I’ve been reading Geneen Roth’s book, Women Food and God. I think she is brilliant. She certainly describes much of my own experience around life and food. I decided to try living strictly by GR’s rule number 3 this week: Eat without distractions. Distractions include: radio, television, newspapers, books, intense or anxiety-producing conversations, and music.
For me this meant eating without newspapers or books. I long ago turned off the radio, when my young son complained about the violent news. I don’t listen to music or watch TV while I eat. But I do read the newspaper with breakfast and a book with lunch. Last week, I set the reading materials aside when I was eating.
Or at least I tried to. A couple of times I found myself mindlessly nibbling on popcorn and cherries that were on the table when I sat down to read. I had food in my mouth without making a conscious choice to eat. When I realized what I was up to, I had to make the choice to either eat or read. It was struggle. I decided to eat the popcorn but I set aside the cherries for the book.
Just to make it especially difficult, I was in the middle of an addictive novel (Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.) It was really hard not to pick it up during lunch. I was jonesing to get back to my story all day. So I ate less at lunch, because I wanted to read.
What did I learn from the experience? It felt like an imposed rule. It felt like a diet. I romanticized the outcome. I found myself responding to the rule in the same way I respond to any diet rule, with unrealistic hopes followed resentments when I am not miraculously changed by the rule.
At the beginning of the week I was more present with my food. I paid attention to every bite. But that only lasted for a few days. I ate with less pleasure that I eat when I am reading with my meal. Setting aside the book reduced the pleasure of the meal.
I missed reading with my meals. I missed the newspaper. I won’t continue this particular practice. It felt contrived and not useful. I agree with her that we are better off not eating in front of the television. That particular black hole sucks our presence of mind away. But I don’t experience the same disengagement from life by reading or listening to music.
And I know, that if the rule brings up resentment, if it makes me feel like I am on a diet, I am very likely to rebel. It is a set up to eat more than I want to, just for the sake of it.
This morning I deliciously indulged in the Sunday paper while I ate my bowl of fruit and yogurt. Yum! I fully appreciated the small pleasure of reading and eating. And to be aware of the pleasure is a gift, thanks Geneen.
