Food vs. Emotions.....how does this work?!

In general, eating food is a pleasurable experience that makes us feel...well good, right? Whether it be as simple as an apple dipped in honey or everybody-share-your-very-spicy-Indian-curry-with-the-whole-table-night, the moods that food can put us in is one of its greatest gifts!

That being said, when I sat down to eat a delicious meal of mac and cheese, corn, buttermilk rolls, and a hefty supply of vanilla ice cream blanketed in creamy caramel sauce last night, I was not really that excited. After trying the mac and cheese, I realized that it not only blew the gym shorts off of the boxed Kraft Cheese and Macaroni that had been one of my childhood staples, but that its very consistency with thick globs of cheese and fat noodles poking out was the ultimate comfort food. I eyed it and basically wondered, "why isn't this making me feel good?"

I came to the conclusion that, when you're not in the mood, food isn't going to get you there on its own. In fact, it can be dangerous to invest too much emotional value in food. This is basically because it's really not the food that is doing anything to you. You feeling sad or stressed or frustrated is not going to poof away just because you spoon up some fudgy, ice cream concoction and stick it in your mouth. In my opinion, food is more of an enhancer and if you're emotionally in the right place for it, it will do its job and make your feel good. But not before.

So if the PB and J isn't doing it for you today, consider what the real issue is and invest your energy in working though that before you picking that sandwich back up. It's sure to taste better the next time. :)