Intuitive Eating At Family Gatherings

JUST FOR TODAY:  Practice being an intuitive eater during holiday parties and family gatherings.  Pause to identify the type and amount of food you truly need.

As a reminder, there are three main reasons why we eat:  Physical Need (we feel hungry and our bodies need nutrients), Physical Desire (we want to eat because something looks good or we anticipate will taste good), and Emotional Desire (we want to eat because we are feeling stressed, lonely, or just want to celebrate).  It's OK to eat for all of these reasons – but to be free of eating disorders and obesity, it's important to have balance.  Being an intuitive eater means that you eat most of the time because of Physical Need, some of the time because of Physical Desire, and rarely because of Emotional Desire.  How can you be an intuitive eater during the Holidays, when there typically is an abundance of food triggering your senses?  How about when one of your family members triggers you emotionally?  Pay attention to the reasons why you want to eat, and do your best to make your choices based on Physical Need.  Carefully notice all of the food options that you have, and pause to check in with the type and amount of food that would best satisfy you.  If you want some of the special foods that typically are only prepared during the Holidays, go ahead and select those foods, but be aware of how much you truly need to satisfy you.  Aunt Martha's special dish will be there again next year – and if you really want some before then, you can ask her for the recipe and enjoy some any day you choose!    

©2009 by "Dr. Dorie" McCubbrey,  M.S.Ed, Ph.D. – Eating Disorder & Obesity Treatment Specialist – Denver, Colorado