I was one of those losers incredibly motivated people queuing at the grocery store when it opened at 8am today – a Saturday. Which (given my particular skill of speed-shopping) meant I was in my car on the way home by 8.15 and inadvertently listening to some morning radio show… which I usually try to avoid like the plague, mostly because those calling-in just piss me off.

The female host was talking about a recent episode in which she’d been grocery shopping and got stuck into a small tub of cream on the drive home. Her choice of in-car dining was supposed to be weird, as she had her colleagues guessing what she’d eaten. Naturally they went for the obvious – chips/crisps, lollies etcetera.

Fortunately my grocery store is only a couple of minutes drive so I was home before they had callers confessing to their own bizarre in-car dining habits, but once again it got me thinking about the rituals I attach to eating.

I’ve talked before about the ‘ceremony’ surrounding my meals – well the ones that count. Breakfast and lunch – particularly on weekdays don’t matter. I’ll eat whatever I have to and wherever I have to eat it. Breakfast is usually consumed in front of the computer, checking emails before heading to work. And as I go to the gym during my lunch breaks, I just eat lunch at my work desk. You know… WOTEVA.

It’s my other meals which I consider to be ‘special’ and worthy of greater attention. There is – for example – no way in hell I would eat my favourite treats (corn chips, popcorn, chocolate and so forth) in front of the computer or IN THE BLOODY CAR for god’s sake! I mean… how disrespectful?!?!?!

I’ve read about those who feel – if they eat it before they get home – it doesn’t count; or that they have to hide the evidence of unhealthy food from partners or kids. Or perhaps they’re just hungry. I guess I’d eat in the car if I was ravenous and suspect I have on long journeys.

As for other times… I JUST DON’T GET IT. When I could eat KFC (before my coeliac diagnosis) I wouldn’t dream of tucking into my KFC chips while heading home. Nope, I had to wait until I was home and put them on a plate… complete with the chicken and gravy etc before settling myself and diving in.

I feel compelled to confess that I bought corn chips this morning and ate them for breakfast once home. And yes, I put them in a bowl and mixed up some dip in a container, plonked myself in front of the television and watched an episode of Fringe while I devoured 1000+ calories. That – and other recent eating episodes aside – I’m still thinking about the ceremony and ritual around food… in my case.

I’ve never been a ‘food is (just) fuel’ fan. Food has always meant much more than that and I still believe it should… even though I know I should tone down some of the ‘excitement’ I attach to it. I know there are more important things. Surely, there must be. Mustn’t there? 

I’ve been trying to avoid attaching labels to food (ie. good or bad) and am trying to use words like ‘healthy’ and ‘less-healthy’. I’ve tried to ONLY steer clear of my trigger or danger foods (like corn chips) allowing myself other options which I believe to be less-healthy or sometimes food (potato and pasta for example – both of which I find hard to eat in small quantities!). But, I’m now thinking I need to work on my attitude towards food FULL STOP.

In the meantime… Are you an in-car diner? What do you eat in the car and why?