Do You Need to Eat That?

Following is a cross-post from our newest Fierce, Freethinking Fatties candidate, Ragen from Dances With Fat.

Thanks to awesome reader Jeanine Adinaro for this submission, just in time for the holidays. I knew I had to write about it because just the thought of being asked that made my skin crawl.

This is such a loaded question. What do you mean by “need”? Are you asking if my glycogen stores are depleted? If I am near starvation? If my body at this moment requires the precise nutrients that are delivered by cornbread stuffing covered in gravy? Or do you feel that fostering a relationship with food that is based on guilt and shame is in my best interest?

This question is custom-made to make someone feel ashamed. I think it’s asked for one of about three reasons:

Judgment

The person asking the question has decided that it is their job to pass judgment on your activities. Being too cowardly to directly state their opinion, they use this question as a mode of passive aggression to “make you admit it to yourself.” This is one of those situations where they would probably claim to be mistreating you for your own good, also known as “Pulling a Jillian.”

If the person asking this question truly cared about you and your health (however misguided they might be), they would talk to you about it in person, alone, at an appropriate time, and they would ask a question that invited dialog, not try to embarrass you in front of people while you’re eating what is supposed to be a celebratory meal. That right there is some bullshit.

Power/Superiority

Remember that some people never got past Junior High and nothing makes them feel so powerful as judging someone else and then making them feel like crap. Maybe because they are drowning in…

Insecurity

The person asking the question perhaps struggles with their weight, their guilt about eating etc. and since they feel guilty for enjoying the food, they think that you should feel guilty about it too, or they want to deflect attention from their behavior to yours.

The degree of difficulty on discerning someone’s intent in this sort of thing can range from “no duh” to “who the hell knows.” Here’s the thing though, from my perspective it doesn’t matter why they are asking it: I am not okay with being asked, and I get to choose how I am treated (as least when it’s done to my face).

So, you’re at a holiday meal, you take seconds on mashed potatoes and someone asks the dreaded question: “Do you need to eat that?” It seems like the table falls silent, waiting for your reply. What do you say?

First, quell your rage and resist the urge to put them down (Yes, I do need these mashed potatoes. Did you need to marry that jerk?)

Second, as with so many situations where people lash out at you, remember that this is about their issues and has nothing to do with you. If emotions well up, consider that you may be feeling embarrassed and/or sorry for them, and not ashamed of your own actions.

Now, find your happy (or at least your non-homicidal) place, and try one of these:

Quick and Simple (said with finality)

• Yes (and then eat it)
• No (and then eat it)

Answer with a Question (I find it really effective to ask these without malice, with a tone of pure curiosity. If you’re not in the mood to have a dialog about this, skip these)

• Why do you think that’s your business?
• What made you think that I want you to police my food intake?
• I thought that you were an accountant, are you also a dietitian?

Pointed Response (be ready with a consequence if the behavior continues)

• I find that inappropriate and offensive.
• What I eat is none of your business and your commenting on it is unacceptable to me.
• I have absolutely no interest in discussing my food intake with you.

Cathartic (but probably not that useful if you want to create an opportunity for honest dialog)

• Yes, because dealing with your rudeness is depleting my glycogen stores at an alarming rate.
• If I want to talk to the food police, I’ll call 911.
• Thanks for trying to give me your insecurities, but I was really hoping to get a Wii this year.
• No, but using my fork to eat helps keep me from stabbing you with it.

Guilt is not good for your health. So, I hope that if you choose to eat it, you also choose to enjoy it, not just at the holidays, but every day.