We eat with TV every night. It's time spent with the one I love in person and the stories that give me comfort. It's the one time of day where I know what's going to happen next. Buffy is going to save the world ... again.
I have sort of the opposite problem. I am not a TV person but I love to read. I always read while eating and never had any guilt about it whatsoever. However I realized that I only let myself read during a rigid meal schedule so I actually had to stop and just eat and allow myself to read at different times of the day.
This is beautiful self-awareness, Becky! It’s all about allowing for what helps us care for ourselves, and not putting any rules around what that “should” look like. We’re all unique — our bodies and brains feel safe and supported with different approaches. I’m so glad you’re finding something that feels gentle and respectful for you! Also — fellow book-lover 🙋🏼♀️ What are you reading lately?
I have book genre commitment phobia. lol! Currently reading: Body Trust (Fat Liberation / Social Justice), Sacred Struggle (Faith), The Lost Manuscript (Religious Historical Non fiction), Body Image Inside Out, and anything Tolkien for fiction (currently reading Children of Hurin). I have books all over my house and read them all simultaneously!!
This is interesting. I too put the 'family round the table' up on a pedestal and get so cross when the kids want to have the TV on whilst we eat however I now realise that I had this forced on me as a child and it was my most miserable time of the day. Forced conversation with parents who hated each other = a developing hatred of food. We've noticed that our kids will try new foods, whine less and be more amenable to our cooking if they are playing and eating outdoors or in front of the TV. Maybe it's OK.
Oh Claire, I see you and I hear you! Family dinner holds some difficult memories for me, too. I think it helps to zoom out and ask: what do we really want out of this time (whether that’s connection, togetherness, conversation, or decompression) and how can we access that in a way that feels good for us? Your approach is more than okay! It sounds like it’s helping everyone feel less stressed ♥️
Oh my gosh, you just sparked a "mind blown" moment! My husband and I typically eat dinner while treating ourselves to an episode of a favorite show. I've always felt guilty about that even though we enjoy it so much. In reading your newsletter I realized that I eat more mindfully this way than when I'm around a table conversing with other people. I often leave social eating situations feeling like I didn't really enjoy my food as much as I hoped. But in front of the tv I'm not expected to be "on" so I can focus on eating AND my show. Thanks for this simple way of flipping how I think about our eating habits!
Whitney, this makes me so happy! I have the same experience. I'll be cheers-ing you from my couch this evening as I eat my dinner watching White Lotus!
I had been trapped for a long time with the idea that I shouldn’t have distraction while eating. Now one of my favorite times is to watch a favorite show while I have my lunch because O have the house and the tv to myself
We eat with TV every night. It's time spent with the one I love in person and the stories that give me comfort. It's the one time of day where I know what's going to happen next. Buffy is going to save the world ... again.
Yessss! I’ve recently ventured into reality TV (I never watched it before) and it’s been such a mindless delight 🤣🙏🏼
I have sort of the opposite problem. I am not a TV person but I love to read. I always read while eating and never had any guilt about it whatsoever. However I realized that I only let myself read during a rigid meal schedule so I actually had to stop and just eat and allow myself to read at different times of the day.
This is beautiful self-awareness, Becky! It’s all about allowing for what helps us care for ourselves, and not putting any rules around what that “should” look like. We’re all unique — our bodies and brains feel safe and supported with different approaches. I’m so glad you’re finding something that feels gentle and respectful for you! Also — fellow book-lover 🙋🏼♀️ What are you reading lately?
I have book genre commitment phobia. lol! Currently reading: Body Trust (Fat Liberation / Social Justice), Sacred Struggle (Faith), The Lost Manuscript (Religious Historical Non fiction), Body Image Inside Out, and anything Tolkien for fiction (currently reading Children of Hurin). I have books all over my house and read them all simultaneously!!
This is interesting. I too put the 'family round the table' up on a pedestal and get so cross when the kids want to have the TV on whilst we eat however I now realise that I had this forced on me as a child and it was my most miserable time of the day. Forced conversation with parents who hated each other = a developing hatred of food. We've noticed that our kids will try new foods, whine less and be more amenable to our cooking if they are playing and eating outdoors or in front of the TV. Maybe it's OK.
Oh Claire, I see you and I hear you! Family dinner holds some difficult memories for me, too. I think it helps to zoom out and ask: what do we really want out of this time (whether that’s connection, togetherness, conversation, or decompression) and how can we access that in a way that feels good for us? Your approach is more than okay! It sounds like it’s helping everyone feel less stressed ♥️
100%.
Sometimes food at the table with everyone sat down AND eating can feel so stressful to get to that you wonder what you're really achieving.
Oh my gosh, you just sparked a "mind blown" moment! My husband and I typically eat dinner while treating ourselves to an episode of a favorite show. I've always felt guilty about that even though we enjoy it so much. In reading your newsletter I realized that I eat more mindfully this way than when I'm around a table conversing with other people. I often leave social eating situations feeling like I didn't really enjoy my food as much as I hoped. But in front of the tv I'm not expected to be "on" so I can focus on eating AND my show. Thanks for this simple way of flipping how I think about our eating habits!
Whitney, this makes me so happy! I have the same experience. I'll be cheers-ing you from my couch this evening as I eat my dinner watching White Lotus!
I had been trapped for a long time with the idea that I shouldn’t have distraction while eating. Now one of my favorite times is to watch a favorite show while I have my lunch because O have the house and the tv to myself