What does "everything in moderation" mean to you?

[LisaR]

I was reading the thread about what people refuse to buy. Many people mention they are big believers in "everything in moderation." I think that has very different meanings to each iundividual. Is one soda a day moderation? Maybe only on the weekend? Once a month? Can you have soda everyday plus a bowl of ice cream or some cookies daily and still call it moderation? I have a friend that eats out what I think is frequently. She calls it moderation. They eat in a sit down restaurant weekly and do carry out once or twice a week. Her family, her choice. But what I call frequent she calls moderation.

 

[antmaril]

I think "everything in moderation" equals "prudent".

 

[NY Disney fan]

Is one soda a day moderation?

One soda a day is moderate...until you discover you can't lose weight that way. Moderation is about trial and error. Its about what you are trying to achieve.

 

[Judy in Texas]

I have a friend that eats out what I think is frequently. She calls it moderation. They eat in a sit down restaurant weekly and do carry out once or twice a week. Her family, her choice. But what I call frequent she calls moderation.

Are you comparing her to you or to the world in general?

Given that some people eat all meals out, eating at a sit down restautant one day per week plus take out twice per week (assuming that all other meals are eaten at home or brown-bagged) to me far from frequent. To call it "prudent" I would want to know what type of sit-down restaurant it is. Less than $20 plus drinks per person? Yes, "prudent" would be an OK adjective.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was reading the thread about what people refuse to buy. Many people mention they are big believers in "everything in moderation." I think that has very different meanings to each iundividual. Is one soda a day moderation? Maybe only on the weekend? Once a month? Can you have soda everyday plus a bowl of ice cream or some cookies daily and still call it moderation? I have a friend that eats out what I think is frequently. She calls it moderation. They eat in a sit down restaurant weekly and do carry out once or twice a week. Her family, her choice. But what I call frequent she calls moderation.

I think that expression is the relative terms of your situation and just an abstract phrase we say.

I prefer using the words, everything in balance. Much better ring to it.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I agree that people's views of "moderation" varies greatly. My Dad feels that eating a bowl of ice cream every night is eating in moderation as he doesn't have snacks really throughout the day (but his meals aren't healthy either). I think moderation when it comes to indulgences shouldn't be a daily thing.

 

[ckay87]

I have more of a problem with the word "everything." Does that include heroin? Murder? Certainly we can't mean everything.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks for the responses. Like I said, I was reading the other thread and became curious what moderation really means to everyone. I could have responded with the same words on that thread but I know for a fact that my idea of moderation (especially when dealing with junk food or eating out) varies significantly from others. My mom is overweight and on high blood pressure medication. She eats at some type of fast food restaurant almost daily and her other meals are processed, prepackaged things. She had a bowl of canned soup the other day and that was over 2000 mg of sodium but because she doesn't eat that daily, she views it as moderation.

 

[FireDancer]

Somethings are ok in moderation, some are not. For example, heroine isn't "ok in moderation", neither is terrorism. Most food items may be alright in moderation but if you are interested in maximizing your health you avoid them completely.

I'll have a cookie or baked good from time to time, so for me that is ok in moderation. I would not put a single drop of cola into my body, so for me even that in moderation isn't acceptable. There are others with their own criteria. I do think though that sometimes people use it to make themselves feel better. For example, having a Whopper every day for lunch is not really moderation if you are concerned about health. Once a month maybe, daily, not so much. Even if it doesn't result in weight gain I don't think anyone can say with a straight face that it is healthy.

ETA:

I have more of a problem with the word "everything." Does that include heroin? Murder? Certainly we can't mean everything.

I didn't even see this when I responded, I went back and read it. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought "everything" was a bit of an over generalization.

 

[Shmily1]

When I was pregnant with DS19, I asked the Dr about eating chocolate since everyone told me that my love of chocolate would have to stop when I was pregnant. He said "Can you eat a lb every day?" I said, "I probably could, but I don't." He said, "then you are eating it moderately. As long as you can eat it moderately, you can have it every day. If you eat a lb a day, then that's not moderately and you can't do that."

I'm on my 4th can Coke today and I eat out atleast 6-7 times a week. To me, those are all moderate.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

She had a bowl of canned soup the other day and that was over 2000 mg of sodium but because she doesn't eat that daily, she views it as moderation.

