Keeping it Fresh

A prime example of habituation is with food, as illustrated (literally, lol) in the children's book (that I adore), Bread and Jam for Frances. Or, in my case, with bacon cheddar cheese, which I was buying routinely for my teenage daughter who couldn't get enough of it until...she had too much of it. Now she's moved on to pub cheese (another Trader Joe's item).

This is one reason (health is another) that I don't indulge in certain foods on a daily basis. Having them only on the weekends or or on special occasions makes them more enjoyable, although we have been known to eat Thanksgiving dinner (which is also Christmas dinner) in March.

Another way to avoid habituation is (as the author suggests) to slow down and savor the moment. Perhaps eating and drinking for the glory of God (as Scripture tells us to) means sitting down, chewing a while before swallowing, so we actually taste and see...that the Lord is good, as are the ordinary pleasures he serves us. In so doing, we are enjoying and glorifying him forever, which is chief end of man.

It's also the way to eat, drink, and be merry, which King Solomon says is our purpose in the book of Ecclesiastes, which could be thought of as the handbook of habituation, what with it's anguished sigh of "Is there anything new under the sun? Meaningless, everything is meaningless..."

Pictured: My 14 yr-old's Saturday brunch she made herself - she, so far, hasn't tired of these foods...but maybe that's because she takes her time and is gratified by the work of her hands. She is my all American meat & potatoes girl 😊