The Psychology of Eating.

People engage in eating behavior as a matter of survival, normally every day. That is, one has to make choices about what to eat, when, and how much. In western or westernized societies in particular, food is abundant, cheap, and available in a great variety. Moreover, eating is a fundamentally rewarding behavior, and is thus intrinsically linked to mood and emotions. When humans are energy deficient, a complex interplay of physiological processes signals the brain that food should be consumed, i.e., an individual feels hungry. When enough food has been consumed, these processes signal that consumption should be terminated, i.e., an individual feels satiated or sated. Eating can be triggered even in the absence of hunger or extended beyond satiation.

Numerous factors are known that determine or guide eating behavior in an automatic and implicit fashion. Eating may be initiated or prolonged by the presence of others, i.e., is influenced by social factors.Food choices and consumption are also strongly influenced by environmental factors, e.g., advertising, packaging, portion sizes, lighting, and many more. Constant monitoring and self-regulation of eating is necessary in order to eat healthily, i.e., to provide the body both qualitatively and quantitatively with the right nutrients. At the same time, eating healthily also means to be able to enjoy the rewarding aspects of food without falling prey to a loss of control over eating.

Many individuals are able to do this successfully, yet some exhibit over-regulation of eating behavior resulting in underweight and malnutrition. In most cases, obesity is the result of poor dietary habits – rather than compulsive eating binges – which contribute to a modest average daily excess of energy intake over energy expenditure. Some individuals, however, show regular binge eating which is defined as consuming large amounts of food over a discrete period of time with a sense of lack of control over eating, and which is associated with marked distress. there are some individuals who engage in regular binge eating but use compensatory behaviors like vomiting to prevent weight gain.In addition to eating disorders and obesity, there are a vast number of eating behaviors that deserve scientific scrutiny and discussion. For instance, there are some problematic eating behaviors that are not included in the current diagnostic manuals, but are continuously debated in terms of their clinical relevance  e.g., night eating or food addiction. 

Thus, it would appear to be inappropriate to focus on eating disorders and obesity as separate entities. Findings from basic research on eating behavior are important to understand disordered eating behavior. These findings may include research on how food and food-cues are processed in the brain, mechanisms underlying successful and unsuccessful self-regulation of eating, or social and environmental determinants of and individual differences in food choice and consumption. In addition, there is increasing evidence that eating behaviors, e.g., food preferences, are shaped by gene-environment interactions in early childhood. A better understanding of the developmental aspects of eating behavior is essential to understand eating behavior in adulthood. Research on triggers of and treatment approaches for reducing binge eating may also be useful to increase dieting success or inducing healthier food choices in overweight individuals without eating disorders.


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Why Cooking Is As Important As It Is Fun.

Everyone loves the idea of a home-cooked meal. However, when the dinnertime hours roll around after a long day, the desire for a healthy meal can quickly turn into a dinner that is less than delicious. When thinking about ways to combat this dinnertime decline, the first idea that comes to mind is to create a menu for the week ahead. By planning out your meals, you are able to shop easily for ingredients, stay organized throughout the week and avoid having to guess what to make each night. Another idea is to prep your food earlier in the week. Prepping your food on Sunday is an excellent way to stay ahead of the game all week. Got home from work late? An upcoming exam has you completely stressed out? You can relax knowing that making dinner is one less thing on your plate.Now that we have covered some ways to make cooking at home easier, let’s talk about why it’s important and indeed, quite fun.

1. It is generally healthier to be aware of the exact foods you are eating.

While a burrito bowl from your favorite restaurant may seem like a healthy choice, it is often healthier for you to create your own meals with your own fresh ingredients. Not only are you able to decide the portions in your own kitchen, you also may stay away from the tortilla chips while you’re at it.

2. Cooking as a way to de-stress.

If the idea of de-stressing by cooking makes you laugh, perhaps you just need to change things up. By using some of the simple kitchen tips and tricks discussed above, cooking and baking can become a way to clear your mind.

3. Cooking as a way to express yourself, your likes and dislikes.

Use new and interesting recipes as an outlet for creativity. Try crazy ingredients, skip what you don’t like or don’t follow a recipe at all. The kitchen is your oyster.

4. Impress family and friends.

As you quickly become the favorite party host, your friends and family will be quite impressed with your chef prowess. Nothing is better than seeing people enjoy the food that you’ve made for them.

6. Lasting memories can be made in the kitchen.

Whether you are cooking up delicious dishes for a party or spending time with family and friends around the kitchen table, some of the best memories can be made in the kitchen. Share food, laughter and love by enjoying meals with the people around you.

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