Food Memories Journal Prompt

Connecting to memories around food can be a powerful tool for understanding our relationship with food.

• Use as much detail as possible to describe what it feels (felt) like to eat your all-time favorite food. Describe the texture, smell, taste, physical feeling, emotional state, etc. Describe the food itself and describe yourself. Pretend like you are trying to help someone else understand what it feels like to be in your mind and body when you have this experience.

• What does it bring up to picture that experience? Do you have self judgement? Joy? Nostalgia? Fear? Who and what does this experience remind you of?

• When was the first time you remember eating this food? How do the memories of that first time influence how you feel about it now? Were/are there traditions around it? Is it reserved for special occasions? Who else do you think of when you have this food?

• How often do you allow yourself to have this experience? Are there any negative associations you have with “indulging” in favorite foods? Is your current favorite food something that feels safe and comfortable to eat or is it something that you often avoid?

• Have there been times when judgements about this food make it hard to enjoy it? Are there diet-y messages about this food that influence how often you have it or how you feel about yourself when you eat it?

• How do you want to experience this food in the future?

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After doing this prompt, I want you to think about if anyone was on your mind while you wrote your answers? Is there a person who you think of with this particular food? Food is a social experience, part of our culture and relationships. Sometimes our favorite food is more about the memories we associate with it than even being the best thing we’ve ever eaten. Enjoying good food that comforts us, connects us to loved ones, and brings us back to fond memories is great for our mental, relational, and physical health. It can promote those feel-good hormones. It can bring us closer to those we love. And it can be a form of self-kindness, compassion, care. And if you are a person who struggles with shame or guilt around good and yummy foods, you aren’t alone. That is such a common experience, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Exploring your relationship with food can help to sort out where this shame and guilt comes from and help you to unlearn the unhelpful beliefs. Working with a registered dietitian and/or therapist can be a really helpful way to move through the shame and guilt to get back to having a healthy relationship with food. If you need help finding referrals - send me a message! I’d love to help!

If you have suggestions for what I should cover in a future newsletter let me know here!