Why Do We Eat Even Though We Don’t Like the Food?
How often have you taken a bite of food expecting it to be good but it wasn’t? What did you do? Did you eat it anyway? Perhaps. I have. Yes, I’ve been there, done that. But if you don’t love it why eat it?
What is it about taking a bite, not loving it, yet eating it regardless? Why do it?
Do me a favor.
Stop it.
If you don’t love it why eat it?
Treat your body with respect. For some there may be no choice—there may be no other food to eat. That’s not the audience I’m speaking to.
For the millions where there is a choice, no one will mind if you throw the food away. It’s challenging. My clients tell me. They don’t want to waste food and they feel the guilt.
On a business trip Heather asked for a piece of toast with breakfast. One piece. The waiter brought her three. Prior to our work together Heather would have either eaten all three or at least two and taken the third with her. The restaurant served too much. It wasn’t Heather’s fault they wasted food. She recognized that, ate her one slice and threw the other two away.
Heather was able to eat mindfully and enjoy the one slice. What freedom.
Savor the flavor
Imagine receiving a gift—a box of chocolates, great chocolates—something you expect to be wonderful. You take a bite and it is what you expected. It’s a party in your mouth as my friend Cindy Kleckner would say. Savor the flavor and enjoy it. Take advantage of how wonderful it is. What a treat.
If however, the chocolates are not what you expected, don’t feel entitled to eat them. No one will benefit from you eating something you don’t love. Don’t love it? Don’t eat it.
I give you permission to…
Stop it.
Photo credits: Dr. Jo Lichten (DrJo.com) and pixabay.com
Jennifer Neily, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Wellcoach® Certified Health Coach
http://NeilyonNutrition.com
@JenniferNeily
I so agree! Especially when the thing “you don’t love” is a non-nutritious thing anyway — a slice of most toast, a piece of candy or other sugary treat — why eat it?!
This is literally my life philosophy… Okay, maybe just my food life philosophy. But I love that you’re spreading the word! Also, I’m thankful that I have the luxury of selecting what I can eat.
Thank you Kris – glad you ‘get’ it! It’s such an important philosophy to have and follow. Thanks for the post! -Neily
I think this is such an interesting post, because I come from a family that hates to waste food so I’ve definitely eaten something I haven’t necessary liked and left wondering why I continued to eat it. My siblings and I always make fun of my dad and his brother because they will take a bite of something and say “oh that’s nasty!”, but keeping eating it since they were raised in a household were throwing away food is a big no no. I think I’m fortunate enough to have that option to throw it away if I truly don’t like it. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank YOU for sharing Morgan. I think it’s challenging for many people coming from an environment of not wanting to waste food but it is better to in the long run when it comes to health.