dumplings were my go-to meals; chocolate and cheesecake..... Who would say no to these yummy desserts?! Not to mention all those traditional festivity foods and snacks from Taiwan — pineapple cake, sticky rice wrap, moon cake, pastries.... You name it, I love them all! Moreover, even though I was not a fan of fast food chains, I would enjoy KFC fried chicken once a while. Everything on my plate was all about taste. I was not a picky eater (and still am not) so I could eat almost anything as long as it had the right taste to my taste buds. I didn't care the nutrition facts of my food at all…UNTIL I got my blood test results back and the verdict was in.
Since then, I have been choosing my food carefully, more conscious about what I put on my plate. I've learned how to read the food labels, to google nutritional facts for certain foods, and to consult with nutritionists and jot down whatever I put into my mouth. It has NEVER been an easy journey, but it’s certainly a journey worth continuing.
This past Sunday, I was at a social gathering at MSU’s Brody Hall. For those of you who are familiar with Brody, you know how many food choices you can get from this buffet-style cafeteria. Interestingly, when I looked at those supposedly yummy choices, such as waffles with berry syrup, made-to-order omelets, roasted chicken, hand-rolled sushi, beyond-meat burgers, the salad bar, tacos and burritos, spaghetti and pasta, pizza, chips, soda, coffee, tea, ice cream, cakes, cookies.... I was actually seeing proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, added sugars, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, minerals, vitamins, additives, MSG, GMOs and processed foods.
I was quite stunned by this revelation! I realized that by seeing foods this way, I know exactly what I should put on my plate.