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Why You’re Eating for Pleasure More Than Health (And How It’s Screwing You Over)

Writer's picture: Richard GriehRichard Grieh

Ever stopped to think about why you eat the way you do? Like really think about it? Because if we’re being honest, most of us aren’t eating for fuel—we’re eating for pleasure.

And that’s where a lot of people go wrong.

The problem isn’t the occasional treat—it’s that every meal is now a dopamine hit. Sugary, salty, hyper-processed, and engineered to be so addictive that your brain demands more before you’ve even finished chewing.

But that’s not how we used to eat. In fact, for most of human history, eating for pleasure was a rare occasion. Something that happened maybe once every few weeks, if you were lucky. Now? It’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the snack you didn’t even need.

I'm going to talk about how we got here—and why dialling it back might be the best thing you ever do for your body.


Back When Food Was Just… Food

Think about early humans, cavemen, hunters, gatherers. They weren’t chasing after meals that “hit the spot” or made them feel emotionally fulfilled (We think). They ate to survive, to fuel their bodies for harsh conditions and physically demanding lives.

Food was functional. It gave them the nutrients they needed to keep moving, to hunt, to fight, to not die.

And if they ever did come across something rich, high in calories, or naturally sweet (think honey or fatty meat), they went all in—because who knew when the next feast would come? But that was a one-off. Not an every meal, every day situation.

Fast forward to medieval times, even into the 1800s—people still ate for function, not for flavour explosions. Meals were simple, whole, and largely dictated by necessity, not cravings.

Now, let’s look at today.


Modern Eating: Pleasure > Purpose

At some point, we stopped eating for survival and started eating for entertainment.

Now, every meal is an event. It’s not just food—it’s pleasure, comfort, nostalgia, social connection. It’s become something we use to cope, celebrate, and escape. And the food industry? It knows this.

That’s why processed foods are designed to be hyper-palatable. The perfect blend of sugar, fat, and salt hijacks your brain’s reward system in a way that makes real, whole foods seem bland in comparison. (Harvard Study)

These foods light up the dopamine pathways in your brain the same way addictive substances do. That’s why stopping at "just one" is nearly impossible. It’s not about willpower—it’s literally engineered to make you want more.

And let’s be honest, if cavemen had access to stuffed crust pizza and chocolate-filled croissants? They’d have been in trouble too.


How This Screws Up Your Progress

If you’re eating for pleasure first and function second, you’re probably:

Struggling to hit your goals because most processed foods pack more calories than you think.

Craving more junk because these foods literally rewire your taste preferences.

Finding whole foods "boring" because your palate has been trained to expect an explosion of flavours in every bite.


When food is too enjoyable, we eat more than we need. That’s a fact.

And before you think, "But life’s too short to not enjoy food"—I agree. I’m not telling you to eat chicken and broccoli for the rest of your life. But if every meal is an indulgence, then it stops being a treat and just becomes your normal… which is a problem.


Dialling It Back (Without Hating Life)

Here’s the good news—your taste buds can reset. The food you think is “bland” now? Give it time. Once you stop bombarding your brain with ultra-processed foods, your palate re-calibrates.


Here’s how to start:

Stop making every meal about pleasure. Aim for nutrient-dense foods that fuel your goals first. Enjoyment should come second, not be the priority every single time.

Gradually cut back on hyper-processed foods. You don’t need to go cold turkey, but start swapping out some of the ultra-processed junk for whole, unprocessed alternatives.

Give your body time to adjust. It takes about 2-3 weeks for your taste buds to change. Foods that seem “plain” now will start tasting richer, more flavourful, and actually satisfying.

Eat for function first, then for enjoyment. Think 80/20—80% of the time, eat to fuel your body. The other 20%? Enjoy the hell out of that meal.


There’s nothing wrong with enjoying food. But if you’re always chasing flavour, excitement, and indulgence in every meal, you’re probably making it harder for yourself than it needs to be.

Eating for health and function first doesn’t mean food has to be boring—it just means resetting your approach so you don’t feel like every meal needs to be a dopamine hit.

Try it for a few weeks. Dial it back, eat for your goals, and watch how real food starts tasting good again.


Your progress will thank you.


Want Help Building a Nutrition Plan That Works?

If you’re tired of second-guessing everything you eat, check out RSG Online Coaching.

We’ll build a realistic plan that actually fits your life—without you feeling like you’re on a miserable diet.


Cheers,




Rich


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