Hi,

I usually just lurk around these boards but I really liked the discussion going on in this thread and wanted to jump in : )

Someone mentioned the origin of food issues a while back and I was thinking how the everyone-sit-down family dinner is supposedly disappearing and how that "interrupts" healthy meals. The busy-busy-busy culture of today creates a lack of appreciation for the food we eat, so we keep eating because our brains don't get a chance to catch up with our stomachs.

From what a lot of others have posted, families can be as much of a problem as a strength. Eating too much because of being pushed more or eating too fast b/c you might not get some (I know this one: if you don't get something before my brother, you don't get any. Boys. ::rolls eyes:: ) To those who have had such long-time and complex struggles with food and weight, do you find that family meals (whether during childhood/adolescence or adulthood/parenthood) help you or do they challenge you?

I realize this is a very personal question, so feel free not to answer if it's uncomfortable : ) I only recently started tracking what I eat as an experiment and I'm amazed at what we regularly have around.