(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The relationship we have with food begins in the early years of life.
Just when you thought you couldn’t entertain another conversation about food after all the recent holiday feasts you come across this article. You won’t have to loosen your belt buckle here but you will have to open another window in your mind. Do you eat only when hungry Do you live to eat or eat to live Do you skip meals because you forget to eat or plan the next meal as soon as you have finished one
These questions sound quite simple right Wrong. The answers to these queries will differ from person to person and are actually much more complicated than we could ever imagine. Perhaps we can gain a better understanding of these ideas through the information highlighted by experts in the filed of food psychology; an innovative discipline related to human behaviour that looks at the association between our thoughts feelings moods and the food we consume which could either benefit or compromise our health and well-being.
The relationship we have with food begins in the early years of life. What we are taught by our parents as well as the different eating related behaviours we observe influence all of us right into adulthood.
The three most common ways we are shaped or types of conditioning that occur in childhood are:
— You are told to eat everything on your plate and if you don’t eat it all you will be punished because you won’t grow up to be big and strong. So what happens here is that different eating habits and quantity capabilities of children aren’t taken into account. We learnt that we had to eat what everyone else is eating around us and had to finish all the food even if we weren’t hungry. Hence as adults we replicate this learning that has gone on by often feeling pressure to finish what’s on our plate even if we feel full.
— We associate social activities and gatherings with food. Now this has many positive aspects to it and the sharing of food during meals is a beautiful ritual throughout all cultures. However what tends to happen is that we over emphasis the food factor so the focus on social interaction and communication is often overshadowed by the food we consume during these gatherings. Why not try getting together with friends without including food as a central variable Even as a suggestion especially in this part of the world it sounds quite challenging agreed.
— Another eating habit shaped by early conditioning is that food can be used as a reward or punishment. I’m sure all of us remember being given chocolate sweets ice-cream or other such treats as a reward for good behaviour. Now this is somewhat contradictory in what we have been taught. If sweets are bad for us than why are they used as rewards for good behaviour Isn’t that sending a mixed message since ultimately sugar filled artificial junk items shouldn’t really be used as rewards if they are bad for us should they
Therefore if you have been eating healthy and on the right track in regards to diet and exercise giving yourself a day off by allowing tons of calorie filled carb and sugary type food might not be a wise reward at all but rather a regressive punishment. Instead buy yourself a new outfit rather than a box of doughnuts.
Food psychology experts believe that aside from what we learnt from our parents there are a few more aspects that can influence our feelings about food and eating behaviours. Such as:
Life experience
Travel
Cultural factors
Social factors
Familial factors
Personality factors
Influence of a partner
There are also positive and negative consequences associated with certain eating habits. Most of us eat for reasons that may not be directly related to hunger. We eat out of loneliness depression frustration anger or even as a way of celebration. In other words we tend to use food to help ease underlying emotions such as fear worry anxiety or even euphoria.
If feeling down or slightly irritable food might help you to deal with negative feelings temporarily. In the long term however dealing with stress by eating especially the wrong foods can actually amplify negative feelings because the root problem causing the stress is not being dealt with directly. Moreover you may struggle with feelings of guilt due to over eating and your self-image might become negative if you gain weight.
The connectivity between your mind perceptions and urges for certain food is so strong that a recent study conducted by psychologist Carey Morewedge reported that if you imagine yourself eating something you can actually control your appetite for it. This new concept is known as the ‘Imagine Diet’ and if it truly does what it says then by looking at or imagining pictures of hamburgers & chocolate cake we can begin resisting the actual temptation of wanting to consume them. If only!
Studies show that what we eat affects us from the cradle to the grave. Just remember as long as you’re not eating excessively or mindlessly munching to relieve yourself feeding your mood with delicious healthy options can be an effective way to help you function at your physical and emotional best.
Dr. Samineh I. Shaheem is the Learning & Development Director at Kawader (www.kawaderuae.com) and the owner of Life Clubs UAE. She has studied and worked in different parts of the world including the USA Canada UK Netherlands and now the UAE. She co-hosts a radio program on 103.8 FM Dubai Eye (Psyched Sundays Voices of Diversity 10-12pm) every Sunday morning discussing the most relevant psychological issues in our community. Twitter: saminehshaheem/Facebook: Life Clubs UAE. Please forward your thoughts and suggestions for future articles to OutOfMindContactgmail.com