Oh come on, one bite isn’t going to kill you… right?
How many times have you said that to someone, or someone has said that to you? At first, you might think, right, one bite isn’t going to kill me…but can it?
It’s Usually Innocent
The context in which this statement is usually said occurs when someone is indulging in something perceived as ‘sinful’. It’s usually the industrial version of a decadent chocolate dessert, a plate of fries smothered with cheese sauce or at a buffet of beautifully presented food. The person making this statement is usually innocent in their intentions. They want to enjoy the industrial version of these foods and they don’t want to do it alone. They are usually thinking of ‘all the calories’, or ‘all the fat’, etc. And they think that if they eat less then maybe somehow this will be better for them and their health. The only time someone is NOT going to try to coax someone into having a bite of something is if they know they have a deadly allergy.
The problem with the “one bite isn’t going to kill you” statement, and the thought of eating less of something that wasn’t worth eating in the first place, is the MINDSET. That exact mindset is what will get you into trouble. And yes, might even kill you in the long run! So, it’s not about the bite, or even the specific food, it’s the mentality behind the thoughts.
But Here’s the Problem
Let me ask you this. If someone was vegan, would you say, take a bite of these ribs, it’s not going to kill you? Sounds ridiculous, right? Let’s get more dramatic. If someone was a recovering alcoholic or addict, would you say, oh come on, one drink/hit isn’t going to kill you? Most people would never say that to a vegan or an addict. But they have no problem saying it to people that have chosen to make mindful food choices every day. In other words, it’s okay to question or judge someone that has decided to say NO to Industrial food.
So now I ask, why? Why is it when someone chooses lasting longevity and NO to Industrial Food that collectively we think it’s okay to pressure them? To coax them into taking a bite or a drink? To guilt them into eating something that they have no interest in eating?
In the End, It’s Easy to Avoid
I’m grateful that I don’t have firsthand experience with someone trying to bully me into eating what they want me to eat. Many of my customers relay their stories of peer pressure eating to me and the anxiety it causes them. So, for many, it’s easier to ‘go with the flow’ rather than be the ‘difficult one’.
In the end, I think it has to do with the mindset and mentality of ultimately believing that the one bite, or one meal, or one anything isn’t going to ‘kill them’. So, they give in, only to suffer the anxiety, guilt, and/or shame far after the one bite. The next time you hear someone say, take a bite, it’s not going to kill you, or you’re about to say it, think twice. The person you’re saying it to might not be far enough along on their journey to say, no thank you.
Want some tips on how to handle people that engage in peer pressure eating? Take my course: Get Food Smart, Get Real. You will have the knowledge and confidence to defend your choices and never succumb to peer pressure.
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