The Controversial “Timed Eating”: When Do I Eat?
As we approach back to school in my household, I instantly start to brainstorm all the food and nutrition I should have on hand. (Yes, I know I think different than most-No, I don’t start thinking of school supplies…I think about food!) Before I was an integrative health coach, I allowed my kids to buy lunch at school (while they attended public school). Now, thinking back, it completely grosses me out. I know I’m not the only Mom that feels that way! It wasn’t just about the absolutely disgusting food they would feed my kids, it was the time allowed to eat, and the time they would feed my kids. The time was all over the place, and it changed every year. And, they only gave them 15 minutes to eat…then they could go play! Needless to say, I am extremely happy we found the school they go to now. They actually let my kids eat for about 30 minutes to an hour at lunch, and they get about 30 minutes at nutrition. On top of which , they have time between classes to grab some nutrition if needed.
Am I saying our kids need to eat ALL DAY? Nope…but, all kids (even us adults) eat at completely different times. And we SHOULD eat at completely different times, based on our hormones, metabolism, activity level, and all the other biochemistry that occurs uniquely inside each of us.
Figuring Out Your Own Timing
It seems like every industry just wants to complicate everything, and confuse us into “buying into” a “method”, a “diet”, a “pill”, a “shot”…you get the picture. What the industries don’t want to tell you, is just how simple this truly is!
Listen To Your Body
Are you hungry? Most Americans eat due to the fact that it is “breakfast time, “lunch time”, or “dinner time”. Even when we are not hungry! We never even think that forcing food down our kids throat is pretty much teaching them a really really bad habit: “you need to eat, even if your not hungry!” (See…I told you I was about to get controversial!) Allowing our body to talk, and actually listening to it, is so important. (Of course, when we do finally break our fast, we need to eat the healthiest of nutrition for ourselves!)
I used to worry about my son heading out to school without breakfast. He is so active, and burns so many calories throughout the day. But, he is never hungry in the morning (he’s a lot like his mama!) I finally stopped nagging him, and just loaded his lunch box with lots of healthy proteins, fruits, and veggies so he could eat during his breaks when he DID get hungry. The kid has so much energy, and he sleeps amazing (I think we can all learn from him!)
The Fasting Machine
Before I get reprimanded by our “Health Directors” and Ministers of the world (By the way…have you seen pictures of these individuals? Check them out, and tell me whats wrong with those pictures!) Let me go back in time to give a better understanding of how our human bodies function. In our past history, humans had to hunt and gather for food (definitely a bit harder to access than what we have now). Our bodies were built to thrive while fasting (otherwise the human race wouldn’t exist because they would have all died of starvation!)
Human Fasting
“Fasting” has become extremely “trendy”, but many of us don’t give credit to our natural fasting that we have all been practicing since the day we were born. Yes, we consume a lot of calories as babies, but as we move into consuming solid foods, we fast every night! We stop eating at night, and we break our “fast” in the morning with breakfast! So…congrats, you have been fasting all along!
(You’re more trendy than you thought!)
The complication that has risen with the natural human fasting period, is the level of convenience of access to food. Our households are full of food, our grocery stores are open from 6 am-10 pm on average across America, our fast food drive thru’s are open from 6 am-10 pm (and sometimes 24 hours), and we have food that is ultra-processed so they last on a shelf for long periods. Kinda makes it hard to hold on to a fast.
Let me cut to the chase: Human beings should be fasting for one period of at least 12 hours every day (14 hours optimally), and we should be pausing in between daily meals or nutrition consumption by about 2 hours, so our bodies can absorb and digest nutrients (aka…we don’t get backed up or the opposite). Our ancestors used to actually go days without eating…I promise, you will survive!
Make It Work For Your Household
So if we are all unique, how do we simplify everyone’s eating schedule in our households? (I’m about to make a lot of Moms release a huge sigh of relief!)
Only plan to cook one meal a day for the family! Sounds too simple, huh? Well, that is truly what it comes down to. If you are bringing healthy nutrition into the home, then that means all members have access to to the best nutrition for meals and snacks. Have everyone either help you (yes, even the tiny ones) prep on the weekends, or they can prep their own food with what you bring into the house. We as the parents are solely responsible for our kids nutrition education and access, so ensure your home is packed with healthy nutrition. Then, plan out wholesome dinners throughout the week. Serve dinner at an earlier time if able (have it in the crock pot or have it ready to serve when they get home from school). Right after school is when kids are the most hungry on average. But, even if they aren’t hungry (or they have activities), dinner is ready. (I have even brought dinner with me when I pick them up from school so they can eat it on the way to an activity or sports practice.) If anyone is hungry before bed, try drinking water, or have a small portion of protein (like 1/2 cup at the most).
Conclusion
As parents we have A LOT of responsibility! As humans our main priority should be not just surviving, but thriving! When we consume too much food (especially food that is damaging), or try to conform to standards created by “bought” industries and individuals, we turn our backs on our human instincts that have worked for us for centuries! It is okay to go for periods of time without eating (in fact it is really good for you)! It is okay to not eat at exact times every day (if someone is attempting to force you to eat at a specific time, I implore you to question why?). It is okay to simplify your eating habits (especially if you live in a society that enjoys confusing the heck out of you)!
When we eat should not be causing so much drama in our lives. Just LISTEN to your body.
