One of the greatest explanations I have ever read of "normal eating" was this essay written by Ellyn Satter. I might be mistaken, but I have heard it was written for people with eating disorders. Even if that was not the original purpose, I know it is used for people who struggle with disorders. Everytime I shared this in my courses I taught, I would have at least one student confess their struggle with eating disorder and comment on how this helps them.
What Is Normal Eating?
by Ellyn Satter
Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it -not just stop eating because you think you should. 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. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful. Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. And it can be undereating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. 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.
Copyright © 2011 by Ellyn Satter. Published at www.EllynSatter.com.
Wins For Today:
We went to the zoo with my brother, their Uncle Ben. It was a pleasant day with lots of good exercise, water, and healthful eating.
Nutritional Nugget:
A reader (a dear friend) is having some issues with elevated Triglycerides. In honor of her journey, I want to address that for a little while.
Triglycerides are fat in our body. The level found in the blood is the fat sort of looking for a home. Triglycerides are stored in our fat cells and used as the storage form of energy. Anytime we overeat, the excess calories are converted to fat and stored for later. When we need energy, our body can convert and use the triglycerides stored in our fat cells. A high level of triglyceride may be indicated in complications like heart disease, obesity, pancreatitis.
Levels of Triglycerides:
Normal is less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high is 150-199 mg/dl
High is 200-499 mg/dl
Very high level is 500 or above mg/dl.
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