EATING

EATING is not only for sustenance. In our 'affluent' modern society, many of us need not worry much about satisfying our physical hunger. I say 'affluent' because there is so much food around. No need to hunt for our food. Even the lesser income, can easily get cheap food (although not nutritious) like instant noodles, plain nasi lemak, roti canai, etc. ironically, these are the same food the higher income people also look forward to eating!!

We eat for other reasons:

• emotional link to the past, nostalgia.. That is why all the modern day kopitiams (coffeeshops) sprouting up have decor that reminds us of pre-Merdeka (50's) days.
• emotional need for comfort.. After a long, hard day at work, doesn't that calorie-laden teh tarik or mocha latte taste extremely satisfying? What about going home to enjoy mom's rendang and other home-cooked dishes. You binge on that sumptious Macadamian cheesecake from Delicious :)
  
• emotional need for compensation.. We pamper ourselves in many ways because we feel (as the L'oreal ad says) - You're worth it! We grow up feeling that in return for working hard, we should get some monetary & material reward. So, although we crave for the simple makcik's nasi lemak by the roadside, we order nasi lemak at up-market restaurants, for many, many times the price, but we feel it's worth it - because it comes with the ambience, service and feeling of achieving/arriving.
• emotional need for acceptance.. To many, eating in a group is more enjoyable. So one Sunday morning, you drive your car with your family in a convoy to the 'best' bah kut teh shop in Klang, or seafood in Kuala Selangor. There is camaderie and stories to tell of that adventure! You belong, you have friends, you feel secure, it satisfy our human need for bonding, for being in a society! More so, if you're the one who knows the best places to eat....the' leader'

Some eat to heal (physical and emotional wound) ....

Some eat to forget (drowning your sorrows, yet it creates a vicious cycle when the body naturally reacts to over-eating & creates further depression)...

Some are addicted to the stimulants within (caffeine, drug, additives) ...

Some eat out of habit. Put food infront of them, eventhough we arecurrently discussing the dangereous of over-eating, pop goes the food down the shute. Same goes when watching TV/movies at the cinema..

The result.. VERY UNHEALTHY EATING PATTERNS which unfortunately tends to replicate to your next generation, your children..

EAING HABITS start from very young - whether good or bad, children can 'see' with eyes more intuitive than the average adults. They absorb our habits, our tradition, our way of coping with unplesant situations. That child who sits there quitely (u think he is being passive) is absorbing & processing & developing future coping mechanisms to handle their future life. Even an active child learns - table manners, eating habits.

Eating also creates an environment for psychological warfare! Refusing to eat, throwing tantrums r ways they test their 'power' over the adults.. unchecked, it continues to adolescents, the most tumulous time for a person, where we r beginning to mould/find our identity. Time of confusion. And bombarded with the persuasive media, we get sucked into superficial 'happiness' solutions. Think KFC & McD advertisements promoting happy families, BF/GF relationships, grandparent-parent-child bonding...

Parents HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL of what goes into their kids!

Note : 
Notice that EATING TO STAY HEALTHY is not even in the list (my list) of why people eat.. Actually, it's there.. #20 on the list (* sarcasm attempt *)