Food's Role in Our Lives

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Food's Role in Our Lives
9
Sat, 03-31-2007 - 6:44pm

I was replying to a post to Betsy (be-bop), and it made me think of a question for us to think about.

We all know that we eat to provide our bodies with the nutrition they need to function...but food has many different purposes for us. In this thread, one reason to a post, what role does food fill in your life other than providing the fuel you need for day to day living? And what else could you use to fill that role instead of eating?

SJ
225-170-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Sat, 03-31-2007 - 6:47pm

And I'll give an answer.

I eat when I am disappointed about something. Its as if I think that having something to eat that I really like will make up for what I didn't get that I wanted.

Instead, I need to keep a list of things I can do that make me happy, and pick something from the list and do it instead of eating.

SJ
225-170-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-01-2007 - 10:47am

SJ,

I do love your questions! I'm not a particularly emotional eater, however, I do tend to make bad choices when I'm overly tired and/or overly hungry. I have been trying to make more thoughtful choices regarding the quality of the food that I eat though. I love to cook and have become really, really good at it. (Trying not to be a braggart, but what can I say...LOL) It's a creative outlet with a reward at the end of the day. I've been working really hard not to lose that experience but to find healthier ways to prepare foods that don't lack in taste and satisfaction. At the same time I'm trying to be vigilent about controlling my portions. Too many calories are too many calories regardless of the nutritional content.

Annie

A
Avatar for saej72
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Sun, 04-01-2007 - 12:00pm

one of the reasons that I tend to munch late at night is cause i'm bored or i am trying to avoid doing something else around the house (washing dishes, clothes etc).... so if i get the urge to much, i'll look around the house and find something to do.. there's always clothes to wash, dry, fold etc.. and when all else fails, I read a couple chapters of my latest book.. i recently discovered that I really like John Grisham books..

and now that i have my treadmill set up in the basement, i can read while I walk.. (plus now DH can complain cause i'm just sitting on the couch reading, cause i'm exercising while i'm reading.....LOL)

Sara
342 -- 261.4 -- 200
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/s/samanthagrace/

Sara  

342-300-200

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Sun, 04-01-2007 - 12:48pm

PMS is my worst enemy cuz I crave starches, carbs, salt, and the evil chocolate all at the same time and if I Don't get what I am craving don't get near me cuz I turn evil LOL!!


 

Angela

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2006
Sun, 04-01-2007 - 4:41pm

Great question! I read it when you first posted it and really had to think it through. I am most out of control in my eating when I'm tired or stressed. I'm looking for more energy or some soothing. I've really been trying to address the tired thing since the New Year ... trying very hard to get 7+ hrs a night rather than the 5 or 6 I had been getting. This has helped tremendously ... until last week when my work hrs went from averaging 45 hr a week to 65 hrs a week. And they are going to stay that high probably for two more months. I didn't plan very well last week and my sleep suffered ... and I did notice a change in the cravings the later in the week I got. Stress, also something I've been trying to work with since the New Year is best handled proactively ... exercise is very key! And this is the action item I need to start for April ... if I'm craving because of stress ... take a 10 minute walk!

Colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 12:58pm

Well, I'd have to say that for me food also fills the role to help keep me fat...and there's not really anything else that could do it!


 


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Registered: 02-06-2006
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 5:35am

I eat when I'm angry.. I am not really thinking when I do this. I am the kind of person who would boil inside with something and keep having conversations with myself and all the time I'll be eating.


I'm still trying to handle this.. so I haven't found one thing that really worked well. Actually right now the only thing that is working is smoking like crazy, but that's replacing one bad habit with another. Next time I'm trying chewing gum.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 1:26pm
Mary,
It could be worse. You could be switching to chewing tobacco! LOL
Annie
A
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2006
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 9:42pm

Ok, this might sound crazy, but when I'm really tense and need to eat ... baby carrotts do the trick! Lots of good anger crunching! And it's hard to get fat on carrotts!

Colleen