On Superbowl Sunday a ton of food showed up at my house. Lots of yummy, high calorie, not always available food. I didn’t way overeat, but because most of the food was based in flour, sugar, chocolate, and/or cheese I’m sure the caloric in-take was more than I want to know. (I did start the party frenzy with an apple in hopes to cut some of the hunger space and make sure I consumed something healthy!)

Monday morning I awoke wondering how to handle the left-over treats. Would I allow myself a small piece of cake or a brownie with my morning coffee?

All of this focus on the treats left me chewing (pun intended) on a thought. Sometimes I overeat because I don’t want to miss out.

Seriously?

Do I actually believe I will never again see a bowl of cheese dip or a bag of chocolate?

Of course not.

Then why is there that niggling desperation to make sure I don’t “miss out?”

Here’s a truth. In most American homes treats are not a one-time experience. They show up often, not only on special occasions but in every day life.

And while it’s true with two 6-foot-tall-male-teens in my house that food disappears quickly, it is also true that it reappears with regularity. The pictures I’ve posted are treats that showed on Sunday without any effort of my own and are still in my kitchen. I didn’t buy or bake those treats, but here they are.

And when those are gone, I’ll bet something else appears.

It will do me no good to eat up now believing it’s just this once.

Just this once will be here tomorrow. And the day after.

It is a lie that if I don’t indulge now there will never be another opportunity.

Abundant opportunities will come. At a coffee shop with a friend. At a family dinner. At the movie theater.

Here’s the truth: Treats will still be here tomorrow.

And, so thus reassured, I can take less. Or skip them entirely.

At least in theory.

How about you? Do you ever have more than you should because of the lie or misplaced fear of missing out?

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Do we overeat from a fear of missing out?

Tagged: dealing with the sweet tooth, eating responsibility, fear of missing out, food treats, inside out weight loss, Paula Moldenhauer, sugar, sugar cravings, too much food, treats, weight loss