Mahal!

Mahal ba? (Is it expensive?) Whenever I get asked what I eat, this is a common follow-up question.

And of course I answer what the price is of whatever it is I get, and often the asker reaffirms his/her underlying assumption - a high-raw lifestyle is just too expensive, too.  Hence, the reason to stay away from it.

But consider this - how often does a person who buys cheap and unhealthy food get sick?

And how did this affect his/her expenses in terms of medicine, pay cuts due to absences and/or a lowered evaluation rating as a result of numerous absences?

It all adds up! And in the end, you did not actually save, methinks.

Health purchases are investments - I don't see immediate returns now - but I do know the dividends will be greater for the long-term.

Steven Covey in 7 Habits talked about minding your production capability (your goose-laying capacity) in addition to your production (your golden egg). If you don't invest in the maintenance of your machine, you will pretty soon have zero output.

When I lived in the States, I observed my health insurance go up every year. I made claims for my bouts with laryngitis (brought about by poor health choices and perhaps the hazards of the job), but in my naivete, still considered myself pretty healthy. I knew friends and acquaintances in Washington who did not report getting sick, just so that their premiums remained unchanged, but their food choices just kept them dependent on over-the-counter drugs.  I was also shocked at how often my friends'/clients' kids got sick - of course I have no statistics to compare this with the frequency of illnesses from when I was still in the Philippines, but I thought that the occurrences were a bit much.  And let's not even talk about their allergies! They would put my list to shame!

Is the perceived expense what's keeping you from choosing healthier food? Or something else?

PS Another translation for mahal in Tagalog is love. In Ivrit (Hebrew) it is blessing. So yes, my food is mahal (love and a blessing).

Happy Valentine's Day :)

PPS Would you like to strike a balance between your production/production capability? Or are you doing this already? What steps have you taken? Let's talk on Kontactr! (If you've tried contacting me on the wordpress site, sorry, I am unable to respond there. Weird password issues. Try Kontactr again. Thanks!)

PPPS Are you interested in taking a food prep class for beginners? 

Mahal!