Hi friends! 😀
Aaaah you guys are wonderful. Thank you for being so sweet and supporting my survey addiction by playing along and sharing your own answers. What would I do without ya?
As for the hush-hush info that I was going to share with you, the news is that… well, that there is no news 🙁 I thought that I had found a new place to call home, but after some careful consideration, it turns out that it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, so I decided to pass.
Unfortunately, that means that there’ll be more running around like a headless chicken in my immediate future, which means that a lot of my meals/snacks will continue to be eaten in this manner:
Love it. Except not really.
I’m the kind of person that likes to sit down and enjoy a meal, like so:
[buckwheat kasha with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and spinach, topped with sunflower seed butter; roasted asparagus coated in olive oil and garlic, topped with marinara sauce and hemp seeds]
Even though I rarely ever actually sit down at the table to eat (hello desk, couch, bed, etc.), I still like to be able to enjoy my food in a leisurely manner – I hate feeling like I have to rush through a meal.
Why?
Well, because I eat slow, for one thing. Ever since I was little, I was always the last one to get up from the table; it’s just how I work. And for another thing, eating too quickly makes me enjoy what I’m eating a lot less. I like to savor my meals, to make the act of eating an experience as opposed to a mere necessity.
[Greek yogurt with a muffie salvaged from the depths of my freezer]
Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. School. Work. Obligations. Errands. Life shows up and gets in the way. You can’t always eat when you want. You can’t always eat where you want. And you can’t always eat what you want. Le boo.
I used to have a big problem with this. When I was recovering from my eating disorder, I basically lived to eat. My whole day revolved around my scheduled meal times, as I would have to be at home at certain times so that I could eat certain things. Grabbing something while I was out was out of the question, and packing snacks? To be honest, most of the time I would rather pass on whatever it was that required me to be out for extended periods of time, and choose to stay home instead. Home, where I could eat whatever it is that I wanted in peace and quiet.
[Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries, Kashi GoLean]
Obviously, that’s neither a very practical or realistic approach to life. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to savor and enjoy a meal, but there is something wrong when that’s all that you want.
Food isn’t simply fuel, but neither is it life. I don’t believe that we should only “eat to live”, but neither do I believe that we should “live to eat”. A balance needs to be struck, and I’m still working on finding mine.
My days no longer revolve around scheduled meal times, but they do tend to be influenced by them. If I have a lot of errands to run, I usually try to take care of them in a way that will allow me to come home for lunch/dinner. If I want to exercise, I usually try to do it after I’m able to eat a snack. Sometimes things work out the way I want them to, and sometimes they don’t. The difference is that now I’m actually able to adapt to situations where I can’t have my way, whereas before I would simply pass on them. Snacking in the car and packing lunches may not be my favorite thing to do, but that’s life…
Suck it up, smile, and enjoy 😀
[eggy bananfied steel cut oats, a fresh peach, melted coconut butter, cinnamon]
. – . – . – .
What’s your take on the whole “eat to live” vs. “live to eat” issue? Should food simply be seen as fuel, or is it something more? And how do you balance the two?
Do you eat more of your meals/snacks at home, or while you’re out? Which do you prefer?
I also like to enjoy food slowly, but my daughter usually doesn’t let me do that
I’m in the middle on the debate. I eat to live, but I make sure I enjoy everything I eat. I also am mindful of what fuel I give my body. If I’m not excited/going to enjoy what I eat, I won’t eat it. There’s a balance between the two 🙂
I eat when I’m hungry which changes day to day. If I know I’m going to be out, I pack lunch and snacks. I tend to eat about the same whether I’m out or in.
Girl I completely agree with you! I used to stay home all day because of my eating disorders scheduled meal times. It was ridic.
I’m a slow eater who enjoys sitting and enjoying a meal, but I’ve been crazy busy myself lately, which has made for many meals in the car, eating out, and almond butter and jelly sandwiches galore. But hey, that’s life sometimes! And I’m not going to miss out on life because food is getting in the way.
eat to live AND live to eat, but don’t ONLY live to eat – there is so much more to live for!
