In Defense of Emotional Eating

These days everyone is talking health.  People are gaining an awareness of what they put in their bodies.  One thing most people seem to agree on is that food is fuel.  Some however take that a step further saying that food is just  fuel.  Because of that little "just" we should not eat to reward ourselves, to soothe or manage our emotions.  Emotional hunger is different from physical hunger, so they say.  They strongly caution against reaching for comfort foods when feeling blue.  While we can appreciate the message, our relationship with food is far more sophisticated, than that.

Discovering Our Relationship with Nourishment

Our relationship with nourishment started in the womb where our needs were consistently met. We were neither hungry nor thirsty nor cold nor in want.  Our relationship with hunger arrived at the same time as our relationship with separation and need.  The need for nourishment and comfort was met the same way: breastfeeding.  A baby's social interaction and psychological development cannot be separated from his food supply.  That right there is the foundation of each and every  individual's relationship with food.