The Joy of Food(ing)

The Joy of Food(ing) 

The holiday season can trigger mixed emotions when it comes to eating — especially for those who view "food as fuel." Yes, food literally fuels our bodies, but this idea also props up diet culture and controls how we eat. Not exactly a mindset you want when you’re digging into gingerbread cookies. So let’s talk about how to see food as more than the sum of its parts — and tap back into your taste buds.

The roles of food we take for granted 

Focusing solely on calories doesn’t mean you’ll eat better. Plus, it makes eating a meal feel more like a math problem, says Charlotte Markey, PhD, a psychology professor at Rutgers University and author. This ignores the greater role food plays in all the ways we socialize: how we celebrate, grieve, forge romances and friendships, and mark rituals. 

The nostalgia we feel when we eat holiday foods is biological because “our brains are wired to associate certain foods and tastes and smells with memories,” says Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD and author. It’s this link that makes Rumsey excited to bake Christmas cookies with her mom and why Dalina Soto, RD, LDN, the founder of Your Latina Nutritionist, loves “eating my Dominican foods and dancing the night away” on Noche Buena. “Food is a way to pass down stories so we don’t forget the past,” says Soto.

Your move

Rekindling a love of food may not be easy and might require working with a professional. But here are some ideas: 

1. Try to minimize guilt and shame. If you tend to label foods as "good" or "bad," Rumsey suggests reframing your thinking to be less black and white.   

2. Practice mindful eating. Rumsey says to start by asking yourself what foods you’re craving right now. Try to be present as you eat, using your senses. After, tune into how you feel emotionally and physically. You can use these insights as a future guide.

3. Make a list of your favorite foods. They could be from your childhood, something you ate during a vacation, or a new food you recently discovered. Then eat it. Because you can.

Read more about the value of food beyond calories. 

Last week, we asked you to vote on a question to answer. The winner was:

What can I do to help my acid reflux if I don't want to take medication?

FEATURED EXPERT:

Rashmi Advani, MD

Assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and director of bariatric endoscopy at Mount Sinai South Nassau.

“Ginger might be a good [remedy]. Things that are high in antioxidants and high fiber [that] take a little bit longer to digest [can help]. Having a food diary [to track what triggers acid reflux] is going to be very effective and helpful.

“[If] you're eating a meal, the recommendation is for you not to lie flat for 90 minutes. If you're lying flat … you're creating an easier pathway for all that acid that's being secreted to digest the food into your esophagus.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You can read the full story here.

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Jenny Taitz, PsyD

Credentials: Licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy

Where to follow: @drjennytaitz 

Why we follow: Following Jenny Taitz is like having a comforting big sister with a magic drawer full of helpful mental health hacks. She firmly believes self-help tools should be accessible to everyone in and out of therapy. That’s why her Instagram is full of screenshot-worthy tips that will teach you how to stop overthinking and regulate your emotions easily. Take her “half smile” trick, which almost instantly resets your emotions. Or her “opposite action” tip, which helps get you out of a funk quickly.

Don’t be fooled by their simplicity — Taitz explains how small mindfulness practices can help you step back and problem-solve from a place of calm. And if you want even more from her, you’re in luck: Her new book, “Stress Resets,” comes out in January. Happy reading.

For a new partner in your life…

Get them this card game designed by renowned therapist Esther Perel. Instead of triggering their competitive streak, this deck of conversation starters will open up space to swap stories and help you both build a deeper connection. An excuse to ditch the small talk? Yes, please.

PS: Need other ideas for your partner? We’ve got more recs here.

"Vibe pope"

 — The person with the most rizz at your holiday party. They’re the gift that keeps on giving.