Avoid Being Lured into a Marketing Net

A preacher once compared fish being lured by enticing fishhooks to humans being ensnared by the temptations of this world. Fishhooks can look very enticing to fish, but they are also dangerous.

Now being a nutritionist, I view everything through a nutritional lens. I immediately thought, hmmm, how true. Another similarity between nutrition and spirituality.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16 (KJV)

How many times have we innocently strolled along the grocery aisles or the local mall when we suddenly get a whiff of cinnamon, coffee, or popcorn and start salivating? Or walk past the Food Court and a McDonald’s calls our name? (Eating at a restaurant is not wrong. However, as we attempt to become healthier, we cannot allow food to control us, then we have a problem.)

As we focus on finding that perfect pair of jeans, we can’t get the thought of those cinnamon pretzel sticks out of our minds, no matter how hard we try! Now we notice that every corner has an Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, or Wetzel’s Pretzels. Temptation begins to lure us in through its cinnamon, buttery aroma, and a feast for the eyes as we observe others pulling apart its flakey bounty.

“Look at that delicious item over there! It smells so GOOD!” That’s all it takes, and we’re hooked! Losing control, we feel like failures and Satan gleefully dances while we suffer.

Why is it that as determined as we are to eat healthily, we notice tempting food choices abounding everywhere?! Satan wishes to destroy our bodily temple with unhealthy fats, preservatives and chemicals. He can’t read our minds but he sure is attuned to our human nature. He’s deduced what our weak links have been. It takes Herculean power to resist his hook baited with temptation, but it sure feels even better when we do!

Marketing departments know what it takes to lure us in too.  As the world becomes more globally secular through the internet, television shows, musical jingles, food commercials, etc. It’s easy even for a strong Christian to be side-tracked nowadays with the many lures of those enticing worldly advertisements.

So how do we resist the fishhook of temptation? It’s extremely tough, so we must be prepared. God wants us healthy!

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Logically, when it comes to food, think ahead to challenges. You already know as you shop for gifts, there are plenty of stumbling blocks at the mall. Don’t allow yourself to be lured into failure – be prepared:

1. Don’t go hungry. Duh, right?
2. Love cinnamon? Have it on your yogurt, in your coffee, or on your whole-wheat toast before you go. Your hypothalamus, (the little traffic cop in your brain which controls nutrient pathways) will disperse desire for that particular substance.
3. Bring a snack with you, such as homemade granola, peanut butter on whole-grain crackers, a peppermint, grapes, a banana or an apple.
4. Shop with a disciplined friend who isn’t a “yes ‘man” when it comes to being tempted and will keep you in control.
5. At home, mute commercials, play solitaire, or talk to your spouse, children or friend.
6. Reward yourself with something you want more than food when you overcome temptation! Perhaps a scarf, book, CD, earrings, a manicure, or another non-food reward.

I promise you; nothing tastes as great as being Victorious will! Remain strong and disciplined.

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Advertisement