Feeding Regret: What is shaping you?
“Your eating is shaped more by convenience and marketing than by what truly nourishes you.”
At some time, food stopped being about care. The query ‘How can we nourish?’ evolved into ‘How long can it last in a package?’ and ‘How seductive can we make the flavor?’ Food’s purpose shifted, being less about sustenance and more about business.
Proteins, vitamins, and minerals become afterthoughts. As the global economy expanded and commercial food systems spread, we exchanged simplicity for abundance. We now walk aisles looking for solutions and promises wrapped in plastic.
When was the last time you treated mealtime as a ritual rather than a task? An activation of the body’s energy that prepares you for the day’s unfolding beauty. Food is more than just fuel; it’s a script written in molecules that influences your thoughts, mood, and clarity.
Do you shop wisely?
Empty calories—so often the tastiest temptations. Do you often find yourself in the center aisles or the outer ring of the grocery stores?
In 2022, 2.5 billion adults carried more weight—the burden of imbalance. Of these, 890 million lived with obesity—a silent echo to the global appetite.
But you go to this; you know your choices and where the good things live in the stores.
It’s fascinating how studies continue to whisper—20% of our daily calories from ultra-processed meals, the mind begins to dim. We know the truth. Yet, we are almost addicted to not just the taste but also the comfort, convenience, and feeling of fullness. As Dr Eric M. Hecht, an epidemiologist at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine, reminds us, these aren’t foods—manufacturers process them less like real food to make them taste better.
Food entrepreneurs did not intend to strip meals of vitamins and minerals. We certainly know they did not dream of a nation weighed down physically and emotionally by abundance without intention. The law of economics combined with our behaviors does not support wellness—we paved a way for food supply to be carried out for the worst purposes.
Fortunately, concepts such as conscious nourishment, mindful eating, holistic nutrition, and strategic fueling are evolving alongside human civilization.
Dr. Dean Ornish shares a fascinating truth:
When pets are fed only at intervals—when hunger becomes a moment of scarcity—they devour everything. But when food is always present, most will eat only what they require. They trust their bodies; they self-regulate.
How curious, then, that humans—gifted with reason—often do the opposite. We eat not from hunger but from boredom, fear, habit, and emotion.
Have you noticed how our eating patterns can sometimes feel impulsive? We have a natural tendency to consume each meal as if it were our last. History hints our natural tendency to consume each meal as if it were our last is as evolutionary as it can be—an instinct developed during times of food scarcity.
Beyond fatigue and physical and emotional distress, just the thought of huge medical bills sucks big time!
Here is something to chew on: Ultra-processed foods are nutrient-poor. You will often be hungry shortly after eating them, leading to overeating and not getting the minimum amounts of building blocks and catalysts that your bodies need.
Right Choices rarely feel easy at first. They can be confusing—even overwhelming. But over time, do they become deeply satisfying, filling you with pride and joy?
Begin with intentions—fill carts with proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These serve as gatekeepers.
Slow down at the table- Pause between bites.
And water? It’s not optional; it’s essential.
