Until recently, everyone who knew me well complained about my poor eating habits. My health had also taken a toll as a result of it. After several misdiagnoses, I received the right diagnosis that set me on the path to recovery. During this process, I discovered something about myself: I love eating.
I’m not the most adventurous foodie, but I personally love good food. And I enjoy cooking for a small group of people. I do this a few times a year to celebrate birthdays or other festivities. Eating with friends and family can be a beautiful way to bond and have a good time.
Drawing the Lines
However, I have seen how easily we can form an unhealthy relationship with food. Especially when food has come to be associated with having a good time. I know this because I went from the skinny girl who struggled with eating to becoming a woman who struggles with eating too much and gaining weight. These days, I am working to eat mainly for nourishment instead of emotional reasons.
Research shows that the average person eats a lot more food than their body needs. This can be tied to social and emotional eating. A 2007 study showed that children eat 30% more in groups than they do alone due to a phenomenon is known as ‘Social Facilitation. Most events worth attending these days involve food, And every emotional experience, whether good or bad, is linked to celebratory or comfort eating and drinking. Small wonder then, that even in a world where hunger and food insecurity abound, obesity and food-related diseases are also on the increase.
Still, Eating Should Be Enjoyed
While I don’t think we should go through life enduring food, I do think we have to be more conscious about finding a balance between eating for enjoyment and as indulgence.
So, maybe at the next baby shower, bridal shower, or work meeting, choose to stock up on fruits, vegetables, and lots of water to meet your nutritional needs and then add a treat or two to switch things up. Naturally, you should focus on having a good time through wholesome games, honest engagement, and stimulating learning opportunities. Your body will thank you for it.