Have you ever wondered what kind of eater you are, and how it affects your current habits and relationship with food? We’ve identified four types of eater: the habitual eater, the expert dieter, the emotional eater, and the intuitive eater. Understanding what kind of eater you are can help you determine where you’re at in your health and wellness journey, as well as habits or behaviors that are holding you back from creating and maintaining healthy habits. Read through each kind of eating type below, then take our “What’s Your Eating Personality” quiz to find out what kind of eater you are!
The Habitual Eater
Habitual eaters tend to eat on auto-pilot. Hunger is less of a reason for eating than boredom or convenience. If you’re a habitual eater, you might find you eat while distracted, like while watching TV or working. You may also prefer to stick to a schedule or routine with your meals, eating the same foods at the same times most if not every day. Any unexpected changes to that routine stresses you out and leaves you unsure of how or what to eat. You may find you’re not getting much emotional satisfaction out of your meals, and are looking to find ways to add more variety and joy to your snacks and meals.
The Intuitive Eater
The intuitive eater listens to their body when it comes to meals, and at meals there are no rules. Intuitive eaters allow themselves to eat any and all foods, without limitations or rules. You listen to your body to tell you not only when you’re hungry, but what you’re hungry for. Food logs, diets, and calorie counters are a thing of the past – you trust your body to tell you when you’re needing to eat, what and how much will be satisfying, and when you’re comfortably full and satiated. You may eat when you aren’t feeling strong physical hunger, but you acknowledge that this is normal and recognize the reasons for why you’re eating.
The Expert Dieter
As an expert dieter, you’ve probably tried most of the diets and programs that are out there. Foods are put into two categories for you: “good” and “bad,” and these categories guide your every food decision. You’re no stranger to different calorie counting and food logging apps. If asked, you could probably list the calorie and carbohydrate info for almost any given food. Expert dieters may also struggle with weight fluctuations. You find a diet that works, you lose weight, you stop following the diet, and you gain weight. The cycle has repeated for as long as you can remember, and you’re ready to finally put an end to it.
The Emotional Eater
If you’re an emotional eater, food might feel like your security blanket. When strong emotions come up, you turn to food whether you’re feeling physically hungry or not. You may find yourself binging on sweets or salty snacks, and might look down to discover you’ve finished an entire container without realizing it. Shame, guilt, and regret are emotions that quickly follow after you’ve eaten foods you know you didn’t really need or want at the time. Eating occurs when on your phone or watching TV, and at times when you may not be feeling relaxed and comfortable.
Does one of the 4 types of eaters sound like you? Understanding what kind of eater you are means identifying areas where you’re struggling with food and nutrition. Knowing your eating personality will allow you to make actionable steps towards creating a more balanced relationship with food.
Ready to find out what kind of eater you are? Take our “What’s Your Eating Personality?” quiz here to learn what kind of eater you are! It takes less than one minute and will provide:
- Clarity in what type of eater you are
- Steps to feeling confident in your eating habits
- Guidance on how to eat with balance