Oh my gosh. Amanda, I absolutely ADORE your blog! You know exactly what I need when I need it. This post really spoke to me. Thank you for all of the hard work you put into it.
We definitely believe in eat to live! Too many people out there believe in living to eat which creates a world of unhealthy people!
I think the attitude should be “eat to live”…but I really enjoy food so I think sometimes it’s more “live to eat” 🙂
I eat most of my meals at home, but this is simply because ti saves me $$$
I’ve never really thought about that balance before. I enjoy food so much, you know? So I’d have to say I live to eat. Food is absolutely fuel, but you can still enjoy it and look forward to it. As long as your not abusing food, I think it’s okay to live to eat 🙂
I’m so glad I found your blog! I love this post because you’re so right–there should be a healthy balance between living to eat and eating to live. Food should be enjoyable and nourishing at the same time. 🙂
I love eating at home because that means we’re eating better food and not spending as much $!
this post definitely makes me think about my eating. I have to admit that I have sometimes skipped out on things because it was easier for me to eat that way…I do eat 6-7 meals a day! But you are so right that food is not everything and there are more important things in life. thank you for the reminder. 🙂
I’ve been searching for an “eat-to-live”/ “live-to-eat” balance for a loong time. There were years when I’d plan my days around meals and avoid any situation that inhibited me from eating “comfort foods” in familiar settings. Now, even though I prefer to prepare most of my meals, I almost almost always make people a priority. If there’s an event/party/trip that I want to partake in, there’s no way I’m going to miss it. However I always bring along a Luna bar, carrots, string cheese etc etc in my purse, just in case there’s nothing available that I want to eat. I used to worry about what others might think, but now I truly don’t care! I know that my choices are what make ME feel good–either physically (hello gluten allergy!), emotionally or both. 🙂
That said, I often wonder if I think about my meals and snacks a bit too much. I truly LOVE food–good food. I enjoy going out to restaurants and sampling different dishes, experimenting in the kitchen and discussing what I’ve eaten with others (which is why I enjoy blogging so much!). Sometimes I get so excited about food that I can’t decide what to eat! It’s at this point where I think “obsessing” might be an appropriate word to describe my relationship with it. But it’s one of my passions, and I think “obsess” and “passion” usually go hand in hand. 🙂
When it comes to eating I take a relaxed approach. Yes, I do view food mostly as nourishment for my body + mind but at times it is also nourishment for my soul.
I go in phases where I have to have the same foods a lot, or I get cranky. Like, even if I’m already full I still want to eat certain things in the morning or at night. weird. I tend to be pretty routine in what times I eat, and I always carry snacks with me because I don’t want to have to get something gross or expensive because I’m not prepared. Hence my energy bar obsession 🙂
Your kasha/ asparagus meal is so pretty and I want to try it! You look like a creative cook!
I hope you find a place soon! It’s probably just not meant to be at this very second, but I’m sure you will find a place! It’s definitely hard to find a balance between the two. I like eating out but after I do it for a weekend or a vacation, I always crave something homemade and made by me.
I think striking the perfect balance between “living to eat” and “eating to live” is so important. It’s not an easy balance to strike at all! I try my best to make every meal delicious and REALLY eat what I’m craving, but I also realize this can’t always happen. I much more prefer home cooked meals to meals out but I also really love a nice meal out once in a while. I find that if it’s saved for every once in a while it’s that much more special 🙂
eating while driving a stick!? That is impressive, I must say 😉
And I totally agree that a balance must be reached. Yes, it is good to love the food you eat, but you have to give that a back seat at times! That, I think, is the key to a healthy life :]
Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
Scott
Aw sorry to hear you haven’t found a condo yet, but sometimes it takes a bit of time to find that perfect one 🙂 And I’m sure you’ll find it soon!
