us and their parents taught them. They are
memories and emotions, reminding us of
other meals and other experiences we have
shared with those we love. Mealtime is about
building new traditions within our own
kitchens, with our own families—and setting
a good example for future generations.
But when you eat meals in your car, inhale
lunch at your desk, or mindlessly shovel in
dinner while watching TV, well, you’re not
really fostering a relationship with your food
at all. There is no cultural significance, you
recall no fond memories, and you create no
traditions—unless you count passing your
negotiating-rush-hour-traffic-while-eating-a-
Big-Mac skill down to your kids a tradition.
And the manner in which we eat our food
—hurriedly, automatically, without presence
of mind or consideration—plays a large role
in creating our psychological and hormonal
issues with food.