Many people were apologetic for how “bad” their first posts were, but remember, every single blogger had a first post! If you are proud of what you write when you write it, you can’t go wrong. If you didn’t, please add your first post or the first blog so I can ch when you write check it out – I’m meeting some great bloggers!

Mark and I talk about things that are relevant to the world of healthy living and body image, and we would like to share those thoughts with you. For some time we’ve debated food destruction – ruining your food with something like salt or hot sauce so that it is inedible. Jillian Michaels pours candle wax on her food (thanks for the link Julie) when she is full, and instructs Biggest Loser players to destroy desserts with salt.

Here are our views, please share yours, even (especially) if they’re different from the ones you see here. Let’s all be respectful and have an interesting conversation where we can learn and share opinions and experiences; that is how we grow.

Heather:

I usually put my napkin in my plate when I am done eating. Mark detests this and routinely removes the napkin from my plate. My hunch was that he wanted the leftovers under the napkin, so I started asking him whether he wanted it before I “napkin’d” the plate. The napkin signifies that I am done, kind of like an out of sight, out of mind kind of thing. I learned that Mark perceived it as a type of food destruction; it made him feel uncomfortable for me, I think.

I am generally too cheap and too appreciative of food to destroy it, but I have (very recently) thrown away a whole batch of cookies because I could not stop going back for “just one more.” In a perfect world, I would have cookies, put away cookies, step away from cookies, and have a nice day. [Un]fortunately, I am not perfect.

I don’t think food destruction is the most “normal” or “intuitive eating” thing to do, but I see how it helps give the average person a little boost in the self-control department. Why should someone be deprived of a a few bites of chocolate cake, but tempted by the remainder of the slice?

According to Jillian Michaels, we should not apologize for doing what we need to do to be healthy. Unfortunately, I think her argument could be used to support some very unhealthy and disordered behaviors in the name of “health.” What might be a helpful way to stop eating for some is a pro-anorexic trick for others.

I tried to convince Mark that this was okay. I have a tendency to emotionally eat or overeat eat simply because something is so completely delicious, so I empathize with the food destroyer. Mark, however, does not get that, and my arguments (but Mark, what if you just can’t stop eating the cookies!) fell on deaf ears. But, the more I thought, the more unconvincing my arguments sounded even to myself. Then I realized: food is not an opponent; there should be no YOU v. FOOD. By destroying food you are saying that food is something to be beaten and defeated, but food should be enjoyed and savored.

Mark:

There’s a reason this site is called Hangry Pantsand it wasn’t to be cute. If Heather and I were going to start a blog (quick tip: we did that shit) it was going to have to embody what we both believe in. Whereas she recently ran a 4 mile race using her discipline, training and sleek athletic prowess, I let her twist my arm until it almost snapped, went out an bought some extremely uncomfortable new sneakers and hit the pavement of Central Park, New York fueled by hatred of running alone. Since then I’ve reminded myself about a thing or 2 I used to know very well. I’ve been playing hockey somewhat regularly and in 5 intense sessions I’m back to skating with the best guys on the court. Where the hell am I going with this?

If you have an unbridled sensation to eat everything in sight you might consider mixing your peas and mashed potatoes once in a while. Second thought, bad example; peas and mashed potatoes are a match made for my mouth. Let’s talk battery acid and hamburger meat instead.

Utterly destroying your food (in the literal sense, not in the “you dude, you just destroyed that steak” sense) might be a practical tool for some people who have bigger problems than… well, food destruction. Putting some rocks and sand into your Lobster Bisque to save your life isn’t madness, it’s just survival of the fittest.

However, if you’re an otherwise normal person I would suggest a dab of discipline over a dash of diaper meat. Don’t destroy your food. There are starving people in China (and Chile, Haiti, Japan, Russia, Mars, the United States and everywhere in between) who don’t have the luxury of the option to NOT eat their cake. Writing your name in yours with mustard is a slap their collective face.

Furthermore, it’s just plain unattractive.