Have you ever wondered why you order a salad on a first date when you really want pasta? Many of us tend to eat differently when we are with other people, without even realizing it. Our food choices vary depending on who is at the table, who is watching us, or who can see our food if we share it online. According to psychologists and researchers, this trend has a name. This is called “performative eating” or, translated in another way, “demonstrating consumption”.
More specifically, “image eating” refers to the way we choose or avoid certain foods not because of their taste or nutritional value, but because of the message we think they send to others. Food can be a powerful tool for expressing identity and building relationships. For example, we can order a salad to show that we are “fit” and “disciplined”, a beer instead of a cocktail to look “manly”, a meal that will simply look attractive on social media, etc.
Thus, the way we eat does not escape social influences. Some of these effects we feel, others just happen…
The role of social media
The social media they reinforce the dynamic of “performative eating.” Various platforms are full of content around food,… from creative smoothies to viral “what I eat in a day” style videos.
These posts don’t just entertain, they influence.
Followers may copy the food, lifestyle, and even values of creators they admire. So social media doesn’t just reflect food consumption trends. And they help to create and strengthen them.
Studies have shown that when we know what other people choose to eat or drink, we are influenced and make similar choices. Also, studies show that people tend to eat more when we are with friends or family than when we are alone. In other words, proximity and social connection play a role in how much we eat.
Our food choices are also shaped by broader cultural beliefs, or what society says is ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
Sometimes it’s good to share certain foods to connect with friends or family or to celebrate our traditions.
But problems can arise when the focus is on appearing “something” or “someone” to others. This effect is particularly strong in adolescents and young adults, and in extreme cases can lead to eating disorders and body image problems. For example, trying to provide a “perfect,” socially acceptable diet can result in strict rules or restrictions that harm an individual’s mental and physical health.
Eating on this basis can also lead to a decrease in its enjoyment, as eating becomes more of a spectacle than a moment of nourishment or pleasure.
Reconnecting with food
Think:
- Am I consuming this food or drink because I enjoy it, or because others see me in a certain way?
- Am I ordering what I really want to eat or what I should?
- What emotional reactions do I have before and after engaging with various food posts online?
It is better not to make food a means of expression and affirmation. Hygiene eating habits they should be authentic and based on the real needs of the body. When food becomes a tool to satisfy external expectations, it loses its true value as a source of energy and pleasure.