What is "Normal Eating"?
The following information offers tips for how to eat appropriately. Trust that appropriate eating will lead to an appropriate weight. Eating specialist Ellyn Satter RD, author of Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family, offers the following definition of normal eating:
1. Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eating them and getting enough—not just stopping because you think you should.
2. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food.
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3. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad, or bored—or just because it feels good.
4. Normal eating is three meals a day, or four or five—or it can be choosing to munch along the way.
5. Normal eating is leaving some cookies on the plate now because you know you can have some again tomorrow--or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful.
6. Normal eating is overeating at times; feeling stuffed and uncomfortable—or it can be undereating at times and wishing you had more.
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7. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating.
8. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.
In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food, and your feelings.
Is it time to start learning how to eat normally?
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