As far as the whole “eat to live” vs. “live to eat” question…I think a good balance of both leads to a healthy and happy lifestyle 🙂 We need food to fuel us through our busy days, but we also need to eat foods we enjoy eating. I need to learn to eat more slowly…ever since I was young I’ve scarfed down my food. It’s so hard to eat slower! haha
I agree with you about the importance of finding the balance between eating to live and living to eat. And I’m definitely with you on still seeking that balance. It seems as though finding balance in ANY act or situation is so difficult! But once found, it’s like…..Ahhhhh. Such a relief. 🙂
I’m with you with scheduling my day so that mealtimes will be when I want them. When I’m hungry I’m a grouchy girl!!! I like eating at home but going out now and then is really fun. 🙂
I prefer to eat at home. And yeah, I totally live to eat.
=) living to eat = way more fun that eating to live. I do need to learn how to eat mine more slowly though… i love things piping burn-my-mouth hot and dive in fast and furious too too often! lol
This is a great post. I’ve actually been trying to communicate this to my mom, and I’m going to have her come and read it as soon as I post up this comment. She tells me over and over again that food is just a “necessity”, that you eat it to keep you alive and no other reason. I’ve been trying to communicate to her that food can also be an enjoyable experience and source of pleasure–but she just sees this as twisted ED thoughts. *sigh*
But I understand exactly what you mean; its exactly how I feel. Sure, I prefer to enjoy whatever meal I’m craving in a slow and leisurely fashion, but sometimes that doesn’t happen. Sometimes I have to scarf food down so I can get out the door. Sometimes I have to pack snacks. Heck, during the school year I’m out of the house from 8 AM until 4 PM–that’s a lot of packing! So, I can pack and eat on the run/in a hurry… but I prefer not to. I like to savor and enjoy my food, and I hate being rushed. This post articulates exactly what I’ve been trying to tell my mom for so long now!
I like to eat my meals slowly so that I can remember eating them. I find that if I eat too fast or while doing other things, I end up still hungry and unsatisfied. I prefer to be home while I eat my main meals, but snacks I don’t mind eating on the go. I do have somewhat of a schedualed meal plan, and I know that I usually cannot go longer than a few hours without some fuel. If for some reason I cannot eat at home, I make sure to find a place that I can sit down to enjoy my meals. i like to savor every bite 🙂
Like so many others, during my ed it was all “eat to live”, taking in the bare minimum for survival. I think we can agree that is the wrong way to live. It takes the joy out of life. But we already know that. The opposite, “live to eat”, in it’s extreme, would automatically mean you believe in indulging your every food desire. This is also wrong. Food becomes an idol or your only reason to live. Selfish much?
The balance between the two is different for everyone, whether leaning toward one side or the other. But the balance is necessary. For an athlete, food may be a fuel for high performance, naturally leaning toward the “eat to live” side. A cook on the other hand makes food for the purpose of creating a pleasurable experience, so he is leaning toward “live to eat”. But the athlete will still eat some cake and a cook will eat steamed broccoli. Because they both know there is a balance.
I believe the balance is more intuitive than we give it credit for being. It is when the media gets involved (or friends and family even), telling us to eat this new super berry or eat celery for every meal, that our brains get messed up. And that is why so many people, such as us, write blogs and explore the balance between eating for health and enjoyment, or both at the same time! Because, at one point or another, our balance got messed up. We are just trying to find it again.
I had a really long “answer” that didn’t really answer the question : / Oh, well! Thanks for compelling me to write a random essay 🙂
Most of the time I am always on the run during the day so I pack snacks/lunches and eat them on the go or at work. For breakfast and dinner I always make it a point to sit down and enjoy my meals. If I had it my way, I would sit down and enjoy all my meals and snacks.
well having an ed background I guess food became an integral part of my existence, some people found strange how someone with anorexia would have to be home to eat. I am so glad that now I can eat whenever, if I forgot to bring something to eat I can go and choose something and can eat mostly amongst others.
I defiantly believe that a balance is needed I never imagined back in the day that food could ever be enjoyable I would never be able to cook meals for myself my life revolved around food and yes to some degree it does now as without food you cannot survive and is needed to keep me happy in both body and mind, also from experience of being around people without disorderd eating so does their lives. The conversation’s we had going back from college were always about what they were eating