The Pursuit of Pleasure

Food brings pleasure to a lot of people. Especially when it's really good food. And even if the pleasure is only temporary. I recently read a true story about a woman who traveled to Italy for four months in a pursuit of pleasure. Food was not the only thing that brought her pleasure during her vacation, as she also found great pleasure in learning Italian, however food was the main thing. It is true that something really delicious, whether it is a chocolate dessert, a fancy turkey dinner, or a really well-made sandwich, or something as simple as a scoop of ice cream, will bring us pleasure to eat. These foods are aesthetically pleasing, they have an enticing aroma, and they taste just oh so good. We would all love to be able to eat whatever we want, as much as we want, but that just is not reality. Sure, some of us seem to be able to consume copious amounts of junk food without experiencing any negative effects, but for the most part, we must eat a nutritious and balanced diet. That being said, there is no reason as to why we cannot take pleasure in eating healthy goods as well. Healthy foods can be delicious too! Some of my favorite foods are quite healthy, I really take pleasure in eating (or drinking) bananas, pineapple, strawberries (okay, just about any fruit), corn on the cob, chocolate milk, Greek yogurt, smoked salmon, peanut butter, and whole grain bread. There are also many foods considered as junk food that can actually be pretty healthy, and definitely pleasurable, such as pizza, dark chocolate, lasagna, and burgers. And of course, any food is fine enjoyed in moderation. We can (and definitely must) enjoy a treat every once in a while, or even a treat everyday if it is kept small, such as cake, pie, burgers and fries, fondue, whatever you take pleasure in eating! It is fine to celebrate and eat! 
What I found quite amusing in the story I read, was that the woman was on a self-proclaimed "No Carb Left Behind" tour. It is true that in Italy they seem to eat a lot of pizza, pasta, and bread. But Italian obesity and health rates aren't particularly bad, because they know how to balance pleasure with nutrition and health! This woman simply ate everything she wanted on this vacation, as much as he wanted, stopping at every bakery or gelato stand or pizzeria that looked good, stuffing herself beyond full. Did she gain weight? For sure, but for her it was worth it. Now, I am not encouraging this type of behavior, and I believe we can find pleasure in food without consuming such gross excess such as this. But traveling is a good excuse to expand your horizons, try new foods, and find pleasure in them. And maybe eat a little more than you normally would, because hey, you may only get to visit (insert place name here) once in your lifetime, and you want to really get a cultural feel for the place  which can be achieved very well through samples of the local cuisine. Plus, you often do a lot of walking or other activity on vacation, so you'll probably work it of anyway. Finding pleasure in food and balance in nutrition is what it is all about. I myself actually find a lot of pleasure in preparing food for other people (and myself) to enjoy, and watching the pleasure they experience when they try a piece of my baking!