When normal people eat, what do they think about?

Question

I am asking this because I am recovering from an eating disorder and have lost all memory of "normal" eating patterns.
Are they focusing on the food and the taste in their mouths or are they usually thinking about the day?

Answer 1

I admit I don't think enough about the food and the taste (unless it is unpleasant) after the first few bites. I think about things I have to do or read. Not a good habit.

Answer 2

Most teenage girls need about 2000 calories a day. If you're active, you could probably bump that up between 2200 and 2500 a day. Most of your calories should come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The least amount of calories should come from fats, oils, sweets, and junk foods--that is, foods with high amounts of salt, fat, and sugar and low amounts of nutrients. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. It takes about 3500 calories to gain one pound, but this gain is cumulative. If, when you eat what you used to, you gain weight, then you may be eating too much of the stuff. Check serving sizes and don't go over them. Take it easy on heavy-hitters such as burgers, cakes, pies, and anything fried. I'm about your age, and a healthy eater also (actually, underweight from it). Breakfast is always a serving of cereal, 1% milk, and two fruits. (It normally would be one, but I'm supposed to be gaining weight.) Lunch is three different veggies and two servings of whole grain. Ie--a tomato sandwich. Also, a milk. Snack is a whole grain and a vegetable. Dinner is always at least two vegetables, a fruit, a whole grain, and a cup of milk. If I eat dessert, I keep it low-fat and under 150 calories. I have a 7:30 snack of fruit. My old diet consisted mainly of fast food, super-sized meals and chocolate. I was actually a healthy weight on that diet (est. 2500 calories) but not a healthy person. Don't restrict yourself too much. You're still growing, after all.

Answer 3

It depends on the person.
If you are wanting to know what you should focus on, I would have to say it depends on the nature of your eating disorder.
Many people who have been anorexic or bulimic get sickened by the thought of food, and cannot think about what they are doing as they are eating. Knowing what they are putting in their bodies makes them physically or emotionally ill.
If you are a chronic overeater, it may be helpful to eat slowly and think about the tastes and textures of the food you are eating. Doing this will help you enjoy the food and keep you from overeating.

Answer 4

For me it really depends. If I have a lot on my mind I tend to not pay attention to my food and I've often found that will lead to over eating. When at all possible it's best to sit down, take your time, concentrate on your food and enjoy it. If you eat slowly your body will have time to respond to the fact that you are eating and send out the right signals to stop before you get too full.

Answer 5

I usually focus on the quality of the ingredients when I cook as I prepare most of the food in our house. Since I'm a vegan, my ingredient list is somewhat shorter than other people's. Lots of veggies, lots of whole grains, beans/lentils, nuts, soy products, etc. My goal is usually to make those ingredients tasty enough to eat without displeasure...lots of herbs and spices do the trick, usually. Then, when dinner is served, I eat it without too much thought, usually while watching tv. My thought goes into the cooking process and ingredient selection instead of the eating process, to be honest.

Answer 6

Honestly, I never get hungry and I don't crave food and when I eat I just know I have to eat to be healthy not to fullness not really to satisfaction just to know I have to eat in my mind because my body won't tell me I'm hungry I find it an extreme annoyance. I don't have a favorite food anymore and I don't really taste things too much for some strange reason. I typically won't think about what I am eating just what's going on around me.

Answer 7

I usually enjoy eating and think about what I eat but if I am preoccupied with something I probably think about that while I am eating. Just eat, relax and let your mind wander and find out what you think about when you eat.