My diet has definitely become greener; however, I am a big

When Ivanka Trump said, “My diet has definitely become greener; however, I am a big proponent of everything in moderation. I enjoy having a farm-to-table dinner, as well as indulging in a special, decadent treat on occasion,” she spoke not merely of food, but of the ancient balance between restraint and joy — between the wisdom of discipline and the sweetness of life. In her words we find an echo of the old philosophers, who taught that the path to harmony lies not in extremes, but in the middle way. For the one who eats only austerity grows weary, and the one who knows only indulgence grows dull; but the one who walks between both, tasting nature’s gifts with gratitude, lives in peace with body and spirit alike.

The origin of this truth lies deep in human history. From the days of the Stoics to the teachers of the East, the sages have taught that balance is the secret law of the universe. The earth itself is a harmony of opposites — of light and shadow, of water and flame, of hunger and fulfillment. Ivanka’s words, spoken in the modern age, carry that same timeless message. To make one’s diet “greener” is to choose life, renewal, and respect for nature’s cycle. It is to align one’s body with the gentle rhythm of the earth — to draw strength from plants, from the soil, from living things that give without cruelty. Yet she reminds us too that moderation is the guardian of joy, that even the decadent treat, when enjoyed with awareness, nourishes the soul.

In her statement, there is both discipline and grace. The farm-to-table meal speaks of gratitude — of connection to the hands that grow our sustenance and to the land that feeds us. It is a return to simplicity, to the kind of nourishment that our ancestors knew before the age of machines. But the “special treat,” the indulgence on occasion, is equally sacred. For it honors another truth: that life is not meant to be lived in denial. The ancients held festivals not only to honor the gods but to remind themselves of joy — to feast, to laugh, to remember that the body, too, is a vessel of delight. Thus, Ivanka’s philosophy is not contradiction but completeness: a celebration of balance between health and happiness, between duty and pleasure.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once called this harmony the Golden Mean — the art of choosing the middle path between excess and deficiency. He taught that virtue itself is a kind of balance: courage lies between recklessness and cowardice, generosity between waste and greed. So too, in the realm of food and living, wisdom lies between asceticism and gluttony. Ivanka’s embrace of moderation reflects this same eternal truth. To eat “green” yet not fanatically, to indulge yet not to excess, is to live as the ancients advised — aware, measured, joyful, and free.

There is also, in her words, an unspoken reverence for mindfulness. To eat “farm-to-table” is to remember the journey of food — from seed to soil, from hand to heart. It is to honor the farmer as much as the chef, the rain as much as the harvest. The ancients, too, practiced this awareness. In the temples of old, before meals were taken, they offered a moment of silence — to give thanks to the sun, to the soil, to the unseen forces that sustain life. Ivanka’s approach, though modern, is a continuation of that same spirit: to live consciously, to consume with gratitude, and to enjoy without guilt.

But why does she emphasize moderation? Because in every age, humanity has struggled with excess — of appetite, of ambition, of self-denial. The pendulum swings wildly between indulgence and abstinence, leaving the soul unsteady. Moderation, however, anchors us. It teaches that pleasure is not sin, and discipline is not punishment — both are instruments of balance. The person who understands moderation becomes master of their habits, not slave to them. In this way, the “decadent treat” ceases to be a temptation and becomes a gift; the “green meal” ceases to be duty and becomes joy.

So, children of a restless age, let this be your lesson: live as the earth lives — in rhythm. Let your diet be green and whole, but do not fear the sweetness of life. Feast when it is time to feast, and fast when it is time to cleanse. Seek food that gives strength, and savor delights that give joy. Do not measure health by denial, nor happiness by indulgence. Instead, cultivate moderation, for in moderation lies freedom — the freedom to enjoy all things without being consumed by them. For the one who eats wisely and joyfully does not merely feed the body — they nourish the soul, and through that nourishment, they live in harmony with all creation.