Smorgasbord

In this day and age, everyone has become so very health conscious. Many people now lean toward organic foods, low sodium diets or check the labels to ensure low levels of trans fats. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to do as much for our neshamas?

If we have the will-power to say no to the double fudge sundae or the side order of fries, why do we have so much difficulty turning off the television or refusing to buy entertainment magazines? Just as the sundae is full of empty calories, the TV and magazines are devoid of anything conducive to spiritual enhancement. There are so many interesting classes out there to nourish our souls. If one is unable to attend live lessons, the internet provides hours of lectures free of charge.

In a moment of weakness, choosing a puff pastry may provide a short term sugar high, but a whole wheat carrot muffin with raisins is both healthy for the body as well as tasty. Using the same analogy, while going to the latest flick at the box office may provide a few laughs for a couple of hours, reading a good book written by a reputable Rabbi or Torah Scholar will provide a lifetime of satisfaction… and then some.  Sure broccoli and brown rice take some getting used to, but once you’ve eaten them a few times, it’s difficult to go back to the old choices.

Deciding to be kosher is an enormous step and will drastically reduce the options at the big table, making our lives so much less complicated. Hashem lays out a multitude of alternatives for us, a spread so beautiful and enticing, it sometimes takes a lot of courage to refuse the most seemingly appetizing but harmful selections. A little trust in Hashem and a lot of emuna is all it takes to realize that we can just close our eyes to the forbidden temptations.

But we are all human after all. If we happen to stumble and mistakenly partake of a forbidden food, a rare moment when we succumb to the desire of the pecan pie, fear not. It will take some effort and sincerity, but a little hard work goes along way on the scales, both physically and spiritually. Just as we can exercise away the unwanted calories and decide to never eat a slice of that pie again, we can do teshuvah and ask Hashem for forgiveness.

Sometimes though, it is preferable to consult with the Maitre D’(Rabbi) to inquire which entree and side dishes are low-cal and gluten-free. This is actually the favored method of filling ones’ plate since he has the most knowledge and can surely advise appropriately. Then we can fearlessly fill our plate to our heart’s content and even go back for seconds, thirds and extra dessert. To show your appreciation for the indescribable feast, a compliment to the Chef would certainly be in order.

Do you remember being a child and your mother telling you to finish the meat and vegetables she served you? If you were like most kids, you really just wanted to eat up quickly so you could get to the treat for dessert. Our Father up above, who loves us as a parent loves a child, wants nothing more than for us to choose a healthy diet, a rich medley of Torah and Mitzvot. Like a parent, He understands that if we choose from the platter of goodness, we will be rewarded with the most glorious dessert of blessings in return.

The sages have taught us that all beginnings are difficult.  In the smorgasbord of life, you will find there are many ups and downs and especially when you start making healthy choices. Don’t let the difficulties deter you since they will undoubtedly be followed by successes.  A word of caution though, as with those who begin ingesting a diet rich in fiber and especially bran; take it slow, since too much too soon can put one off of bran completely!