Because I can’t think of any “big” accomplishments, I’d like to reiterate a smaller accomplishment of mine that continues to pay dividends. The fact that my diet, or specifically my food choices, have expanded exponentially from what they were five years ago is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Even if it took way too long to reach this point.

Even if it’s not earth-shattering news, having a variety, albiet not a wide variety but let’s not get bogged down in semantics, of vegetables and fruits that are regularly part of weekly grocery store runs is a big deal for me. When you’re diagnosed you get an all-too-quick rundown of food related topics. What can I eat? What will bread do? What about soda? All of the basics are hopefully covered – including the fact that you should eat your vegetables. But that last one is something you’ve likely heard ad nauseum since you were little.

That statement doesn’t carry as much importance because you’ve heard it four thousand times before. Talks about food pyramids, food groups, and plate methods don’t mean a lot when it’s a slightly remixed version of advice you’ve been ignoring for years, or maybe decades.

But now that I’ve come around to things like broccoli and green beans, I can appreciate the value of a well-rounded meal. I can better plan my weeks around a variety of meals instead of worrying how I can fit the same three items into a seven day period. It’s quite liberating.

So here’s to the fact that I enjoy steak and potatoes. Here’s to asking for a side of broccoli instead of fries (sometimes). Even if the immediate benefit is hard to comprehend, I trust that I’m doing my body good.

Who’s hungry?

That was proper English, right?

This post was inspired by Diabetes Blog Week 2013. Be sure to check out all of the other great posts from the diabetes community. It’s awesome.