5 powerful reasons to eat that are not nutrition

The 5 Powerful Reasons We Eat That Are Not Health Or NutritionFor survival.If you’re thinking that sounds a lot like health or nutrition, you’re right in some ways they have similarities, but health and survival are two very different ideals.Someone who is focused on survival does not have the luxury of worrying about how much fat is in his meal or whether or not the eggs he’s eating are free range.Restricting and controlling our food is a luxury afforded to us because we have an abundance of food.I don’t know what your circumstances are, but even if you are not LITERALLY eating only for survival (as in you don’t know where your next meal is going to come from or how it will be paid for), you may be in survival mode because of other circumstances in your life.As a mom of 3 kids 4 and under, I have spent a fair chunk of the last 4 years of my life in “survival mode”And that’s okay, because survival is probably the most important reason we eat…because if we’re not alive, none of these other reasons matter much, do they?If during these times you are subsisting on takeout, convenience, food, and whatever you can get your hands on, instead of feeling guilty take the time to assess your situation and accept that there is a season for everything.I will have an upcoming episode on getting out of survival mode, but only when your life has slowed down to the point to make that possible.Until then, just express some gratitude that the drive-thru exist and be on your merry way.2. For culture and relationshipsI have the fondest memories of visiting Puerto Rico as a chlid and making fry bread with my abuela, or gathering lemons from her lemon tree in the backyard.I enjoyed wandering the island and enjoying piraguas (puerto rican snow cones), piña coladas, deep fried seafood empanidillas. The list goes on.Only in my adult life do I realize, yikes, none of these foods were very healthy.But these foods connect me to my family and culture, which is so important to me because I always felt a little distant from my hispanic culture growing up in the mountains of Utah.I’m sure your food memories are different than mine, but I am willing to bet you have some connections to food that are not necessarily “healthy” by today’s definitions of the words, but that are important to you nonetheless. Culture and connection is one of the important reasons we eat.3. To Cope with difficult emotions.Emotional eating is one of the important reasons we eat.Nutrition expert Ellyn Satter said this about emotional eating.“it is natural to eat for emotional reasons. Eating can raise your spirits when you are low, soothe you when you are tense, and distract you when you are upset. We cook special meals to celebrate and we use food to help us connect with other people. But you abuse emotional eating when your feelings go straight to eating: when you feel upset and automatically reach for food to settle yourself down.“Emotional eating is a natural response to difficult emotions, and only becomes a problem when it’s abused or it’s the only tool in your arsenal to handle difficult emotions…but if, like me, you like a bowl of ice cream to soothe you after a difficult day of motherhood give yourself from grace and understand that it’s natural and you’re finding resources to help you cope.4. For funIs there anything more fun than planning a big superbowl party and creating a spread of delicious game day food to enjoy?Read More at https://www.callmebetty.com/#16-the-5-powerful-reasons-we-eat-that-aren't-nutrition/