Hedonic- relating to or considered in terms of pleasant (or unpleasant) sensations. “Food as fuel” isn’t just unrealistic, it can cause unrealized struggles. If all you cook is chicken & rice then cooking becomes one more chore. Make it enjoyable. Make it fun. Make it easy.
We oft confuse the term hedonic with hedonism, and therefore think that the key to sustained weight management is to strip all pleasure away from food. This denies us a major part of being human.
When we remove the pleasure of food, we also begin to remove the culture around it. Food, like so much else, is not just about eating. It is about the preparation and the presentation and the socialization. When we take away the simple pleasures in life, what is the purpose?
This doesn’t mean we lean full into hedonism, only pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain. But the idea that it’s the hedonic aspect of food that drives overeating is outdated.
When we eat mindfully, we are more in touch with our senses. The sights, smells, tastes, textures & sounds of the experience of eating come alive. When we overeat, we often do so from a place of mindlessness, ignoring the senses that guide us.
Bringing some sense of enjoyment, not just to the eating process but also the process of cooking, can change the way you view food. Because, let’s face it, it’s so much more than fuel.
💥 What’s your favorite way to “spice up” your healthful meals?
