Birthdays should be guilt free.

Today is my birthday, and I am 54. I am a Sagittarius, and according to myth, I should be impulsive and fiery. I guess that is pretty much a fact.

I fully intend to have my cake and I will eat it, too!!

When we restrict our ability to eat the foods we love it leads to feelings of deprivation. Deprive ourselves of foods we love and we tend to obsess over them more than ever. Break the cravings and stop denying yourself the foods you want. The key is some sense of portion control. Don’t go crazy, but instead eat a small portion.

Foods are meant for nourishment and not guilt. Enjoy and gain pleasure from your foods and avoid the negativity of guilt. It is okay to enjoy your food and dinner time. This may include desserts like birthday cake and ice cream. Eat slowly and enjoy the food. Listen to your body and stop eating. Time will allow satiety to develop and help you avoid overeating. They give us all sorts of information that helps our weight to be stable.

The bottom line: Life is too short to be consumed by guilt with every morsel of food we eat. Enjoy your meals and eat slowly. This consumption can include the foods and desserts you may eat on your birthday. You can have your cake and eat it too. Savor it and enjoy it, but be mindful of how much you are consuming!