You Have Permission to Snack
I don’t know why snacking is something we encourage our children to do, but move away from as adults.
Life gets busy. Stress gets in the way. Perhaps we think about diet culture more than we did as kids. Perhaps we have the belief that snacking is an unhealthy behavior. Maybe a belief that eating between meals is off-limits.
This is diet culture. This is family culture.
This is socially accepted among adults, adulting. Ugh. Let’s be kids, again!
Many of us have memories of the excitement of coming home after school, in search of an after-school snack. And if you were fortunate enough to have a healthy relationship with food that time, and access to food, I imagine you looked forward to this snack!
Human bodies do not operate like vehicles. We do not have an external gas tank to provide us with fuel when we need it. We always need it. Our engine runs, always. Eating regularly allows our engine to run more efficiently. It promotes happier digestion, a more stable mood and less erratic interaction with food, itself.
Not that you need my permission, but in case you do: You have permission to snack. Many times a day. Every day.
Going back to the afterschool snack conversation, what was your favorite?
My go to? Tortilla chips with microwave melted cheese with blue 🔹 gushers.
Stress Reduction is Awesome
Am I suggesting that food should be the only way that you manage stress?
Nope.
Am I suggesting that if you eat, you won’t experience stress?
Nope.
But the act of not getting enough food puts stress on your body. Your body prepares for famine, and in doing so, activates a cascade of stress hormones to protect you because inadequate energy means you need stress hormones to function.
Another neat human trick for survival!
You can’t be both undernourished and simultaneously relaxed.
This applies whether you’re on a new year, new diet, are contending with an eating disorder, or just didn’t have the ability to eat because of a chaotic day. Your body doesn’t need to know the WHY. And it does know how to respond.
This applies to EVERY BODY. This is not dependent on body size. AT ALL.
Stress reduction is awesome.
Food is mandatory for engaging in ANY stress management anything.