Food: For Business Or Pleasure?

This is a guest post from Brandon Wood of So Long Fatass. Brandon’s done an amazing job changing his diet and exercise habits while dropping more than 50 pounds so far.

There are countless reasons why we eat food, and most of them have nothing to do with being hungry. Sometimes we eat due to stress, or out of boredom, or just because it tastes good. But what is the actual purpose of food? What do our bodies actually need?

Food For Business

Strictly speaking, food is just fuel for our bodies, nothing more. I know that’s not a very exciting take on things, but there’s nothing about that candy bar or slice of chocolate cake that our bodies need. Sure, those things are delicious and can be very satisfying, but we don’t need them.

Hundreds or thousands of years ago, our ancestors got by just fine without the plethora of processed foods we have available to us today. Instead, they survived on simple foods that they could either gather, such as fruits, nuts and berries, or they hunted. No cookies. No cakes. No potato chips. Their sole purpose for eating was to fuel their bodies for survival.

Food For Pleasure

These days, eating has become a social activity. We get together with friends and family to eat large, indulgent meals, just for the fun of it. Birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations have largely become occasions synonymous with overeating. I think one of the leading reasons why obesity rates have risen so high, is that the scales have tipped more towards eating for pleasure. Overeating has become a socially accepted norm. When you go out to eat at a restaurant, the food you are served is typically enough for two meals, but since that’s what was put in front of us, we often eat it in one sitting.

How About Some Moderation?

Now, I’m not saying that we all need to go back to eating like our ancestors, and cut out all the snacks and treats. What I am saying though, is that we need to put more focus and thought into what we’re eating, and why we’re eating it. It’s perfectly fine to indulge here and there and enjoy the food that you eat, but before eating something, try asking yourself, “Why am I eating this? Am I actually hungry? Or am I eating this for another reason?” I’ve been doing this more and more lately myself, and if you’re anything like me, more often than not, you’re eating for reasons other than hunger.