[thirti4thirty]

So I have the normal triggers of every day...smell of food, T.V ads, seeing other people eating etc...

And then I have the "weird ones".

Currently my worst trigger is a cartoon I've been watching for a few months now.

The plot is around two little kids and sometimes they try all they can to order and eat pizza instead of healthy foods their mum cooks for them.

Can you imagine that seeing cartoon characters order and eat pizza triggers me?

Most at times, when I order a pizza, it's right after watching an episode of it (when it has something to do with pizza). And then when eating the pizza I try to mentally "re visualise" them eating their pizza.

PATHETIC I KNOW. I felt that writing about it will help reduce the tension I'm feeling currently, since they're at it right now

So what are some of the weird things that trigger you?

[Inkrid]

Whenever I watch anime (Japanese cartoons) they are always eating rice. Or a beef bowl. Or bento. Or homemade chocolates. Or they're going to a carnival.

So I totally get the cartoon eating trigger!!

[PatLib]

Yes, for some reason when I watch Winne the Pooh eat honey I like want to eat whatever junk food is around.

[doingmybest]

Whenever they eat pizza or Chinese food or cheeseburgers on The Big Bang Theory, that is all that I can think about. I used to get a huge craving for Italian food when I watched certain episodes of the Sopranos. For some reason, I never get tempted when I watch the food network. I can't understand why I am this way!

[happybug]

As a kid I really looked forward to watching my favourite tv shows while eating something yummy and to this day I still associate some shows with eating.

[thirti4thirty]

Amazing to read all this. Curious, ain't it??? This should a thesis topic for a sociology/ psychology student to investigate...

[crispin]

Originally Posted by doingmybest

For some reason, I never get tempted when I watch the food network. I can't understand why I am this way!

Interesting! Would you -- and anyone else in this thread -- say that you have a strong imagination?

I think all people are vulnerable to getting cravings when watching people in a show eating. We all empathize and our mirror neurons fire the same whether we ourselves are the ones eating or whether we're just watching someone else do it. I personally think some people have stronger abilities to empathize/imagine, so are more likely to get a craving to live the experience they're watching characters live.

That's probably why fiction is more tempting than The Food Network. With fiction, the viewer is connected with the characters, so more likely to want to mirror what they're doing. On The Food Network, eating doesn't usually take place within a story; it's more instructional or expository.