“Healthy eating includes healthy choices for good nutrition, and good nutrition makes you fit for life.”

“Prevent cancer and heart disease by eating nutritious food high in fiber and low in trans-fats.”

The media, your pediatrician, parents, health teachers, all have advice about healthy eating for prolonged life and increased energy.

What’s not nearly as publicized, however, is the importance of being spiritually fit for a life destined for service to the King. What if you compared your spiritual life-choices and habits to the dietary decisions you make? What do you think your spiritual eating style might be? Take this quiz to find out and how you can become even more spiritually healthy!

1. When your best friend ditches you for her crush during lunch, you
a. find the courage to eat with a new group of pals from your volleyball team.
b. spend lunch in your homeroom studying for next week’s English test.
c. treat yourself to cookie dough in the cafeteria.
d. check out the school’s Bible Club worship time.

2. After a big argument with your parents about Saturday night’s curfew you
a. head to the closest Starbucks for a grande macchiato with extra whipped cream and caramel sauce.
b. read a few Psalms to commiserate with David, king of the ups and downs.
c. call a trusted friend for some honest advice.
d. lock yourself in a dark room for hours, hooked up to your iPod.

3. When you flunk the algebra test you studied all weekend to pass, you
a. toss the pile of waiting homework aside and watch chick flicks all night.
b. find a tutor and prepare to ace the next big one.
c. pray that God would miraculously help you to better understand the material—but don’t neglect to study or seek help, too.
d. use some extra money from savings to buy that cute purse you’ve been eyeing.

4. As much as you want to spread the Good News, the best news you could receive is
a. an invitation to your best friend’s slumber party.
b. the Lord of the Rings trilogy with bonus features on DVD.
c. a $25 gift card to American Eagle from Grandma.
d. the opportunity to join your youth group’s missions trip to Mexico.

5. When your nonbelieving cousin argues with you about God’s existence you
a. ask the Holy Spirit to speak truth through your words and continue the conversation.
b. cut the visit short to go home and read Evidence that Demands a Verdict for the third time.
c. change the subject by asking your cousin what she wants for her birthday.
d. suggest that you lighten up things and catch a movie instead.

Score your quiz!
Assign the following points to each one of the answers you chose:
1. a:1, b:2, c:3, d:4
2. a:3, b:4, c:1, d:2
3. a:2, b:1, c:4, d:3
4: a:1, b:2, c:3, d:4
5. a:4, b:2, c:1, d: 3

Define Your Spiritual Appetite Style
5-9 Friendly Feaster
You’d rather be with at least one other person than stuck at home alone . . . and the more, the merrier! Solving problems is as simple as picking up the phone to dial your best friend or going next door to your favorite neighbor for some set-me-straight, “Dear Abby” advice.

Tips for the Friendly Feaster
Bearing one another’s burdens is as biblical as the Golden Rule. It’s especially important to seek wisdom from godly mentors and fellow believers for tough decisions and hard situations, both large and small. You’re wise to naturally seek fellowship and insight from others. But be sure you take it to the next level! After you gather the necessary godly counsel, take it to your Personal Counselor in prayer and through Bible study to be sure it lines up with His wisdom.

10-14 Solo Snacker
You’d rather retreat from difficult situations or regroup from frenetic activity by chilling out alone. Your ideal down time includes a good book, closing out the world with your iPod or watching your favorite flick in the comfort of your own room.

Tips for the Solo Snacker
While it’s very healthy to refresh your spirit with solo solace, consider pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and venturing beyond the borders of your bedroom occasionally for maximum spiritual health. Join your youth group’s Wednesday night Bible study group for fun fellowship. Introduce yourself to the girl you’ve been admiring for her strong Christian stance at school.

15-19 Emotional Eater
You subscribe to the following creed: When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping or to the movies or to Starbucks . . . or anywhere but here! It’s tempting to fill the angst of sticky situations with extra rich chocolate sauce on that tall mocha or to go broke trying to buy the world’s definition of beauty or social status. It’s easy for you to think of ways to numb pain with temporary distractions.

Tips for the Emotional Eater
Hitting the mall for that favorite pair of jeans can certainly be part of a spiritually fit routine, but avoid the temptation to escape the tough stuff with emotionally charged escapades. The next time you run to Starbucks or to the movies, ask yourself, Am I making a conscious, spiritually healthy choice by doing this action, or am I simply choosing to do this as an emotional reaction? Running to God to fill your heart in the time of need is the only way to achieve lasting fulfillment, health and healing.

20+ Banqueting Believer
You know that “man does not live on bread alone” (or outfits from the latest shopping spree, or escaping with a great book or running to a friend for help) but only “on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). You find sustenance from feasting on God’s truth through Bible study and prayer. You believe with your entire being that God is the ultimate source of truth, wisdom, power and spiritual intimacy.

Tips for the Banqueting Believer
It’s awesome that you’ve chosen to fellowship with the ultimate source of vitality! It’s fantastic that you’ve made spiritually healthy choices by committing to the self-discipline of prayer and Bible study. Be careful not to feast alone, so invite others to join you at this life-giving banquet table! Remember that there are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met. The fields are ripe for harvest, and God wants all of His creation present for a celebratory, eternal feast of salvation! Look for ways to share this abundance with hungry people around you.

Fill Your Plate
Just as we’ve learned from lectures based on the ever-changing food pyramid, a well-rounded, balanced diet is the ultimate source of good health. We’re told to fill our plates with foods of many different colors to ensure the maximum amount of nutrients. To increase your spiritual health and soul nutrition, look for the life-giving nutrients from each of the four spiritual appetite styles. A variety of colors from these four styles will nourish your soul and cause others to crave your spiritual glow!