Why do you eat?

There may be obvious answers to this question, but why specifically do YOU eat?

Do you eat for different reasons at different times of the day or different days of the week?

Are you at home, work or socialising somewhere?

I have a list below of reasons that might be relevant to you, but I am sure that there are many more.

Bored

Nourishment & health

Hungry

Time of the day

Rumbling stomach

Socialising

Enjoyment

Forced by others

Commitment to time

Feel lightheaded/ angry/ dizzy

Can’t think straight

Emotional

To use up food near sell by date

Relaxing

To empty fridge before holiday

Because there is food available

Because food might not be available very soon

Just been paid

Celebrating 

Just woken up

Middle of the night hunger

Just been exercising

Eating competition

Need to put on weight

Like food

So why should you eat?

A correct answer - Nourishment and health. But that is not always possible or the correct answer and any of the above might apply.

Food does not just provide the energy for your body, it may also have an effect with your brain (1) and emotions. (2) 

If you changed your thinking so that you ate for nourishment and health, would that change what you ate?(3)

If you would like to know more, please arrange a consultation with me.

References

1. Gómez-Pinilla F. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jul;9(7):568-78. doi: 10.1038/nrn2421. PMID: 18568016; PMCID: PMC2805706.
2. Spencer, S.J., Korosi, A., Layé, S. et al. Food for thought: how nutrition impacts cognition and emotion. npj Sci Food 1, 7 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-017-0008-y
3. Giuliani NR, Calcott RD, Berkman ET. Piece of cake. Cognitive reappraisal of food craving. Appetite. 2013 May;64:56-61. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.12.020. Epub 2013 Jan 9. PMID: 23313699; PMCID: PMC3711873.