Understanding Normal Eating
Posted on: November 17th, 2016
Most people don’t have a clear understanding of what normal eating is and consequently don’t realize when their eating behaviors become problematic. Therefore it’s critical to know the definition of normal eating so you can tell when you’re outside the norm and starting to develop eating issues.
What’s essential to understand about normal eating is that it’s not a single, predictable behavior—it’s influenced by a range of factors including your level of hunger, schedule, proximity to food and feelings and these factors are in a constant state of change. For example, college students may have schedule and feelings impact their eating pattern as they adjust to classes, studying and new food options in their meal plan. Or hunger can be a dominant factor for someone juggling the demands of their job and planning family meals—they may become overwhelmed, end up eating on the run, and lose their connection to hunger and fullness cues. In short, we are sensitive individuals responding to a convergence of factors that make the experience of “normal eating” different each and every time.
For further insights on what normal eating is, here are some excellent guidelines from The Ellyn Satter Institute:
• Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you’re satisfied. It’s choosing food you like and eating it until you truly get enough—not stopping eating because you think you should.
• Normal eating is giving some thought to your food selection so you eat nutritious food, not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food.
• Normal eating is sometimes giving yourself permission to eat because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good.
• Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It’s 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.
• Normal eating is at times overeating and feeling stuffed. Or it can be under-eating at times and wishing you had more.
• Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your eating mistakes.
• Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but remains only one important area of your life.
If your eating behaviors differ from the above, unhealthy factors may be having an impact, such as body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, dieting, and lack of family or social support. If this is the case seek professional help immediately so you can reestablish a normal relationship with food. Contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy at 973-313-1691 or info@maureenkritzerlange.com.
Leave a Reply