Most diets would have you cutting things out from your diet; they

Listen, O children, to the words of Kathy Freston, who speaks of the nature of diets with wisdom: "Most diets would have you cutting things out from your diet; they are about denial and discipline." In these words, she reveals a deep truth about the way modern society approaches health and well-being. Diets, as commonly practiced, are often framed as a form of restriction, a constant battle against the body’s desires and natural cravings. Yet, the ancients understood that true health and balance are not about cutting away the things we desire, but about finding harmony and nourishment in all aspects of life.

In the days of the Greek philosophers, the idea of moderation was central to the pursuit of the good life. Aristotle, in his teachings, espoused the Golden Mean, the principle that virtue lies in moderation and balance, avoiding both excess and deficiency. To the Greeks, health was not about harsh discipline or denial, but about the ability to live in balance—to nourish the body with the right foods, to exercise in moderation, and to live a life of thoughtful action. Kathy Freston echoes this ancient wisdom, reminding us that diets that focus solely on cutting things out of our lives do not foster true well-being, but instead create a relationship with food that is defined by struggle rather than peace.

Consider the example of Socrates, that wise man of Athens, who believed that the body and mind must work in harmony, and that health was a reflection of that balance. He did not preach denial but instead advocated for living a life of self-awareness, where the choices we make align with the greater purpose of living a virtuous and healthy life. Socrates would have understood that the restrictive nature of many diets is a form of self-punishment, one that undermines the body’s natural needs and desires. True discipline, he would have said, is not about denying oneself but about understanding the deeper needs of the body and nourishing it in a way that supports both strength and harmony.

In the ancient Roman tradition, the concept of self-control was a virtue that extended beyond the body and into every part of life. The Stoics, like Seneca, taught that life should not be about indulging in every whim, but about living with purpose, wisdom, and moderation. For the Romans, the diet was an important part of this disciplined life, but it was never about deprivation. They believed that to deny oneself what the body truly needed was a mistake, for health came from balance—eating foods that nourished the body without excess or restriction. Kathy Freston highlights this same principle, suggesting that true health comes from a balanced approach rather than a restrictive one.

In contrast, the modern view of diets often emphasizes denial—cutting out this food or that, creating a relationship with food that is one of lack rather than fulfillment. The pursuit of discipline in such diets is often about avoiding pleasure or comfort in favor of a goal that is framed in terms of restriction rather than nourishment. Freston reminds us that such approaches can lead us away from true well-being, for the body and spirit need not be constantly at odds. Health, she implies, comes from a place of harmony, where we nourish our bodies without the need to endlessly deny ourselves, but rather by learning to embrace what nourishes us in both body and soul.

The lesson, O children, is clear. The path to health is not through rigid denial or harsh discipline, but through balance, understanding, and nourishment. The ancients knew this truth well, and Kathy Freston carries that wisdom into the modern age. True discipline lies not in restricting ourselves from what the body craves but in learning to choose foods that support the body’s natural rhythms and needs. Just as Aristotle and the Stoics taught that life is about living in harmony with nature, so too must we approach our diets—not as a series of things to be avoided, but as a practice of balance that leads us toward vitality, peace, and true well-being.

Thus, O children, let us move beyond the cycles of denial and restriction. Let us learn to live in balance, making mindful choices that nourish the body and honor its true needs. Just as the ancients taught that health is not a constant battle but a path of understanding, so too must we embrace a way of living that does not focus on what we cut out, but on what we choose to bring in—foods that fuel us, actions that nourish us, and a life that celebrates balance and harmony. In this, we find not only health, but a deeper sense of peace, fulfillment, and vitality.