What were you taught about food growing up?

My sister and I had to stay at the table until we ate every last bite. My father would berate us for not wanting to eat steak. Our mother was a terrible cook but a fabulous baker. Dad hated fish so we never had it, mom got away with casseroles (hot dish, as we say in Minnesota- tater tots, cream of mushroom soup, and hamburger with potato chips on top). When they divorced, everybody became depressed. Evenings at mom's house, she would come home from work and fall asleep on the couch, then heat something up at 10:00. Dad's house was junk food, fast food, pizza, Haagen Dazs. They both taught us to eat our feelings and comfort ourselves with food. I would come home from school, pop a bag of popcorn, eat a peanut butter sandwich and any cookies or bars in the house everyday. I always thought I was a fat kid, but looking at pictures, I would be considered average or healthy size compared to how obese children are nowadays. I was always active, riding bikes and playing outside.

Now my parents (and step-parents) are all in their 70's. My mom is still a food pusher, constantly offering food. Always has bars and cookies around. I'm trying to help her eat healthier, as is her husband who has lost 40 pounds after being diagnosed as pre-diabetic. They walk the mall and eat more veg, but still eat out a lot. My dad and his wife are at healthy weights and eat a variety of food, some healthy, some not so much, but in moderation. Dad really doesn't drink alcohol or caffeine anymore.

My sister had a couple of years of anorexia in college, then became vegan, then vegetarian, now she eats eggs too. She is very thin but extremely active. I wouldn't say she has a great relationship with food but she is physically healthy. I'm working on letting myself feel emotions instead of eating them. Not rewarding myself with food is tough, as is resisting temptation when I'm stressed. Yup, I blame my upbringing for this, but I recognize it, and my parents changed/are changing, so can I.

Great discussion! It is so helpful to read what others are going through. It's a good day.

Food=
Love
Support
Sadness
Happiness
Grief
Reward

Buffets are awesome.

Don't waste any food.

Cheap/a good deal = good

Parties = food

I can't entirely fault my mom for this. She was quite broke after my dad left the picture, so food had to go far. I'm sure it would have truly upset her if food went to waste since it wasn't always available. (I think I know why she was so thin for a time -- she'd only eat what was left after my brother and I ate.) Cheap WAS good in that at least it fed us. And she would play with me to plan "parties," which amounted to setting out crackers/salami/cheese/probably other junk and pop. We'd play cards, eat, and have a "party." This was probably all the special event she could muster.

But I also grew up loving veggies, and my palate has only expanded in this regard. I'm eternally grateful for that since it makes staying within my calories much easier.

I remember we had a dessert made from scratch every night! My father had a sweet tooth and so we all had one I was so surprised when I finally discovered everyone didn't have this at their home.

Biggest thing I remember is "finish your plate". That's caused problems ever since.

Garden fresh veggies most of the year
pork and chicken we raised ourselves
fresh eggs from the hen house
fresh fish and seafood we caught ourselves.
farm-like chores kept us exercising
We watched little TV during the week and Saturday morning cartoon were looked forward to.
Dad would buy us Mcdonalds Mom would not
We had to eat everything on our plates
We had junk, but not a ton of it. We used to eat off the garden is mom said no we couldn't have a snack before dinner.
We ate too much in one sitting. Huge portions.
I wasn't fat as a kid, although I thought I was.
I went down hill in college and in my 20s. when I didn't have access to all that fresh food, I didn't know what to eat.
Weight was never discussed as a child
Neither was exercise.
Dessert every night
Salad with most dinner
Always lots of veggies
Was told I was big boned and obesity runs in our family, nothing i could do.

changed it all myself and got back to as close to that as i can without actually having it. (like fresh produce and meat (when I can afford the meat at least))

mcdonalds is delicious. lol

When I was growing up, we ate out at least 5 nights a week. My parents were super busy, my Mom doesn't like to cook, my Dad doesn't want to learn how to cook........so we ate out ALL the time. I remember even as a child thinking it was a special "treat" when my Mom actually cooked at home - - - - - and that's the exact opposite of how it should have been.

Now I have taken the past 15 yrs or so to wean myself off fast food.....it is a long process....but one that i'm proud of committing to. I still slip up some days, but I am working on it.

And when I go home to see my parents, it seems even worse - - they are eating 3 meals a day at restaurants now. So when they come visit me, I always like to make nice, healthy meals for them....and give the recipes to my Mom when/if she asks. But I know, for them, it is a habit....just their "way of life" now. I'm glad it is not going to be MINE anymore!

Main thing my parents always enforced was the notion of cleaning your plate. Needless to say that made me develop portion control problems that I am working through now.

I try to crack that problem by taking less food or eating off the small plates. Still it's pretty hard-coded that I want to eat everything I am given.

We try to give our kids half the food we think they will eat. If they are hungry they can ask for more.

If my kids say, "I'm full" I take their word for it and say "Good, don't eat if you aren't hungry" (unless they are just holding out for a cupcake or something).

If you don't eat your meat, how can you have any pudding? How can you have any pudding if you won't eat your meat?