Over the years I've become a lot more aware of what I was putting in my mouth and why because I've been constantly watching my weight after watching my father and sister balloon up. While it might be partially genetics, my mother spends most of her days sitting on the couch eating fat-free Snackwells or Sugar-Free Hostess Cupcakes, drinking diet sodas for hydration, and complaining about her weight despite the fact that she's fairly thin for what she eats and the activity level she persists at.
I hope most of you are cringing since fat-free and sugar-free are by no means healthy, nor "better" than the full-fat or sugary items they replace, especially in large quantities.
The point being, when I moved out of my house, I moved out with some interesting values about food. It took many years for me to eliminate that kind of eating, but one thing that triggers me to eat a lot (and a major reason I think I'm overweight) is a family value I was raised with: eat it now before it is gone. I cannot let leftover sit in my fridge longer than 12 hours for this reason. I eat not so much because I'm hungry, or even that I'm bored, but because there is something in the fridge that is special and should be consumed sooner rather than later.
The point to all these stories is that I don't blame my family for those food-values, but that I recognize them now. If you look for patterns in your family's eating habits, you can make changes. My mother is always trying to shove food down my throat and buying my favorite desserts when I visit (Creme Brulee for Christmas, etc), and then attempts to guilt me into eating them because the food offering is an expression of love. I see it, and it allows me to see her goal and yet still maintain my OWN food values.
Just a thought.
