Are You What You Eat?

Everyone knows about “comfort foods”. We all run to them when we’re feeling a little down, stressed or depressed. We eat what makes us feel good during those times. The truth is that we have an emotional attachment to what’s on our plate, which is why dieting is one of the hardest things to do.

On a personal level for me, chocolate ice cream is one of my comfort foods. Dairy is not necessarily part of my normal diet, but there are times when I give in to the craving. I know that you have your favorites, too, and you probably gravitate to them when you feel the need for comfort, acceptance, love and similar energies.

What you may not realize is that there’s an emotional attachment there – and until you understand those attachments, it is going to be very hard to give up those foods. Marketing people understand this. I can remember a supermarket commercial for steaks. It showed cowboys sitting around a campfire cooking steaks. The impression was that the cowboys were macho and if you wanted to be like them, you should eat steak. Fast food chains do the same thing with their marketing tactics. What they are really doing is helping you create an emotional attachment to their product, whether you are aware of it or not.

For instance, have you noticed the photos that adorn the walls of some fast food chains and restaurants? Some are filled with really delicious looking food — super fresh and crisp. Other photos have smiling people eating that delicious-looking food. The message being projected is that if you want to be “happy”, eat their food. Yes, it’s an emotional attachment being used.

On the other side of the equation, there’s the documentary about a guy who eats nothing but fast food for 30 days. Burgers, fries, and soft drinks — that’s it - for 30 days. The result: He almost destroyed his liver and ruined his health!

The Bottom Line

Educate yourself about food. Look within and try to understand your emotional attachments to the foods and snacks you desire — and see if you can find healthy alternatives. Like the saying goes, “You are what you eat”. What are you now? What do you want to be?