Published on 12, July, 2020
Why do they refer to comfort eating when it is anything but a comfort afterwards? I try hard to eat well and normally eat only small portions but sometimes the urge to eat more is just too much. I made two helpings of Millionaires Short Bread and ate them both over two days. It felt great at first but when I had eaten, then the guilt trip starts, the loathing. There is little comfort in comfort eating!
All eating is comforting. Do you eat to live, or live to eat?
We get hunger pains and we eat to alleviate them. That's eating to live. Do you eat without hunger pains? That's living to eat. That's what people principally describe as 'comfort eating'. Eating for pleasure, without the presence of hunger. 'Eating Without-Hunger' is the most common way of eating for people living in rich, western societies. Instances of 'Hunger-Eating' in these countries is rare. Even the extremely poor or disadvantaged rarely experience hunger due to the widespread availability of cheap, highly processed sugary foods.Hunger-Eating is the most common way of eating in third-world, poorer countries. Instances of 'Eating Without Hunger' are rare and are restricted to the extremely wealthy and powerful.While one third of the world lives under the threat of starvation, dehydration and malnutrition, the other two thirds live under the threat of obesity, diabetes and clogged arteries. Just another instance of duality at play on a global stage. What is your relationship with food? Is it healthy and balanced? Do you eat to live, or live to eat? If you 'live to eat', the comfort you gain is transitory and will turn onto discomfort (guilt, shame, indigestion). If you 'eat to live', you will have gratitude for the food you receive, and pleasure/relief at the alleviation of your hunger.