This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

What is "Normal Eating"?

Normal eating is being able to EAT WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY and continue eating until you are SATISFIED.

It is being able to CHOOSE FOODS YOU LIKE and eat it and truly get enough of it – not just stop eating because you think you should.

Normal eating is being able to USE SOME MODERATE CONSTRAINT on your food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive that you miss out on pleasurable foods. 

Find out what's happening in Ladue-Frontenacfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good.

Normal eating is three meals a day, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. 

Find out what's happening in Ladue-Frontenacfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful when they are fresh.

Normal eating is overeating at times:  feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. It is also under-eating at times and wishing you had more.

Normal eating is TRUSTING YOUR BODY to make up for your mistakes in eating.

Normal eating takes some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.

In short, normal eating is FLEXIBLE AND VARIED, in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger and your proximity to food.

Modified from Ellyn Satter’s “Normal Eating” Handout

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Ladue-Frontenac