oh yum, cheesecake

Life seems to have it share of ups and downs lately. My grandmother passed away and her funeral was this past week. Everything has been an emotional blur. I am not going into details, it will just make me cry. After a few days of mourning, will it ever end, I need to get back in the swing of things.
When someone dies we often bring food to the family. We make a simple meal or something full of sugar. It is an accepted practice in our society. Take the burden off preparing meals for the family and give them some comfort food. We all feel better, the giver and the receiver of the food. The giver is nuturing the family in sorrow. Food, everyone needs it. We cry and laugh over it.
After the funeral there was a family lunch. My cousin Patty and I decided we should start with the cheesecake. Yes, cheesecake has healing properties, especially when eaten with others. In sad times we often turn to food for comfort. I come from an Italian family, need I say more ? Did I feel guilty eating the cheesecake ? Surprisingly the answer is no. It felt good to splurge for a day. The thing is not to make it a habit. We all need to come to grips with the fact that we will on occassion eat 'bad' foods. We don't need to beat ourselves up over it. The next day get back on track, just do not eat the bad foods every day. This is easier said than done for many. Its can be a struggle to stay on track. It makes me happy to realise that good clean eating is now my way of life. No soda, no coffee, most white foods , etc. I feel better, so much now than ever before. The cheescake wasn't that evil after all. Go back to consistantly eating that way , every day, and ugh ! feeling like crap will be the norm. Who needs that ?
I don't know when I will eat cheesecake again. I am sure when ever I do consider it I will think of me and my cousin Patty giggling because we ate it before our actual meal. We were like kids sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar. Food brings us together. The good and the bad.