My Relationship with Food

Food.  Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.  Over the years I've had a crazy relationship with food.  As a child I was insanely picky.  I hated meat and would quite happily pick at the veggies and starchy foods on my plate while secretly hoping that my meat had enough life left in it to stand up and run off of my plate.  I remember negotiating the number of bites I had to choke down to earn the right to dessert.  That's right, I have a sweet tooth! 

My mom has always been interested in nutrition and cooking.  Dinners were always packed full of healthy foods and delicious, although I do remember turning my nose up at quite a few dinners as a young child.  Thanks to my mom I too really enjoy cooking and serving my family healthy and delicious meals.  I rarely use ready meals or prepared sauces or for that matter recipes... I try to make everything myself using fresh ingredients.  To me it's a creative outlet! 

I haven't always loved food though.  There was a time when I was at college that I hated it.  Or more so I hated what I thought it was doing to me.  Like many college freshmen I started to pack on the pounds.  What I found very frustrating was that I WAS exercising.  I was on the field hockey team and worked out pretty intensely every day.  I wouldn't say that I developed a full blown eating disorder but I certainly dabbled a bit and danced very close to the lines.   A health scare in my senior year thankfully pulled me out of my bad habits and since then I've been very health conscience. 

Do I limit what I eat?  Yes and no.  I pay close attention to portion size and try to plan balanced meals but I don't restrict myself from eating anything.  If I feel like eating chocolate I might have a few peanut M&M's as a treat, but I won't snack on them all day. 

Right now I'm eating for 2.  I'm not eating double, if anything my portion sizes are even smaller now!  I just eat more frequently.  I do indulge my cravings at times but for the most part I feel that I am eating a very healthy diet and providing my little baby with the best food possible. 

I think that over the years my relationship with food has grown and matured.  I not only see it as a necessity for life but also something to be enjoyed.