food as fuel... and other stuff
I hear people say a lot that we have to learn to look at food as fuel for our bodies instead of looking at food as entertainment or comfort, etc. I agree that it's important to look at food as fuel, because it is fuel. It helps me to make good food choices when I look at what nutrients food has that my body needs.
But food is not just fuel. It's a lot more than that. At least, it is for many people.
If food was just fuel it would be boring. Food is fun. Or at least, it can be fun. It can be exciting. Meals can be social occasions. And I don't think there is anything wrong with that, as long as we are still making good food choices, as least most of the time.
And food is comforting sometimes, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, as long as we are mostly making good food choices and as long as food is not the only way we have to comfort ourselves.
I think food is also a way we communicate - if I bake some muffins for my new neighbors, it's a way of telling them I welcome them to the neighborhood. It's a way we show we care about people - if I have a friend that lost her job and I bake her favorite bread, it's a way of showing she's on my mind and I care. Now, I don't think it's a good think if the only way we can tell someone we care is to feed them, especially if we are feeing them unhealthy food. But I don't think there is anything wrong with using food to communicate sometimes.
Thoughts?
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
on 2/18/12 9:27 am
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
on 2/18/12 9:58 am
The notion that food is ever only supposed to be fuel is absolutely RIDICULOUS. As humans we aren't designed to regard food that way. We are biochemically engineered to gravitate toward foods we enjoy.
For instance humans, by nature, tend to gravitate away extremely bitter foods because in the beginning of time that signaled something poisonous. There are studies that show most humans gravitate toward sweet foods, which in the beginning of time meant fruit. There are chemicals in our brains that make connections between foods we like and nutrients we need so that it can create a craving if we get deficient.
Need I go on?
I HATE when people say food should only be fuel. True, it should not be our psychologist, best friend, boy friend, absent mama or higher power, but we, as humans, are meant to enjoy food.
Whew! Hadda get that out.
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!