Why do you continute to eat？

Why do we keep eating even when we should stop?

There are countless reasons we find ourselves still munching away, fork in hand.

Maybe it's because we're not truly full, or we're eating just because others are, or perhaps it's simply because there's still food on the plate.

These factors blend together in our minds, leading to a sort of automatic eating. And by the time we realize it, we often feel like we've eaten more than we should have.

Behind every bite, there's a story. Let's dive into the main reasons we keep eating.

First, the social factor. You might continue eating just to blend in with others still dining, or because you've got nothing else to do, even if you're already full.

Next, the pursuit of taste.

When you start eating, your hunger combined with the novelty of the food makes it taste incredible. You want to keep reliving that delicious experience, so you keep eating.

But here's the catch: the more you try to recapture that initial wow factor in each bite, the more elusive it becomes. The more you eat, the less exciting each bite seems.

Then there's boredom. Boredom can sneakily encourage us to eat without thinking. It's a kind of anxiety – a fear of wasting time, or even a deeper existential dread.

Eating can give us a false sense of accomplishment. It's why we often turn to food when stressed, not because it solves our problems, but because it feels like we're doing something proactive.

The fourth reason is a sense of obligation. You ordered it, you bought it, so you feel you must eat it all to avoid waste.

This "I can’t waste food" mentality is deeply rooted. We're taught that wasting is bad, so not finishing your plate can trigger guilt.

But let's rethink this TERM 'waste'.

Is it truly a waste?

Whether you eat the food or leave it, ultimately, it all returns to the earth. Eating it all just means your body has to process it, storing any excess as fat.

So, maybe our idea of waste is more about not wanting to waste money. We feel that if we don't eat everything, we're not getting our money's worth.

Some argue that finishing your plate honors the efforts of nature, the farmers, and the chefs.

Others remind us of those who go hungry, like in Africa.

But consider this: the end goal of growing and preparing food is for you to enjoy it. Overeating to the point of discomfort probably isn't what they had in mind.

Think about it this way: if not wasting means eating all that's served, should you eat all of a restaurant's excess just because it's there?

And about the hunger issue in Africa, whether you finish your meal doesn't directly impact their situation. It's great to be aware, but the connections between these issues aren't always direct.

So, maybe we need a new understanding of 'not wasting'. It should mean choosing portions that match your hunger, enjoying your food without overindulging. If you over-order sometimes, that's okay. Learn from it and make better choices next time.

Meals shouldn't be a burden of guilt but a chance, to learn and enjoy.

Noddle with PAK-choi, a typical dinner in China.