“I love my Cheat Days. I can eat six doughnuts and not feel guilty.”
When I asked the patient who said this what she meant by “cheat days,” and who was cheating who, she explained that it was the one day of the week she could break her restricted diet and eat whatever she wanted. It was a guilt free day of total indulgence that was kind of a free pass.
Understanding food guilt and shame, I was worried that having “cheat days” wouldn’t build the type of freedom my client was actually looking for in relationship to food.
I certainly know all of the “right” things to eat and yet, sometimes, I eat the “wrong” things. Even talking this way builds up a sense of shame which is why I think it's vital that our culture moves away from “moral” eating: right vs wrong, cheating vs restriction, good vs bad.
I pose a new alternative to the "cheat day." I am advocating for Cherish Days.
What is a Cherish Day?
Cherish means that we protect or care for someone, something, or ourselves in a loving manner. Replacing Cheat Days with Cherish days means we bring the loving intention along with us when we include something that doesn’t normally fit in our diet. Instead of saying “I can eat six doughnuts and not feel guilty,” try inteniontally eating and fully enjoying a delicious donut on a beautiful plate with a cup of tea or coffee with your favorite people. Or all by yourself. Make it an act of love, not cheating.
And you don’t have to stop with food!
A Cherish Day can be a day where you intentionally act lovingly or kindly towards yourself in any area of life you restrict the most: food, time, relationships, or fun.
Try giving or receiving a hug, enjoying five minutes of quiet, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face or not picking up the phone.
As we cherish ourselves and commit to cherishing acts, we nourish and celebrate our truest selves. We can breathe love and beauty into our soul.
For the next month, replace your cheat day with a cherish day and let me know what happens.
About The Author
Lynda Sherland, APRN, FNP is a Family Nurse Practitioner practicing at Integrative Family Medicine in San Antonio, TX. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Integrative Medicine Fellowship Program created by Dr. Andrew Weil.
Lynda is a primary care practitioner who provides integrative medicine consultation. Her mission is to create a safe space for healing. Her passion is food as medicine. She also speaks in the community and offers cooking classes that emphasize preparing delicious, nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory meals for people seeking the freedom to live their best life. Read More →