How Do You Reward Yourself?

[Wandering Hermit]

Well, I know that getting healthy should be reward enough.

And yes, I know that this going gluten-free is NOT an excuse to overindulge in things that are bad for you. I have the self-control to prevent that from happening.

That being said, however...

I'll be damned if I will sit back and give up beer, bread, and other previous goodies that I LOVED without getting something nice in return!

So I treat myself occasionally. Good chocolate. Good cheese. Good coffee. Good wine. I love to eat, and I WILL make up for my sacrifices. The way I see it, it is part of keeping my sanity through this life-change. All in moderation, of course.

[tarnalberry]

I don't reward myself for the diet in particular - it's not like I'm eating anything worse, and after two years, I sort of lost my "addictions" to gluten-full foods - but if I'm feeling like a food treat, I generally go for fresh mangos or dark chocolate. (I always treat myself to a having a wide selection of good teas! ;-) Some women have dozens of shoes, I have dozens of teas. 34 varieties at the moment.)

[Wandering Hermit]

Ah yes, mangoes. Hard to find good ones in the US!!!

When we were in Bangkok we ate "Mangoes and Sticky Rice" every day! The rice is soaked in coconut milk and palm sugar. OMG it is SO good. I make it at home when I can get good mangoes.

[ianm]

Being healthy is my reward most of the time. Since I finally know what it is like to be healthy I embrace each day like the gift from God that it truly is.

But every once in a while a nice glass of merlot and a good steak is like icing on the cake.

[KaitiUSA]

Being healthy is reward enough for me. Not being sick and feeling like crap everyday is reward enough. I have become a better person throughout this experience and do not take my health forgranted because it can be gone just like that.

I sometimes treat myself to a starbucks and when I know I am going out places I will go get a candy bar and put one in my pocketbook...that keeps me happy

[pixiegirl]

Wandering Hermit... do you have a receipe for the sticky rice it sounds good.

I don't reward myself for my diet because I'm so much more healthy then I was before but I am one that when I feel down, I go shopping. I have a huge walk in closet stuffed and over 100 pair of shoes.... (very silly I know...)

Susan

[mela14]

"Coach" seems to work wonders for me! I just got 3 new bags and a beautiful wallet for my birthday 2 weeks ago! I picked them all out myself!

I just put in new shoe shelving in my closet....so there's a home for my new shoes!

Starbucks espresso always does the trick for a quick inexpensive pick me up!

but the best reward is a day when I actually feel OK to go out and do things with my nephews, family and friends. It makes me feel like the old me.

Now if I could just turn back the hands of time!

[Wandering Hermit]

Wandering Hermit... do you have a receipe for the sticky rice it sounds good.

I don't reward myself for my diet because I'm so much more healthy then I was before but I am one that when I feel down, I go shopping. I have a huge walk in closet stuffed and over 100 pair of shoes.... (very silly I know...)

Susan

Palm sugar you can get at an Asian market. It is very tasty.

I have found you can stray from the specifics of the recipe and still make a pretty good dish.

It sounds bad but glutinous rice is gluten-free.

If you google "mango sticky rice" you will find many recipes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

INGREDIENTS

2 cups glutinous or sticky rice

1 cup reduced-fat coconut milk

1/4 cup palm sugar

1 cup peeled, pitted, and diced fresh mango

Fresh mint leaves and sesame seeds to garnish (not necessary!)

INSTRUCTIONS

Put rice in a sieve and wash under cold water until the draining water looks clear. Place rice in a glass or plastic bowl, cover with cold water, and allow to soak in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours. Drain the rice, and steam in a steamer, rice cooker, or pot with a rack and lid for approximately 40 minutes or until tender. Put cooked rice in a large bowl, cover, and set aside. Pour coconut milk into a small pot and heat. While milk is heating, slowly stir in sugar. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly. Slowly pour milk over rice, fluffing rice with a fork while pouring. Cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Place a mound of rice on 4 serving plates and arrange mango around rice.

[Guest gfinnebraska]

Yes, I agree with all of the above that being healthy is a reward in itself... BUT, the shoes and coach purses sound good too!! I must admit an addiciton to shoes!

I, too, also love my Coach purse. I also love to dress well ~ when I feel well ~ and Talbots does that for me!! Hmmm... I guess when food doesn't "do it" for you anymore, you find other ways to make yourself feel special!!

[Wandering Hermit]

I find there is great psychological merit in 'rewarding' yourself when you have to give up something you like, at least initially.

I quit smoking 14 years ago, and it was one of the most difficult 'sacrifices' I ever made - I did it while in the middle of getting my Ph.D. in physics, which was stressful enough as it was. If I did not reward myself by spending that cigarette money on little gifts for myself, I doubt I would have made it.

I don't 'reward myself' for the nonsmoking anymore, as it is ingrained in my lifestyle now. Eventually, being gluten-free will be the same, I am sure.

[kabowman]

My reward is the good food I eat/drink even when we are pinching pennies everywhere else. The kids can't buy chips unless they are on sale, I get OJ whenever I want to, I get the good chips, I only eat the best meats (the cheap ones make me sick so the rest of the family gets those), etc. and everyone understands - most of the time.

[tarnalberry]

WH, good point! I rewarded myself more with gluten-free treats when I was first starting, but after two years... Meh. Though I think the rewards still usually involved tea or chocolate. :-)

[mela14]

I too gave up smoking about 5 months ago..........just when I found out about the gluten issue. I just wanted all the toxins out of my body! I remember having a cigarette late one night and saying to myslef and my hubby......"I'm not smoking this crapy anymore!" And that was it........I stopped cold turkey. My hubby couldn ot believe it and was even afraid to bring it up thinking......he might remind me to smoke so we never dsicussed it until recently.

anyway, the reward is my lungs are healthier............

now,to work on the rest of my body!

[stef-the-kicking-cuty]

I admit it: I'm a reward JUNKIE.

This has nothing to do with being celiac however. I also did it before. When I had a good and successfull workout for example. Then I never went home without a good treat. Icecream, chocolate or whatever.

And this stayed until today. At the moment I fill myself up with hot blueberry pie and vanilla icecream. Hmmm! But apple pie and vanilla ice would be even better. But the absolute no. 1 for me this summer is hot fudge sundaes at MickeyD's. Wehee!

So, now you guys know... .

[plantime]

Banana Splits at Sonic is my indulgence. I just wish they had the junior size ones all the time! I don't eat very many of them, just like once every other month, that way it stays a treat!

[jenvan]

I dig rewards, I have many things I would consider such... However, the latest one is putting on my pjs, laying on the couch (having it all to myself--no husband , watching Alias, and eating one or a combination of many things--sherbert, vanilla/caramel sundae, wild oats mini gluten-free choc chip cookies, midel arrowroot cookies, reeces pieces....

[Guest BERNESES]

I would have to say chocolate and purses and flip-flops. I have a purse problem and a flip flop fetish!

[SharonF]

I don't know if it's a reward, but my gluten-free indulgence is getting kinnickkinnick donuts and having them once a week or so. Too expensive to have any more often than that, but it's nice to know that I can have a donut once in a while, too!

[tonyevans]

To me, a reward implies an acheivement and in this context it also implies that maintaining a gluten free diet requires a rewardable effort.

I choose to consider a gluten free diet as normal for me and in maintaining that diet there is no acheivement and hence no reward required. For me it makes sense and makes it easier if I just consider a gluten free diet as not extraordinary, just the norm.

Perhaps my wife needs the reward for eating a gluten inclusive diet?

just my$0.02

Tony Evans

New Zealand