Since having kids, I have tried not to link food with emotion.

This approach goes against what a lot of parents and families do so please always remember the opinions expressed in teaandsnippets are those of tea and of snippets and not in any way representative of the masses or even me for that matter.

I see far too many well intentioned people marking a happy event with a huge, celebratory meal/ice cream cake or a sad time with less exciting ice cream sandwiches and a long talk about feelings. I can’t help but wonder if we didn’t link emotions with food (at least not intentionally) maybe we could eliminate at least one potential obstacle in our battle against obesity.

For example, if someone gets an A + on a test, instead of rewarding them with a favourite treat, why not shift the focus to something else like a new stylo rouge (if the test was in French) or a promise to read an extra book together at night like “What is a Style Rouge?” or, a pat on the back or a gentler noogie to the head? (depending on your family’s approach to showing affection)

The number of times I have been guilty of ALMOST saying, “Guys, we just had the most fabulous day out on the ski slopes (this is a lie, we’ve never skied) let’s celebrate with everyone’s favourite potato chips.” Instead, why can’t we just eat chips because we’re watching a movie on the weekend and we have some chips in the house and they aren’t an everyday food but they totally should be because chips are awesome?

Or why can’t we eat ice cream when it’s hot outside and not because we’re sad because it really felt like the kid throwing the dodge ball at us was out for blood or because our feelings were hurt when we didn’t get any email (me) or we didn’t get an invitation to the birthday party (me again).

Maybe when we’re sad, we can draw a picture together or play on the computer or engage in a conversation about how we should probably get a pet monkey who wears overalls. And serves us chips!

I think if we can steer kids away from food every time something goes incredibly well or totally falls apart, they might be less inclined to turn to food when they are off on their own and use it as a way to cope with just about every emotion they’re going to have to face.

Having said all that, I do think family meal time is one of the most important times of the day. I think it’s a time to talk, to laugh, to gel as a family. I just don’t think it has to necessarily be the food that connects everyone but rather the conversation and everyone’s presence at the table.

I think when someone says “I’m done” they should be allowed to be finished eating, not necessarily be excused from the conversation at the table but they shouldn’t be forced to lick a plate clean because they probably had too much on there to begin with.

I can’t tell you how many tongue wounds I had as a child.

The taste of porcelain still haunts me.