focusing on food

i used to think that if i just ate whatever i wanted with out thinking too much about it, it meant that i had a good connection to my overall health and a non-obsession with my diet. i never wanted to be a person who was always on a diet. but as i get older i am learning the importance of paying attention to what i eat. basically making sure i get what i need for good health and enjoying those choices. the idea of just winging it doesn't work for me. because when i don't pay attention i find myself having huge swings from starving to stuffed. there is no normal happy middle. funny....took me 47 years to figure that one out.