Overeating

[shootingstar]

Catriona:
I had a mom who would confiscate & trash any sweets that we got, because they were bad for us...

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Tctrek:
I partially agree with the family theory. I am the oldest of 7 children and as a result, I did a lot of the more grown up chores for my mother. In reward, the best snacks were put aside for me and I was allowed to wait until all the other kids were asleep to eat my treat.

To this day, I am really good at saving a treat until a special, quiet time when I can get the utmost enjoyment. But, I don't overeat. I can walk past the same box of cookies for a week.

My parents did not have enough money to give any of us weekly allowance to buy anything.

Sweets were eaten in small amounts with special occasions --birthdays (not always), Easter, Christmas, Chinese New Year's, etc. For instance, my parents would buy 1 8"-12" hollow chocolate bunny that was divided amongst 6 children. Chocolate bunny was displayed for over 2 wks. in its purchased box in living rm. and only eaten at Easter.

Guess that was 1 technique to teach children to ...delay gratification of sweet tooth. Hence, by the time we got to eat chocolate bunny it really was "special" for each of us.

Or 1 regular size can of pop was divided between 2 children. Hence, 3 cans of Coke. For special occasions only.

At banquets, restaurants dinners we were allowed to eat endless amounts, including junk food...because those occasions were considered 'special' or exceptional.

I don't recall food used as reward nor punishment (ie. witholding food) when growing up.

Tctrek: Wasn't aware of any special food set specifically aside for me as the eldest. But I suppose I "spoiled" as first child: Had my own bedroom in my late teens...whereas others had to share bedrooms. I viewed it as parents' support for me to focus on schoolwork and allow me to type in middle of the night (on typewriter) for university essays. A "benefit" to me, had subtle strings of high expectations as eldest to be a good role model to younger ones.

Until I joined TE forums, which is pretty recent, I never knew importance or impact of the legacy of childhood/teenage healthy diet and cooking techniques that my mother gave to us. While I cook some of these recipes because it's healthy, it is also partially as comfort food/ cultural touchstone for myself. It's like keeping alive whatever crummy Chinese speaking fluency abilities I have left.

Unquestionably I have unfortunately gained an appetite for quality desserts (and I blame it on my German partner and his mother's heritage quality baking), but still to this day, I don't like very sweet desserts: caramels, toffees, brittles, fudges, sugar pies. I gravitate to lighter desserts (phyllo based, mousse, etc.) probably because my diet for lst 20 yrs. in life never had much desserts.

Recently I mulled over incredulously over my past teenage habits. When a child's appetite is not whetted for alot of sugars, junk, they may be less tempted: As a teen I volunteered to sell lunches at my school when I was 14. I was never tempted to buy/sneak off with a packaged spong cream cakes or chocolate bar or chips. Then at 15-16 yrs., I volunteered for once a wk. at high school tuck shop where we sold candy, chips and ice cream. I don't recall feeling much deprived as I was taking in my peers' money and giving them their purchased junk food.

Methinks I had ice cream several times during the whole 2 years. That was it. Tuck shop volunteering was more of social thing, not access to junk food since I hung out with the other student volunteers there, yaaking away.

It blows my mind. My own cluelessness to lack of temptation at that tender age.