Food psychology: Spaghetti with meatballs and tomato sauce on pink background
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Food psychology: Why some people will swallow the same meal over and again

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Meal prepping is all over Pinterest and Instagram, with people obsessing over batch recipes and super-colourful food boxes. And withal, despite this, some will still curl their eyes over those who eat the exact aforementioned dinner every twenty-four hour period. What gives?

Early on this morning, I toasted two slices of multigrain bread, buttered them correct to the edges, and covered them in thick juicy slices of tomato. Then slowly, almost reverently, I salted and peppered the entire thing, before tucking in with relish.

Information technology was delicious. Information technology was nearly sinfully wholesome. Information technology was a good manner to use up the seemingly never-catastrophe supply of tomatoes in my fridge (my partner'southward a gardener and brings dwelling bags of the things on a about-daily ground, despite his hatred of them). And it was pleasing to expect at, also: indeed, I even idly toyed with the idea of snapping it for Instagram, before deciding I didn't desire to be that person.

Essentially, I enjoyed my breakfast. A lot. And then it may come up equally a surprise to some foodies to acquire that I've served myself that exact same meal every morn for the past 2 weeks. That I intend to do the aforementioned tomorrow, the next 24-hour interval, and the adjacent.

And I very highly dubiousness I will be getting bored of it anytime soon.

Food psychology: I could eat sliced tomatoes on toast until the end of time, quite frankly.

Information technology'due south not simply breakfast I practice this with. I take a prepare takeaway order for each of the restaurants that deliver in my area (to exist off-white, my choices are limited every bit a vegetarian in the 'burbs, simply still), and – back in the heady pre-Covid days of the function, anyway – I frequently bought myself the exact same cheese toastie and the exact same smoothie from the neighbouring java shop.

It's not that I'thou unadventurous with food, believe me (I've eaten some seriously crazy shit over the years). Simply, when I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed – as I practice so frequently feel at the moment – I really don't want to deal with another serial of choices. Who has the time and the energy, quite frankly?

Plus, I'll hold my easily up and admit that, when I'grand tense, all it takes is 1 nutrient-based disappointment to tip me over the border. Just ask my petty sister and she'll tell you all about the time I went very quiet, then hid my confront behind my pilus, then burst into actual noisy tears, over an unsatisfying dinner (seriously, ask her: she loves telling stories like that virtually me).

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Of course. I'm non lone in my repetitive eating habits. Indeed, a survey has estimated that about 17% of British people had eaten the aforementioned lunch every 24-hour interval for ii years. Another indicates that a third of Brits will consume the same luncheon daily.

And, when I confessed my penchant for a tried-and-tested meal to my friends and colleagues, several stepped forward to confess that they are very much in the same camp.

"I always, e'er social club the same thing from takeaways (dissimilar takeaways, dissimilar orders mind you) because otherwise I leave myself open for disappointment," says Felicity Thistlethwaite.

"Case in indicate? Domino's. I always opt for a Vega-rama with extra jalapenos because I know I like it. One time I was enticed by a cheeseburger pizza and, three slices in, was hit by a moving ridge of ultimate disappointment."

She adds breezily: "I live my eating life by the rule, 'if it ain't broke, don't gear up it."

Food psychology: Meal prepping is trending on Pinterest, and then why practice people judge others for eating the same dinner over and over again?

Victoria Sanusi, meanwhile, tells me: "Since lockdown was announced back in March I've started cooking more and ordering fewer takeaways, which has been fab for my banking concern business relationship.

I really miss Vapianos and luckily they've put some easy pace-by-step tutorials on their Instagram Highlights, so I don't have to go without my Gamberetti E Spinaci.

"I genuinely could eat Gamberetti for lunch and dinner and, not to exist big headed, but I think my cooking is pretty great!"

She adds: "At present, when I'm out of my batch I won't make information technology again for a long while every bit I don't want to get sick of information technology and ruin my favourite meal. Merely I merely find meal prepping really like shooting fish in a barrel, especially when I feel tired from my period, it means I have a guaranteed repast waiting for me."

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I don't even take to inquire Megan Murray if she's a repeat-eater. Having sat at the desk behind her for years, I've watched firsthand every bit she's tucked into the aforementioned microwaveable prawn tagliatelle bowl day in, day out. Sometimes she'due south even had it for breakfast. And, usually, she'southward done it because there's a multi-buy deal in the mix.

On the flipside, though, nosotros have Jazmin Kopotsha. Who, despite merrily albeit that "pasta is my safety net", says she has a big trouble with eating information technology over and over again.

"If I'yard going to melt pasta, call information technology instinct or phone call it incident, there'll always be enough to feed a family unit of half-dozen," she explains.

"This is great considering it means I tin can take seconds and I've got luncheon ready for the adjacent few days. But my downfall lies in my refusal to double dip my lunch and dinner on the aforementioned day."

Food psychology: Some people repeat meals to salve time and money, others to ease their stress levels.

Jazmin adds: "This means that same bolognese will be lingering in my fridge for more than a calendar week, adjacent to accumulating lunchboxes of the other meals I've accidentally made in bulk in protest at having to consume the same repast twice in the same day. Something that should be making my life easier often ends upwardly making it (needlessly) complicated."

Hmm. Perhaps she should come over to the dark side and join united states of america echo eaters? Because, every bit you can see, our reasons for dining on the same dish over and over again are numerous and manifold.

Some, similar myself, do information technology to keep themselves calm in an increasingly uncalm world. Some, similar Felicity, do it because they know what they similar, and they similar what they know.

So in that location's those who, like Vic, batch-melt to simplify their lives (and showcase their culinary skills, of course). And let's not forget the Megan Murrays of the world, who repeat-eat not only because they savour what they're chowing downward on, merely because it saves them some money in the process, too.

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Any your reasons for re-ordering your favourite meal, one matter's for sure: there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Indeed, speaking with The Atlantic, Marion Nestle, a professor of diet and food studies at New York University, says it's more than fine to consume the aforementioned meal over and over again.

"If your daily lunch contains a variety of healthful foods," she says, "relax and enjoy information technology."

Exactly. So the next time someone makes a comment nigh your repetitive eating habits, wait them in the middle and grin. Because they're clearly struggling with endless lunchboxes filled with mouldering food.

And, let's face information technology, they're probably more than a teeny bit jealous of your deliciously unproblematic life choices, too.