Eating Your Feelings
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. When we think of Thanksgiving we typically think of food, overindulgence, shopping, football, family, and maybe stretchy pants. Did you hear about Stove Tops’ pants? Must Have Stretchy Pants
For me, Thanksgiving is more about family than anything else. For a variety of personal reasons, Thanksgiving has looked different nearly every year. Some years I have been with family. Some years I have been with friends. One year I was fortunate enough to celebrate with a Vietnamese family. They had “traditional” American food and they also incorporated Vietnamese dishes. Thanksgiving isn’t about food for me. I’m a very picky eater and turkey is never something I look forward to eating. I’m not even a fan of pumpkin pie. The horror! I make a pretty decent turkey (Ilyce Glink has a great recipe) and I make a really good pumpkin pie with homemade crust. But, regardless, they just don’t excite me. So, the holiday has been more about the people around me. What I have learned is that the “traditional” foods have an emotional connection with me that relates to family and friends. When I think of turkey I think of the various people who I have been with on Thanksgiving. When I think about pumpkin pie, I think about my mother, our relationship, and her cookbook that is my go-to for the most amazing recipes.
There is research that shows our emotions can and are connected to food. For example, studies have shown that if we merely think of things we are thankful for, we will eat 77% healthier. The phrase “Eating your feelings” typically describes emotional eating after a sad event (i.e. breakup. Hello, Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia). Research has also shown that our recovery from sad events actually is the same whether or not we indulge. The researchers believe that food is used, in these emotional situations, as a “reward” rather than an actual coping mechanism.
There is a documentary, Food on the Brain (PBS, 2014), that talks about how our moods are connected to our foods. This covers the chemicals in our foods and how that has an effect on our emotional state(s). Your food choices can have an effect on your brain and emotions, and, your emotions can influence your food choices. There is an undeniable connection, according to research.
This blog post isn’t all about research and science though. While I want you to understand how there is a mind-food connection, I also want you to get the most out of your holiday celebration, no matter who you are with and what you are eating. So, I have included some helpful and fun links below.
Here is Ilyce Glink’s turkey recipe:
http://www.thinkglink.com/2007/11/18/another-helping-ilyces-turkey-recipe/ She also has GREAT tips about finances, consumerism, and much more. Check her out at www.thinkglink.com.
This is a Buzzfeed quiz that will tell you what food matches your personality:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/quiz-what-food-matches-your-personality?utm_term=.ptpDPRxOP4#.am0Xqv08q6
Adam Sandler’s SNL performance of The Thanksgiving Song:
https://youtu.be/2bH0rULAHEg
State Farm’s funny Safe Turkey Frying video:
https://youtu.be/ZNPNayJDxIo
Happy Thanksgiving!!
For me, Thanksgiving is more about family than anything else. For a variety of personal reasons, Thanksgiving has looked different nearly every year. Some years I have been with family. Some years I have been with friends. One year I was fortunate enough to celebrate with a Vietnamese family. They had “traditional” American food and they also incorporated Vietnamese dishes. Thanksgiving isn’t about food for me. I’m a very picky eater and turkey is never something I look forward to eating. I’m not even a fan of pumpkin pie. The horror! I make a pretty decent turkey (Ilyce Glink has a great recipe) and I make a really good pumpkin pie with homemade crust. But, regardless, they just don’t excite me. So, the holiday has been more about the people around me. What I have learned is that the “traditional” foods have an emotional connection with me that relates to family and friends. When I think of turkey I think of the various people who I have been with on Thanksgiving. When I think about pumpkin pie, I think about my mother, our relationship, and her cookbook that is my go-to for the most amazing recipes.
There is research that shows our emotions can and are connected to food. For example, studies have shown that if we merely think of things we are thankful for, we will eat 77% healthier. The phrase “Eating your feelings” typically describes emotional eating after a sad event (i.e. breakup. Hello, Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia). Research has also shown that our recovery from sad events actually is the same whether or not we indulge. The researchers believe that food is used, in these emotional situations, as a “reward” rather than an actual coping mechanism.
There is a documentary, Food on the Brain (PBS, 2014), that talks about how our moods are connected to our foods. This covers the chemicals in our foods and how that has an effect on our emotional state(s). Your food choices can have an effect on your brain and emotions, and, your emotions can influence your food choices. There is an undeniable connection, according to research.
This blog post isn’t all about research and science though. While I want you to understand how there is a mind-food connection, I also want you to get the most out of your holiday celebration, no matter who you are with and what you are eating. So, I have included some helpful and fun links below.
Here is Ilyce Glink’s turkey recipe:
http://www.thinkglink.com/2007/11/18/another-helping-ilyces-turkey-recipe/ She also has GREAT tips about finances, consumerism, and much more. Check her out at www.thinkglink.com.
This is a Buzzfeed quiz that will tell you what food matches your personality:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/quiz-what-food-matches-your-personality?utm_term=.ptpDPRxOP4#.am0Xqv08q6
Adam Sandler’s SNL performance of The Thanksgiving Song:
https://youtu.be/2bH0rULAHEg
State Farm’s funny Safe Turkey Frying video:
https://youtu.be/ZNPNayJDxIo
Happy Thanksgiving!!
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