How our childhood can create conditioned eating in adulthood

Food for thought: certain eating rules and regimes that are reiterated during childhood can create conditioned eating in adulthood.

Although we may develop a genuine dislike for a specific food or drink source during childhood - particularly if our parents were prone to being pushy - we can also mold a mindset that drives us to desire the dishes and desserts that damage more than just our dress size.

In fact, the repetitive eating rules (and regimes) that are often reiterated from an early age can not only resemble the core culprits responsible for our overwhelming urge to tuck into a certain food source at a specific time - the uncontrollable craving for something sweet after demolishing a savoury dish often stems from our parents providing a delicious dessert after dinner - but create problematic eating patterns that can leave us predisposed to piling on the pounds - the 'clearing of the plate' that's taught throughout childhood can create a habitual action that continues into adulthood, as we feel inclined to eat every piece of our portion regardless of how satisfied our stomaches may (or may not) feel.

Instead of automatically assuming that our 'failure' to fight the flab stems from our inability to sustain healthier habits, we should all take a moment to acknowledge and accept that not every problematic eating pattern (or unhealthy habit) can be ceased with something as simple as saying 'no' to our weight loss weaknesses.

Although we may be able to temporarily tame the temptation to turn to the treats and takeaways that tighten our trousers, sometimes the hardest habits to break can only be banished by digging deep to determine if we developed an underlying dependence for a specific food or drink source at an early age - be it to ease emotions (being given sweets to silence our sobbing and soothe our sadness), as a reward (our parents would always prepare our favourite foods as a way of acknowledging our achievements - no matter how small) or even a mere memory that creates comfort (demolishing the delicious dessert that we used to share with our departed dad after our childhood dinners creates comfort throughout tougher times - the comfort that our parents could always provide).

Summary: humans are complex creatures that often eat to ease their emotions - be it to soothe stress and sadness or to create comfort and control - as opposed to feeding to fuel their body and brain. Although our unhealthier habits don't all develop during childhood alone, it's important to remember that for many, this resembles an influential time when habits were formed and comfort could always be found in the foods that their parents provided when times were tough - an action that many still continue to turn to throughout adulthood.

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