Mom likes to call the rehab/nursing home food slop. I can’t think of any other name for overcooked frozen veggies; noodles and whatever leftovers the cook finds; and cold Tater Tots. Their only gastronomical redemption comes in the large dispensers of fruit-infused water set up in the central hallway. I guzzle a glass of lovely pear or lime infused water before I even visit mom, then I take her a glass.
The packaged snacks provide some additional redemption. In a small closet near Mom’s room that is labeled “Pantry,” lives a plastic bin with kids lunch-sized packages of Goldfish crackers, peanut butter cracker sandwiches, sugar-free cookies, animal crackers, and Graham crackers. Mom likes the graham crackers.Sometimes before bed, her blood sugar rises so she nibbles on a cracker or two. She reminds me of a squirrel nibbling a peanut even though mom is not particularly furry.
I am a bit jealous as I watch Mom snack appropriately. Several of her offspring, including myself, learned inappropriate eating habits from her. I still stuff feelings down with foods.Those little bags of animal crackers at the rehab/nursing home have served admirably during stressful moments there. After a recent mind-numbing visit, I grabbed two bags, which I devoured while driving home.
In my battle against stress eating, I learned to keep my living space devoid of cookies or other sweets because I eat too many. I do not have this problem with broccoli, chicken, or other healthy food. I have never gorged on cucumbers. Just sweets. Pizza is a problem too now that I think about it. And, peanut butter. Even as I write my mind demands a little something. However, since I cleared the apartment of anything yummy like those items, I will move on.
Seriously, emotional eating is a widespread habit. I have learned to monitor certain triggers, including stress and emotional distress. Others snack and/or overeat due to boredom. In any case, according to experts, the problem starts in childhood. Did your parents reward good behavior with ice cream, take you out for pizza when you got a good report card, or serve you sweets when you were feeling sad? These habits can often carry over into adulthood. Or your eating may be driven by nostalgia—for cherished memories of grilling burgers in the backyard with your dad or baking and eating cookies with your mom.
Some of my recent epic eating moments? After the recent Presidential election, I ate an entire bag of white hot dog buns. After I arrived safely in Florida last fall, I ate an entire pint of ice-cream for the first time. I like to think that I have more control of my emotions now, but sometimes I regress. Then there is Mom, now quietly nibbling a tiny pack of Grahams before bed. Not fair. Maybe that too will influence me in my later years. In the meantime, gotta go, time for a snack.
