To eat a croffle

For breakfast this morning I made my new favorite indulgence, the croffle. I cooked a croissant in a waffle iron and then topped it with a dab of ice cream. From a pure calorie-counting vantage, I’ve been a bad boy. But I would argue that the croffle is actually a healthy decision.

I used to make fun of my dad. He would finish dinner, and before he had even pushed the plate away he was talking with my mother about what they should eat for breakfast. He was always one or more meals ahead.

But really my dad had a good habit – decide what to eat while you’re satiated. My own habit is to wait until just before breakfast. I wait until my motivation to eat is high and my motivation to move is low. This is an unhealthy decision. The decision itself is unhealthy and leads to a habit that is also unhealthy. When I choose to make a croffle, I need to make that choice the day before so I can defrost the croissant in the fridge. I have to put foresight and effort into the meal.

What if we defined healthy decisions as those choices that leave us in a better position to make the next decision well? The healthy decisions lead to better habits that develop useful skills that stay sharp from repeated use.