What Type of Eater Are You? Part 2

We may become aware of some residual effects as we recover from diet culture. Whether it be how we look at ourselves or our food, a sense of bitterness can be left behind. Today we will discuss what type of eater you may be, the triggers accompanying that eating style, and some of the characteristics. Having been a product of diet culture and recovered from it, this blog post felt essential for me to write for you all. This will be part two of a two-part blog series on the eight eating styles. 

Refuse-Not Unconscious Eater:

This eating style is most apparent when an individual is at a family event or a party. A hefty spread of food is laid out on the main table, but you have already had your fill. The host starts to come around and invites attendants to have a round of food. The trigger for these people is the presence of food. They can be especially vulnerable to snacks or food displayed during meetings. We can see more examples of this eating style in the workplace where a snack cart or kitchen is available. They struggle with saying no to food that is available. And saying yes to food when you want it is very important. However, if you’re indifferent or unconsciously eating, that is something worth exploring.

Waste-Not Unconscious Eater:

This type of eater is similar to the refuse-not-unconscious eater. The waste-not-unconscious eater is triggered to eat when around free food. These situations would be apparent at all-you-can-eat buffets or a dinner party. This person’s drive to eat can be influenced by the dollar value of the food in front of them. I felt this way the last time my partner took me to a high-end buffet restaurant for my birthday. I told myself I had to eat all of the crabcake and sushi that I could because of how expensive it was. Once I noticed my fullness, I backed off of forcing myself to eat as much food as possible to save myself from feeling sick later that night. 

Emotional Unconscious Eater:

We have all been there; a lousy breakup, job rejection, death of a person we were close to. In this eating style, we are triggered by uncomfortable emotions. When I get stressed out, and I mean stressed out, I start to eat without thinking to fill my time and take my mind off the stressful situation I’m dealing with. This usually happens to me during finals, or when a due date for a big paper is getting closer. It’s even worse when I am alone and don’t have anyone around me to check my eating behaviors. This can happen to anyone, so please do not feel guilt or shame if this happens to you at times. 

Intuitive Eater:

Now we get to the Intuitive Eater, the type of eater that is our default when we are born (before diet culture interrupts us). As Intuitive Eaters, we are triggered to eat by biological hunger. Intuitive Eaters can also participate in celebrations without conflict. The characteristic of this eating style is that the person makes food choices without experiencing guilt or an ethical dilemma. Remember, as we move on this journey, there is no shame in eating; you have unconditional permission to eat when you want food. Listen to your internal hunger cues, and do not think of food as a reward for achievements. Intuitive eaters honor hunger, respect their fullness, and enjoy the pleasure of eating. 

There is a light at the end of the tunnel if you notice you’re still holding onto some dieting mentalities; this is where Robin comes in! Starting or continuing your journey of Intuitive Eating will help you learn how to move away from these ways of thinking and improve your relationship with food! If you have questions about Intuitive Eating, please message Robin Harris through email at robin@bodypositiveacupuncture.com to schedule a workshop.