I Grew Up Poor
I grew up dirt poor and my family often didnt have food in the house. We kids learned to eat any time we had the opportunity, because we didn't know when there would be a next meal. And we always cleaned our plates.
As an adult, I realized that that feeling of food insecurity has not really left me. I always keep backup ingredients to make "struggle meals" (pb sandwiches, rice and beans, etc) in case I can't buy fresh foods for some reason. And if I'm in a situation where I can't eat when I'm hungry, I literally start to panic and crumble apart with fear.
It's not that I think I will starve to death if I miss a meal- it's the FEELING of being hungry that I get anxiety about. The headache, the dizziness, the pain in the stomach, the shakiness, the loss of control (from not having access to food when I need it). 😞
As an adult, I realized that that feeling of food insecurity has not really left me. I always keep backup ingredients to make "struggle meals" (pb sandwiches, rice and beans, etc) in case I can't buy fresh foods for some reason. And if I'm in a situation where I can't eat when I'm hungry, I literally start to panic and crumble apart with fear.
It's not that I think I will starve to death if I miss a meal- it's the FEELING of being hungry that I get anxiety about. The headache, the dizziness, the pain in the stomach, the shakiness, the loss of control (from not having access to food when I need it). 😞
41-45, F
