I had lunch today with my bestie. She’s flown in specially for my big birthday tomorrow. I simply love catching up with her, especially at the moment as we get to talk wedding stuff. She’s a qualified dietician so I’m always keen to quiz her on healthy eating tips in my hope to shift a few kilos before the big day. She’s a real fan of the portion plate model that encourages you to eat balanced meals that are ideally half veggies, a quarter carbs and a quarter protein. It’s a really simple and practical way to help you eat healthy.

After our lunch, I got to thinking. I am so conscious of what I put into my body and make a real effort to eat balanced meals, moderating the bad stuff. But my mind (as well as my thighs) grows on what it feeds on. So why do I not treat my mind with the same kindness I treat my body?

It’s highly unlikely that I will wake up tomorrow and never have another negative thought – just as it is highly unlikely that I will wake up tomorrow and never eat another piece of chocolate. But I wonder what my world would be like if I applied the portion plate to my thinking as well as to my eating? Food for thought you might say…

PS my bestie is also experimenting this year. She’s challenged herself not to wear any black for a whole 12 months. Follow her journey at Black Out 2011