Refreshments will be served

There is a mistaken notion going around that I don’t eat dessert. Nothing could be further from the truth. I just don’t eat dessert all the time.

I was setting some goals for myself at the beginning of 2011. Along the lines of health goals, I wanted to make sure I took a vitamin every day, I wanted to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and I had some exercise goals. And I decided I would limit myself to an average of 1.5 desserts a week. That meant no more than 78 desserts in the year. I reasoned that I didn’t seem to eat dessert all that often and meeting that goal would be no problem at all. We have dessert at home on occasion, but nothing to excess.

Side story that’s related:
When I arrived in Brasil I was introduced to the most decadent of desserts – pudim de leche. I think it’s also called flan elsewhere. I thought it was what heaven must taste like. I politely snarfed it up every time it was served to me. Then about halfway through my mission I realized there was good pudim de leche, and there was pudim de leche that was not so good. I started to discern between what I really wanted – the good stuff, and what just had the appearance of what I wanted. And I stopped eating so much of it because I held out for the good stuff.

Half way through 2011 I got called as the Young Women President and I was at mutual every week and firesides once a month. And at nearly every single one of those activities refreshments were served.

Let’s just say that for the first 33 years of my life I was eating dessert like I ate pudim de leche at the beginning of my mission. If it was placed in front of me I thought I was the luckiest person in the world and ate as much as I politely could.

Pretty soon my dessert count for 2011 was out of control. I reigned it in at the end but still ended up over the limit I set at the beginning of the year (darn holidays with their yummy pies!).

So this year I’m using a bit of discernment. I kept the same goal of no more than an average of 1.5 desserts a week. But this time I’m holding out for the good stuff. Krispy Kremes after attending the temple – yes. Oreos after mutual – no.

I don’t have to eat refreshments just because they are provided. I’d rather save my dessert points for the really good stuff, like cinnamon rolls or mint ice cream with chocolate syrup.

And it’s gotten real easy to walk away from the refreshments after activities, which is why there are certain people who think I don’t eat dessert.

On a related note though – why do refreshments always have to be desserts? A good fruit tray with some yogurt dip and cold lemonade would be perfect (and count for my daily fresh fruits and vegetables).