There's justification in moderation

 

[MIGrandma]

Everything in moderation is what the nutritionist in the hospital told me when I found out I was diabetic. She said people used to think they had to avoid sugar at all costs and it's just not that way. She said there was no food that I couldn't have, just have it in moderation. She wanted to have me on an 1800 calorie diet at first, and if I knew I was going to want dessert if we were going out to dinner, then have a salad for lunch. She wanted me to count my carbs and stay under 15. Like if I had cereal for breakfast and a serving had 45g carbs, that would equal 3 carbs. Keep track of them daily and plan for splurges. No, I can't have a piece of pie every day. But I don't have to say no to it if we go out with friends or something.

I went from having fast food 3-4 times/week to maybe once a month. Now I am having it "in moderation." Same with desserts, or a handful of potato chips, etc.

 

[pearlieq]

I have more of a problem with the word "everything." Does that include heroin? Murder? Certainly we can't mean everything.

Actually, I think we pretty well do.

I actually think heroin would be fine, or at least not much worse than other things we do to ourselves, in moderation. The problem comes when we find that moderation is usually impossible when it comes to things like heroin. It's not heroin that's the problem--it's the abuse/overuse.

Same as murder, really. How else do we account for the death penalty? Justifiable homicide such as self-defence? War? It's not like we can go around popping people off, Dexter-style, once a month or so, but we do have provisions for how murder fits into our society. In moderation.

 

[kristilew]

I think of moderation as the opposite of huge helpings or second helpings. Also as the opposite of strict rules regarding food, AND as the opposite of no limits regarding food.

If you like chocolate candy, have a couple of hershey's miniatures, not five full size snickers bars a day. If you like ice cream, have a small bowl, not a huge one and going back for more. Enjoy carbs? Have either an English muffin with breakfast or a roll with dinner.

My parents have yo-yo'd all their lives. They are either completely indulging themselves and gaining a bunch of weight, or "punishing" themselves and going on a super-strict diet. If they would learn to practice a little moderation, they would be healthier, and a lot more fun to dine with.

As for eating out, that depends more on any one family's budget and time-crunch, I think, more than a judgement of moderation.

 

[ZachnElli]

I read "everything in moderation" on that thread as "every FOOD in moderation" because that was the topic. For me moderation for most things (food items and eating out, since we need to be specific) would be once or twice a month. I was also wondering about all the posters who said they never bought cookies. I hardly ever buy them either, but will totally admit to buying Oreos once or twice a year, I mean, they are OREOS! I'd buy them once a week, but I know better.

 

[Micca]

A friend of mine says: Everything in moderation, INCLUDING moderation

 

[JessicaR]

"Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess." Oscar Wilde

"The virtue of justice consists in moderation, as regulated by wisdom." Aristotle

"The heart is great which shows moderation in the midst of prosperity." Seneca

"If moderation is a fault, then indifference is a crime." Georg C. Lichtenberg

"Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit." W. Somerset Maugham

Best moderation quote of all!

"Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."

 

[worm761]

I depends on the person/family. I drink one, sometimes two, sodas a day. I am trying to quit. But I used to ONLY drink soda. So one a day is moderation for me. DS is only allowed soda occasionally. Like holidays, out to eat, vacation, birthdays, stuff like that. I don't want him to have the habit I am trying so hard to get rid of.
I will admit to buying Oreo's once in a while. They are for DBF since I think they are gross. Most other cookies/cakes and such I can make myself. I like controlling what goes in our food. Since I started making most things myself I have seen an improvement with my DS. He has Asperger's and ADHD. Now if only diet could change the teen attitude I would be in heaven.
We eat out once in a while but then go through a stage where is seems we are eating out constantly. Once in a while for us is maybe once a month.

 

[charming23]

To me "everything in moderation" means that as long as I follow a healthy diet full of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteinsif I want to splurge and have a can of pop once a week it is alright. It also helps to keep me from bingeing when i deprive myself of something for too long.

 

[Planogirl]

In my case, moderation pertains to carbs. I keep my carb intake low mainlike because I feel better. I still eat some though but not many.

Sweets is another thing. I eat something sweet only rarely and it is a big treat for me. I do drink a few Coke Zeros each day though.

My point is that moderation means different things to different people as some have said. It depends on your goals and needs.