Energy in Motion: The Psychology of Food: How to Eat to Live and Not Live to Eat

It’s a well-known fact that people in our society eat for many reasons that have little or nothing to do with providing our bodies sustenance for life and physical activity. We know that eating reasonably is so much better for us, yet we continue to ingest food that’s laden with fat and calories we don’t need. Why? Because we’re geared towards it.

From our early childhoods, most of us discovered that food was a way to feel better or to make someone else feel better. When you’re sick, your mother would bring you chicken soup; you go to the doctor for shots and afterward she gives you a lollipop. Later in like, when you broke up with your boyfriend, a pint of ice cream was the answer. Have a hard day at work and you pick up fast food. We spend a lifetime re-creating the sensation of comfort and food is our venue. Unfortunately, it’s almost always the foods that aren’t good for us.

Other people eat out of boredom; there’s nothing to do, so they wander into the refrigerator. Others reward themselves with food – they promise themselves that if they clean the house or get an A on a test, they’ll treat themselves to ice cream or order pizza.

These are all psychological roles that food plays in our lives. But it doesn’t have to! The key is to plan ahead for times and events when you need extra comfort, convenience, activities, and/or rewards. Explore additional food options and find some healthy special treats to reward yourself with. Write a list of other ways to comfort yourself when something is wrong: calling a friend, taking a bubble bath, reading a good book, going to the movies, etc. For a special treat or reward, get a manicure or spend an hour giving yourself a spa treatment at home. If you’re bored, take a new exercise class, go for a walk, play with your dog, or something else you enjoy that doesn’t involve food.

Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to break the cycle of food making us feel better emotionally. Food is for your physical sustenance, not your emotional well-being. There is no need for anyone to be psychologically dependent on food for comfort or enjoyment in life. There is too much other beauty and joy in the world to limit yourself to a piece of cake or some pizza rolls.