Tag: emotional eating

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Around The Table: Stories Of The Food We Love Exhibit

Table

Recently I visited the New York Botanical Gardens to see the Around The Table: Stories Of The Food We Love exhibit.

Specifically, I saw about half of the 32 tables designed by artists living or working in the Bronx on display throughout the Garden. Below are some of my favorites.

Table

Textile-Knit Artist Ruth Marshall‘s fine art textile table design stands out! It explores the creative possibilities of knotting. She accurately depicts various vegetables with her versatile, brightly colored nylon material (paracord and zip ties) on wood.

Table

Artist Reina Mia Brill‘s design showcases different edible flowers. The artist used paper seed packets, acrylic paint, gel medium, and resin on wood. She is the recipient of a Bronx Council for the Arts Grant as well as a New York Foundation on the Arts Fellowship.

Table

Of course, Santina Amato‘s Per La Mamma Mia table design effortlessly captured the love of my Italian heritage. Her red and white checkerboard acrylic paint design on wood made visiting the  Home Gardening Center a must! The artist’s muse is bread dough and relates to her immigrant childhood, where the dough was no foreign matter. Her first memory and experience of femininity and the power of creation (and potentially female desire) were watching her mother knead this soft, white, voluptuous material on our kitchen table. Folding the dough over onto itself and pushing her whole body towards it, she transformed the ingredients of flour and water into a living organism, created for both our oral pleasure and life sustenance.

Artist Matthew López-Jensen‘s display, “Lamb’s Quarters: A Love Story,” most closely resembles Fine Artist Susan McCaslin‘s work for Divabetic’s Plate Poetry Project. Both displays’ use of words is similar.

Matthew López-Jensen’s original essay across the top of the table celebrates the connection between foraging, love, and queer identity (available in Spanish and English). He used text, stain, and acrylic paint on wood for “Lamb’s Quarters: A Love Story.”

Fine Artist, Susan McCaslin‘s work for Divabetic’s Plate Poetry Project was exhibited at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and the Mosaic Central Farm Market in Mosiac, VA.
Plate Poetry Project depicted people’s conversations while eating on dishware at a dinner table. Visitors were encouraged to interact with the table and take apart the place settings to read each statement.
Eating is such a central part of our diabetes lives that food becomes associated with almost everything we do. We eat if we’re happy, sad, angry, celebrating, grieving, lonely, or bored. Emotions become connected with food. When you eat based on your emotions, it can hinder your diabetes wellness management.

Susan‘s display, “What Words Do You Bring To The Table?” depicts the different thoughts and emotions related to eating.

Plate Poetry

Divabetic’s Plate Poetry “What’s On Your Plate?” workshops focus on the emotions related to eating for people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes. Our Plate Poetry Project video testimonials aim to assess the emotions associated with managing diabetes and the underlying reasons attributed to those emotions.

Watch this video to find out more about the artists participating in the Around The Table: Stories Of The Food We Love exhibit.

. Each one-of-a-kind table will celebrate the cultural and historical significance of crops and plant-based food traditions—and encourage sitting, sharing, and storytelling.

Barry Manilow’s classic hit, “I Made It Through The Rain,”  sparks real-life confessions about overcoming challenges related to diabetes self-care on this episode of Divabetic’s monthly podcast. Guests include The First Lady of Def Jam Alyson Williams, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, diabetes advocate, blogger, and mentor FatCatAnna. Music from The Essential Barry Manilow courtesy of SONY Music.  Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

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What’s Eating You?

It happens to most of us now and then, or at least on Thanksgiving. We eat way too much and wind up feeling overly stuffed, bloated, and sleepy.

If you regularly feel these uncomfortable symptoms after an average meal, you may be overeating.

Overeating may occur when food becomes the constant emotional crutch and support. As a result, some of us turn away food during a time of great stress or sadness or use it as a source of comfort.

Mindless eating can be a culprit too. For example, suppose you’re dining while browsing your social media feed. In that case, you could be disconnected from hunger and fullness cues and fullness cues.  This type of mindless eating ends in overeating.

 

Recognize why you overeat – get in touch with your past and handle the feelings that trigger your eating problems. Seek help. We believe in you!

Have you noticed that you reach for food when you’re feeling stressed, bored, lonely, mad, or sad?

When your habit is to use food instead of paying attention to what these emotions are trying to tell you about your underlying needs, those needs go unmet. And of course, those unmet needs will continue to drive emotional eating!

Dr. Michelle May is a doctor, mindful eating expert, and author who helps people to overcome cycles of senseless yo-yo dieting and resolve mindless and emotional eating.

 

Listen to Dr. Michelle May, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.

