Why Do We Eat More When Food Feels Special?
July 06, 2026
It's the Monday after another holiday and I want you to take advantage of the opportunity to reflect back on the last few days.
Have you ever noticed...
You don't usually eat one hot dog.
Or one hamburger.
Or one slice of pie.
Not at a barbecue.
Not on Thanksgiving.
Not at Grandma's house.
Not on Christmas day.
Why?
Because the food isn't just food anymore.
It's become...
An event.
Food Carries Memories
Think about it.
Mom's peach cobbler.
Big Mama's dressing.
Dad's ribs on the grill.
Birthday cake.
Movie popcorn.
Sunday dinner.
These foods don't just feed your stomach.
They feed your memories.
Every bite brings back people.
Places.
Traditions.
Comfort.
Sometimes people you've lost.
The Brain Loves Meaning
Your brain remembers much more than taste.
It remembers:
Who was there.
What music was playing.
How old you were.
Whether you felt safe.
Whether everyone was laughing.
Food becomes attached to emotion.
Which means years later...
the smell alone can make you hungry.
Even when your stomach isn't.
Why We Eat More
Here's the interesting part.
When something feels special...
our brain whispers:
"Better enjoy it while it lasts."
"This only comes around once a year."
"Grandma only makes this on Sundays."
"It's vacation."
"It's the holidays."
"It's a celebration."
"I'm about to do a fast/cleanse....better enjoy it now."
Without realizing it...
we've given ourselves permission to ignore our body's signals.
Not because we're hungry.
Because we're afraid we'll miss the experience.
Restaurants Understand This Too
Have you noticed how restaurants constantly advertise:
✨ Limited Time Only
🎃 Pumpkin Spice Season
🌴 Summer Menu
🍀 Shamrock Shake
❤️ Valentine's Special
They're not just selling food.
They're selling scarcity.
Because scarce things feel valuable.
And valuable things feel worth indulging in.
Here's Something to THINK About
Imagine your favorite holiday meal.
Now imagine eating it every Tuesday.
Would it still feel as special?
Probably not.
The food didn't change.
Its meaning did.
So...Should We Never Celebrate?
Absolutely not.
Food is part of culture.
Family.
Tradition.
Joy.
The goal ain't to stop celebrating.
The goal is to notice when you're eating the memory...
instead of listening to your body.
There's nothing wrong with enjoying Big Mama's pie.
Just don't let nostalgia convince you that your stomach is hungrier than it really is.
Big Mama is not the pie.
Sometimes we aren't craving the food.
We're craving the feeling the food reminds us of.
There's a difference.
And once you notice it...
you'll never look at a holiday plate the same way again.
And I know what some of you may be thinking...
"But Dr. Denise...that recipe is all I have left of Big Mama."
I understand that.
This is why I always say, sometimes the food ain't just food.
It's the memory.
It's the laughter around the table.
It's the smell that instantly takes you back to being eight years old.
"The smell of a grill can spark up nostalgia." - DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Summertime
It's feeling safe again.
But here's something I'd like you to consider...
Big Mama was never the pie.
She was the hug.
She was the stories.
She was the way she made you feel when you walked through the door.
The food may remind you of her...
but it was never her.
So honor the recipe.
Cook it.
Share it.
Tell the stories.
Laugh.
Cry if you need to.
Just don't feel like you have to overeat to keep the memory alive.
Because love doesn't disappear when the plate is empty.
— Dr. Denise THINKS 🧠
If you're tired of starting over and ready to bring more awareness, consistency, and healing to your relationship with food, join us inside the 13-week Fed Up experience in our private Skool community. 🌱💚