I’ve had a battle with food most of my life. Although I’m athletic and trim, I have a lurking fear of going hungry.
I grew up in a house where there was food for the kids and food for my dad. One side of the fridge had ice cream, pop, butter, pork chops and the other had skim milk, margarine and ground beef. Hey I get it, money was tight but no wonder I developed a scarcity mentality about food. I was a heavy social eater – hovering like a vulture where ever food lay – chatting and eating, eating and chatting. I woke regularly with brutal hangover, a food hangover.
My food beast rears it’s ugly head at the bewitching hour for mothers – feeding your child at 5 pm. Rushed and hungry, I would have a mini dinner before dinner with my hubby. A little cheese & cracker, houmous, and chips all the while standing and multitasking. Sort of like mindlessly watching TV, I was mindlessly eating. I often couldn’t even remember what I ate!
Then I read an excerpt from Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth. A message of common sense blended with kindness, and as I read her guidelines my gnawing anxiety started to release it’s hold on me.
May Geneen Roth’s seven guidelines to eating more consciously inspire you;
1. Eat when you are hungry.
2. Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car.
3. Eat without distractions. Distractions include radio, television, newspapers, books, 4. intense or anxiety-producing conversations or music.
4. Eat what your body wants. This is about listening to your body.
5. Eat until you are satisfied.
6. Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others.
7. Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure.
My eating style has changed, it hasn’t been a huge haha but many lovely unfoldings. I remind myself that there’s enough food and I am enough.
My food beast is fading.
