Everybody's Grandma

An old woman who I called 'Grandma' once told me this: "Kelley, no matter what, everybody has to have something to eat".  Simple, concise, a true-ism....words I've never forgotten.  'Grandma' had raised several children as a single parent when that type of lifestyle was not the norm.  Not only did she feed her family, but she made sure everyone who came to her door also had something to eat.  I think of her often and with love.

From time to time, after having a wonderful meal at a fab restaurant, I'd have my 'doggie bag' on my lap, sitting on the train - already looking forward to the leftovers.  And from time to time, I'd encounter a 'homeless' person passing through the car, looking for some change, and telling some story of how they arrived at their predicament in life.  I've always offered my leftover meal, told them what it was and how good it was; it was always accepted with gratitude and a 'God bless you'.  Grandma's words would just shout out in my mind....everybody has to have something to eat--simple, nothing more, nothing less.

Nutrition is a strange bird...some of us have been on 'diets' our entire lives; always struggling with that extra 5, 10, 15 pounds of too much of whatever it is that we indulge in.  Other people deliberately starve themselves or purge after gorging themselves, so they can see every bone in their body.  We have choices to eat or not eat...unlike many humans who strive everyday to get a bowl of rice into their bellies.

Nutrition is fuel; we need to eat so that our bodies can produce proteins, fats, hormones, strong bones and brain cells, red and white blood cells; we need to maintain homeostasis.  When we do not feed ourselves properly (whether this be from overeating or starving), we become infertile, our brain cells die, our bones become brittle, our vital organs fail, we look far older than we are, we become ill, we die.

We are an accident of birth - we are lucky to have a roof over our heads, think about what we'd LIKE to eat for dinner, whether we should go to the gym or go get that cake from the bakery.  Take advantage of your good luck today, eat well, honor your body and share your good fortune with someone who has none.  Keep two pieces of fruit in your gym bag.  After your workout, eat a piece of fruit and if you see someone who has nothing, offer them that second piece of fruit.  You'll do something healthy for yourself, and for someone else who really needs it!

'Grandma' wasn't my grandmother, she was everyone's grandma.