When we refer to “eating,” what kind of eating are we talking about? There are five main types that most people classify as eating.
We typically consider these types in order from the least to the more active engagement with food – they are:
Avoiding foods or giving up foods that you like (dieting)
Snacking between meals (intermittent fasting)
Binge eating — overeating at one or several times
Serious overfeeding or gluttony — eating too much food
Eating motivated by hunger and/or taste
Some people combine two or even all of the above under the general term “healthy eating,” but this is not an accurate description. For example, someone who eats only yogurt for breakfast and lunch and never snacks is probably not having enough variety in their diet, which can lead to health problems. They may also be engaging in intermittent fasting, but just for a few hours each day!
The difference is how actively you are involved in your meal experiences- and how these experiences relate to your body and life. In other words, are you reading, watching TV, chatting, thinking about something else while you eat, or do you focus on tasting and enjoying your food?
If you fall into the first category (dieting), you can call it “giving up foods that you like.
Meal prep
One of the most popular trends in eating is what’s come to be known as meal prepping. This involves preparing your meals ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about finding or making food while you’re busy.
By doing this, you’ll reduce unwanted distractions that can break down body control, such as when you are distracted by the ringing phone or someone else’s urgent request for food. You also will not run out of food because you’ve already done some preparation.
Meal prepping was first seen back during The Great Depression, when people would save money by buying large quantities of foods and then either cook them at home or use their resources at work to do so. Since then, it has grown into a much more common habit.
Many individuals now organize their daily menus using ingredients they have stored away for just this purpose.
The 5-Step Nutrition Plan
When it comes to eating, there are five main types. These are referred to as food groups or nutritional pillars. Yours depend on your personal preferences and what you like to eat.
The first two are the most important because they supply most of your daily nutrition. They are called the “nutrient rich” foods group and the “colorful veg group.”
Nutrient rich foods contain some form of protein, carbohydrates, fat, or both. Proteins help give you strong muscles, fats keep you feeling full and provide essential nutrients, and carbs can be used for energy.
Colorful vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin A, zinc, and potassium.
Drinking enough water is also very important because it helps regulate body temperature and fluid balance in the body.
The other three — milk products, bread, and pasta —are considered lower risk diets than the average American diet. Because they are made from less nutritious ingredients, these foods can contribute more empty calories (nutrition that does not do much for your health).
Consuming too many empty calories may cause weight gain due to their high sugar content, but they will not promote muscle growth.
Tips for the different types of eating
When it comes to food, there are five main types of eating that people do. These types vary depending on what you want to eat, how much time you have, and who you’re feeding.
The most common type is probably the same one that made early humans living in tribes possible: ingesting and chewing food yourself. This is referred to as oral-motor activity because you use your mouth muscles to chew and swallow your food.
Another major type of eating is when someone else does the cooking or takes over the grocery shopping. We call this external eating, since you don’t necessarily need to be involved in the process of preparing the food yourself to enjoy it.
Third is semi-external eating, where you get into the role of helping with meal preparation or choosing foods but not actually changing anything. Some people feel more comfortable doing this so they can satisfy their hunger while also leaving part of the eating responsibility up to others.
Fourth is passive eating, which we mentioned before. With passive eating, you put some food in your mouth and then get distracted, lost in thoughts or activities. You may even forget about your plate until you start thinking about getting rid of it.
And finally, there’s intuitive eating, which doesn’t fit into any of the other categories. With intuitive eating, you just know what feels right and you stick to it.
