In the beginning humans ate for survival. Today, eating is a much more complex issue. With rising rates of obesity and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, eating has become a disease for many Australians.
So where does all this get started? When we tie food to our emotions. Many of us still cherish that favourite meal Mum would make for us on our birthdays. Other foods may stimulate bad feelings, like the liver and onions you would wrap in your napkin, even though you knew you would be punished. Remember, it is okay to leave food on your plate.
Food is a very complex issue for many of us. When was the last time you ate because you were really hungry and for no other reason? We eat when we socialize and celebrate, when we are at a cricket match or the movies, when we are bored, depressed, or even angry, and when we are hungry.
The only way to have a good relationship with food is to understand what things lead you to eat. Look carefully at what you are eating and how you feel when you eat. Keep a written record of the emotions and events surrounding your food choices and intake. At the end of the day, look at what you have written and decide on one or two changes you can make to have a better relationship with food.
Food should be enjoyable while it nourishes our bodies. But food should not be a replacement for love, companionship, or understanding. If you find you are eating in response to your emotions, try to "treat" your emotional state with healthier alternatives like exercise, meditation, hobbies, time with friends, or directly resolving the problem that has led you to food.
For help in changing your eating behaviour, contact a dietitian or a psychologist who specialises in eating disorders. See your doctor first.
Article #6917
Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved.