Other guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, R & B Singer Alyson Williams, ‘Here & Now’ Songwriter and Entertainer Terry Steele, Seveda Williams, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian, and Luther Superfan John Price.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Busy Body’ courtesy of SONY Music. On ‘Busy Body’, Luther Vandross’ third album features ‘Superstar’,  ‘For the Sweetness Of Your Love’, and the duet with Dionne Warwick entitled ‘ How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye’.

 

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Emotional Eating vs. Binge Eating By Michelle May, M.D.

Have you noticed that you reach for food when you’re feeling stressed, bored, lonely, mad, or sad? 

When your habit is to use food instead of paying attention to what these emotions are trying to tell you about your underlying needs, those needs go unmet. And of course, those unmet needs will continue to drive emotional eating!

Emotional eating is using food to regulate emotions, in other words, attempting to manage your mood with food.

Emotional connections to food are normal; we eat to socialize, express love, have fun, soothe a hurt, and reward ourselves for a job well done. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Emotional eating only becomes a problem when it’s the primary way you cope with or avoid your feelings.

Emotional eating does sometimes leads to binge eating – but binge eating is not “just” overeating. In fact, it is defined as eating a significantly larger amount of food than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. During a binge, a person feels out of control or feels that they can’t stop eating. Some describe it as a trance-like state.

Listen to Dr. Michelle May on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast. 

Other guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, R & B Singer Alyson Williams, ‘Here & Now’ Songwriter and Entertainer Terry Steele, Seveda Williams, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian and Luther Superfan John Price.

Throughout the  podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Busy Body’ courtesy of SONY Music. On ‘Busy Body’, Luther Vandross’ third album features ‘Superstar’,  ‘For the Sweetness Of Your Love’, and the duet with Dionne Warwick entitled ‘ How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye’. 

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    What’s On Your Plate?: The Plate Poetry Project Depicts Emotional Eating & Diabetes

    Fine Artist Susan McCaslin’s Plate Poetry Project will be on display at Mosaic Central Farm Market on Sunday, June 3, 2018 as part of Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Day outreach program.

    What words do you bring to the table?

    Emotions can influence what, when, and how much we eat. For example, you have probably heard that some people eat to cope with stress. Others eat to preoccupy themselves when they feel bored.

    When you eat based on your emotions, it can hinder your diabetes wellness management. Often, situations that trigger certain negative emotions prompt eating.

    If you have recently eaten and find yourself craving food again, do a quick emotional check. Do you want food because you are hungry—or to fill an emotional need? 
    Eating is such a central part of our lives that food becomes associated with almost everything we do. If we’re happy, sad, angry, celebrating, grieving, lonely, or bored, we eat. Emotions become connected with food.
    Each Plate Poetry Project place setting (5 pieces) has a complete statement written on it depicting a conversation that someone had while eating. 
    Visitors are encouraged to interact with the table and take apart the place settings to read each statement.
    The eight Plate Poetry Project statements are: 
    “She says I am always eating too much”
    “Be happy and eat joyfully for good health”
    ” You always help me when I need it the most”

    “Love is my drug of choice not food” 

    It hurts when you say I am too heavy”
    “How dare you step on my dreams”
    “He helps me face illness with lots of love”  
    “So tough when I hear you cry at night!”
    The Plate Poetry Project is made possible thanks in part to the generous donation from Onieda. Oneida offers the largest selection of flatware and a great assortment of dinnerware, serveware, cookware, bakeware, and more.

    An important component of diabetes self-management, but often unaddressed, is the topic of emotional well being.

    If you are having a hard time, reach out for help. Involve family members and friends to help support your weight loss efforts. Support groups, therapy, and members of your health care team can also help.

    Our Plate Poetry Project video series aims to assess the emotions associated with managing diabetes and the underlying reasons attributed to those emotions.

    Divabetic presents Diabetes Awareness Day featuring a Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations, Poetry Readings, Art Displays & More at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA on Sunday, June 3, 2018, 9:30 AM – 2 PM.

    RAIN OR SHINE: Here’s a complete listing of Diabetes Awareness Day Events & Activities at Mosaic Central Farm Market:

    9:30 AM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM): Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

    10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

    10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2 

    10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

    11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the Red Carpet at our 2ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

    12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

    1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

    Acoustic Blues Musician and songwriter, Rick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

    Stop by the Capital Jazz Fest featuring Luther Vandross’ longtime collaborator, renowned bassist, producer and songwriter Marcus Miller.  Marcus Miller hosts the  Late-Night Jam Session on Friday, June 1, 2018, 11:30 PM – 2 AM. The Capital Jazz Fest takes place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, located at 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, Maryland. The venue is 28 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. and 18 miles southwest of Baltimore.

    Founded in 2005, Divabetic promotes diabetes wellness. We take diabetes education out of the clinical setting and combine it with art, music, and fashion to broaden the appeal of diabetes outreach. Join us!

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