II. What is normal eating (Berg, 2001)?

• Normal eating means eating at regular times, typically three meals a day and one or two snacks to satisfy hunger. It means choosing foods you like, ones that satisfy and taste good to you.
• Normal eating enhances our feelings of well-being. We eat for nourishment, energy and health, sometimes for pleasure and social reasons. After eating, we feel good.
• Normal eating is regulated by internal signals of hunger, appetite and satiety - we eat when hungry and stop when satisfied. It means that food choices more likely provide the sound nutrition principles of balance, variety and moderation.
• Normal eating promotes clear thinking and mood stability, and fosters healthy relationships with family and friends. Thoughts of food, hunger, weight and body image take up only a small part of the day.
• Normal eating nurtures good health, vibrant energy, and the healthy growth and development of children. It promotes stable weights, within a wide range, expressing both genetic and environmental factors.
• In healthy eating, thoughts of food, hunger, and weight only take up a small part of your day; approximately 15-20%, or less if no food preparation is involved.

Back