By Amanda Adams-Welligee Coach
I love my family more than anything. With Greek and Italian roots, food has not only been a valued staple of my family, but also a coveted time to spend with loved ones, packed around the dinner table eating until you have to take a quick nap on the couch. And don’t even think about rejecting seconds, as that is taken as a major insult to the cook!
So, when this was my example of how food should be viewed, how did I overcome the desire to feed myself beyond satisfaction at all hours of the day? Because I chose to take a different path. I looked at my roots and took all of the good experiences brought by mealtimes but subtracted the need to go overboard in order to show love or enjoyment. Why do you have to bring yourself to this point in order to enjoy family time? Did eating a third helping really make your relationship stronger? Why does the act of putting food into our mouths need to be a type of event or challenge to see how far we can push ourselves instead of enjoying it for what it is and focusing on more important matters, like the people around us, or what is to come after the meal?
Time for a bit of a reality check. Food is a substance we need to survive. Now, the point is not to make eating a boring task that should be bland and unexciting. I completely believe that food should taste good and be enjoyed, just in a controlled way.
Start looking at food as exactly what it is. FOOD. It is not going to make your bad day go away. It is not going to inspire you to complete a procrastinated household project. It is not going to make you a better friend or spouse. It is FOOD. The experiences that happen alongside of the food are what make all the difference. Make mealtimes a big deal, but not because you are attempting to shove more and more food into your mouth and the mouths of those around you, but because you have provided a great meal and a set time to decompress from the day and chat with one another.
Eating only when you’re hungry can be a trouble area for some when boredom or mindless grazing throughout the day takes over. Before reaching for that snack bowl, take a moment to step back and think about what you’re doing. Are you really hungry, or is the snack there to provide something to do or a distraction from another task at hand? Is your stomach actually growling, or does the thought just seem appealing in the moment?
When we stop looking at food as the sole source of enjoyment or stress relief and start looking at our environment as the true breeding ground for happiness and productivity, true fulfillment can be found that will leave you with a lot more than a stuffed stomach and the guilt that is to follow.
