Should one live to eat or eat to live?

Did an egg come from a hen or a hen from an egg? (Kozhi lerundhu mutta vandhucha illa mutta lerundhu kozhi vandhucha?)

We've all been through this logical question and most of us end up at the same place. Though it’s a confusing question, it doesn't stop us from asking.

A similarly confusing question is whether we live to eat or eat to live ? Though it’s the same three words: ‘To’, ‘Live’ and ‘Eat’ , the order and perception of those words creates vast difference in meaning to people.

Do you live to eat or eat to live?

As a first instinct, most people will answer ‘of course, we eat to live’. Their thoughts are focused on the biological process of their body needing food and nutrients to survive on this planet.

When you eat to live, you mean that you eat because your body needs food, and not because you are pursuing the experience of eating. You eat when you need to, as much as you need to, but no more. If your food isn't exciting to eat, that is okay. You are more concerned about whether it's properly nourishing your body, so health trumps taste.

But now a days, due to aggressive marketing techniques and availability of foods everywhere, we no longer eat because we are hungry. We eat because everyone is eating.

We eat because as soon as we get home, our tired body would be attracted by an amazing aroma from the kitchen at home. We eat because we are sad, depressed or any other emotional reasons. We eat because we don’t want to throw food. We eat because we saw an ad for burger and fries and we started craving the meal. We eat for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. Does this mean we no longer eat to live???

On the other hand there are few people who "live to eat". Those who “Live to Eat” view food as something more in their life than just fuel. It can mean comfort, family, friends, happiness, lifestyle or stress release. When food takes on greater meaning than its nutrients we start running into troubles. Those who ‘live to eat’ may find making healthy, positive eating changes very challenging. To them, it’s more than just food, it’s about what food means to them.

When it comes to making positive eating changes, fear of change can significantly impact those who “Live to Eat”, especially in two cases:

• Foodies – When Food is a Lifestyle.

• Emotional Eating – When Food is a source of Control or Feelings.

Sometimes food can negatively affect the lives of people. Too much of anything can be bad, thus, moderation is important in all aspects of life. It is okay to enjoy food when you are eating, but eating to live a happy healthy life is very important for not just your health, but for the health of those around you.

The attitude of “I live to eat” is sometimes unhealthy especially when food intake is not planned properly. Unfortunately, we currently live in a society where food is pushed on us using billboards, TV ads, SMS messaging, social media, magazine ads, etc. It is basically everywhere you go. It has become harder and harder to really remember what it’s like to be really hungry. We are pushes to a situation where we wish to wat not because we are hungry but as a result of cravings or boredom.

So, what is the difference between ‘eat to live’ and ‘live to eat’?

These two confusing questions can be interpreted in various ways.

When someone says I Live To Eat – It might mean that for them eating is at the center of their life and their everyday activities revolve around food.

When someone says I Eat to Live – It would probably mean that they only eat to fuel their body and get through the day. Food intake for such people is not a source of pleasure and is only to resolve the feeling of hunger.

Most people are careless when it comes to food intake. They consume foods containing a high amount of cholesterol, sugar, fats and everything that makes one prone to obesity and other related diseases. Some believe that we live to eat but this should be avoided. Modern lifestyle is consuming our thoughts and creating an urge to spend. Generally, what we notice around is most of the younger generation copying western lifestyle when it comes to clothing, eating out in food chain, luxury pubs/restaurants and cafes, where we see more consumption at the same time food wasted.

Your food should be your friend that supports your journey whatever that journey is. Your food should support your happiness and wellbeing, not steal from it. Your food should make your life more enjoyable and less stressful not the other way around. Food should give you energy to achieve your goals, to

help you become the best you can, it shouldn’t steal your energy and focus. Food should be natural and nurturing like sleep:

If you want to sleep and get rest – you go and sleep, have a nap.

If you want to eat and give your body nourishment– you should go and eat the food that is nourishing for your body and soul, which is easy to get and prepare without stressing out about it.

Therefore, we should eat in a way so as to enhance our life span and not vice-versa. Eat to live well, enjoy life for as long as possible, and bring your friends and family closer together. Thus, don't just eat to stay alive, and don't stay alive to just eat.