Are you satisfied after you eat?
Whether you are satisfied or not is very personal and individual: each person is different and has different requirements. We have often learned to deny our satisfaction, especially when we have been following the diet culture. In order to look at satisfaction better, let’s examine the definition of satisfaction.
The dictionary defines satisfaction as the “fulfillment of one’s wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this.”
Can you imagine looking at food as a fulfillment of your wishes, expectations or needs?
Could you see yourself being ok with getting pleasure from food? Often the answer to these questions is NO. Why? We are not allowing ourselves to get pleasure from food.
Intuitive eating asks us to look at the ‘satisfaction factor.” Meaning we chose food because it is satisfying to us! How radical is that?
Have you ever considered how to be more satisfied with food? Let’s examine this further.
Increasing satisfaction with food is a multipronged approach.
Consider some of the qualities you can use to determine food satisfaction:
- Texture: Is the food hard, smooth, crunchy?
- Smell: Is the food pleasant smelling?
- Sound: What is the sound when you bite into the food item?
- Temperature: Is the food hot, spicy, cold, frozen, or room temperature?
- Flavor: Is the food yummy, bland, awful, ok?
- Appearance: What does the food look like? Does it look appealing?
- Do you get full with this food?
- What are your surroundings? Appealing, attractive or bland?
We tend to discard the satisfaction factor, because we have been trained that if the food is appealing, yummy, filling: then it must be “bad” food. Meaning the food is high in calories, fat, etc. In order for food to be “good” food it should be diet food, which is low calories, low fat or fitting into whatever diet you are on.
When you eat diet food, wonder how satisfying is it really? The diet-binge-shame cycle will lead you to ultimately overeat, if you continue to eat foods that are not satisfying.
To increase your satisfaction further consider the following questions:
- Do you taste your food?
- Eat too fast?
- Eat when you are too hungry?
- Eat past enjoyment?
- Do you enjoy your food?
How can you increase your Food Satisfaction and Intuitive Eating?
- What do I really want to eat? This is great starting question. You can, also, look at the food qualities listed above, like:
- How will this food sound?
- Does the food look appealing?
- How will this food feel in my mouth? Do I want it to be hot or cold?
- How will my body feel when I am done eating this?
- How will I feel emotionally when I am done?
- Start eating from gentle hunger.
- Be sure to enjoy your food.
- After you eat, reflect on the food/satiety.
- Did the food meet my needs?
- Am I satisfied?
- Did I end up not eating what I really wanted?
Satisfaction with food is one way out of overeating and into intuitive eating. When you are satisfied with the food you feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Being present with feeling of food satisfaction is a great gift you can give yourself.
Take some time today, focus on satisfaction with your food. See how it helps you get in touch with your body, so then you are not overeating.
If you are struggling with food and overeating, check out my program Emotional Eating Solutions. You do not have to struggle anymore.
Kim McLaughlin, MA is a Psychotherapist, Speaker, Author, and Coach who specializes in working with people who suffer from binge eating and emotional eating. She is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. She is the author of the best-selling book Feed Your Soul Nourish Your Life! A Six Step System to Peace with Food and the Amazon #1 Best Selling book Discovery Your Inspiration.
You can find Kim on her podcast Feed Your Soul with Kim and you can find it on all podcast platforms.
Wondering if you are an emotional eater? Sign up for the free Am I an Emotional Eater Quiz.
