Eastern Orthodox Christians eat in a very specific way. With all the discussions about the various diets out there, is this traditional way of eating a way to share the faith? Rita answers in the affirmative and explains why.
Stress that is not managed affects our health and increases our appetite. Rita discusses ways to handle stressors during this time of year.
What do you do when you are the only one in your home who is fasting? You have become Orthodox and your spouse has not, or you live with people who simply do not fast. What are some strategies for you to keep the fast? Rita offers some suggestions.
Rita discusses ways to show brotherly love through feeding the sick.
Rita explores ways to care for health and lose weight and at the same time share alms through decreasing food waste.
Rita answers two questions that she have received from listeners: (1) What do you do when someone prepares a meal for you that has not been made with quality ingredients? (2) What is the best way to participate in exercise while fasting?
Many of us have family and friends who are not Orthodox. What do we do when company is in our home during a fasting day or period? Rita gives suggestions for showing the gift of hospitality and still keeping the fast.
Fasting should not be legalistic, and it involves way more than just food. Rita explains the various ways in which we can help our children understand and practice all the aspects of a fasting period.
Proper prayer, helping others, hobbies, healthy laughter, simplifying our lives, and singing can all be ways for us to manage our stress and benefit our health and weight. This podcast will review these various concepts and give us strategies for how to implement them into our daily lives.
We all must embrace fasting with a willing heart. In addition, we need to nourish our bodies during the fast. Rita provides information about the nutritional value of various fasting foods, whether for children or adults.
Rita discusses additional ways to help children develop a healthy relationship with food.
Family dinnertime goes beyond a balanced meal. This is when we sit together and are nourished both spiritually and physically. Rita shares things to do in everyday life to increase physical activity and improve stress management throughout a child's day.
For a variety of reasons, many of us have to eat alone. Rita presents strategies for eating alone in a healthful and satisfying manner. She also provides strategies for helping those who have to deal with the struggle of eating alone.
The Holy Apostle’s fast is upon us. Fasting is not legalistic; rather, it is a medicine we choose to take to deepen our communion with God. Rita focuses on approaching the fast from a willing heart. She also discusses how joyful fasting can lead to health benefits.
Many of us have to eat away from home as a result of our work situation. Others are going to be eating away from home for extended periods of time due to vacationing. Whatever the scenario might be, how do we practice eating on the road with watchful attention? Rita offers several strategies.
How are we supposed to enjoy our bodies when advertising markets unrealistic ways of looking, living, and eating? Rita discusses ways to celebrate the Paschal season, and life in general, without succumbing to media-imposed standards of beauty.
Eating disorders are on the rise, and we see them in both men and women. Negative thinking and depression due to an unhealthy body image are also very common. Rita discusses ways to develop a healthy relationship with our bodies in keeping with the Holy Orthodox Faith.
This is the most celebratory time of the whole year! Rita shares ways to joyfully celebrate Pascha without forfeiting a healthy relationship with food.
Rita explains that feeling hunger can benefit both our physical and spiritual wellbeing. She also discusses a few oil-free meal ideas.
Rita offers tips and encouragement to assist listeners in their fasting journey.
When a fast is just around the corner, the fridge gets stocked with non-dairy creamer and margarine. Rita explains how these foods sabotage the very essence of fasting and are detrimental to health.
St. Gregory the Theologian cooked! And he used the expression “the magic and wizardry of the cooks.” It is beneficial for our health to eat foods that are prepared in the home. In this episode, Rita discusses quick cooking strategies.
In this episode, Rita shares a story from a monk that explains what is needed to cook. Whether you currently do not cook and know you need to start or are an avid cook, the wisdom in this story will provide you with a way to look at cooking as a component of our spiritual life.
Rita reminds us that cooking can be a way to glorify God—to pray and to care for body and soul alike. In this episode, the listener will learn how to get back into the kitchen.
We are called to be stewards of the earth. Rita explains how we can try to eat in an uncorrupted manner to carry out this duty?
With the New Year around the corner, people are making decisions about which diet to try. In this episode, Rita shares what the research shows about eating the Holy Orthodox way.
After a long seasonal fast, one will be tempted to overeat. What can we do to prevent overeating and properly enjoy the foods of the season? Rita has a few suggestions.
Rita looks at proper seasonal fasting, as well as some strategies for practicing this discipline when we are in the world.
None are without temptation. Even Christ was tempted. What do we do when we are tempted to use food for the wrong reasons? Rita discusses strategies to handle the misuse of food.
For it is written, "If a righteous man falls down seven times"—that is, repeatedly throughout his life—"seven times shall he rise again" (Prov. 24:16). We will fall. Relapse does occur. Setting realistic goals is a great way to handle not giving in to the passions of overeating and slothfulness. Realistic goal-setting is a way to make positive changes that last.
