Pizza. Cake. Ice cream. Why do we eat foods we know are unhealthy? Evolution plays a part, psychologists say, but mindfulness can help us eat better

Many of us eat junk food despite knowing it’s bad for us. Psychologists say reasons for this include habit, deep-rooted associations and primal urges for fat

Pausing, thinking and replacing ‘shoulds’ with ‘coulds’ when deciding what to eat can eliminate guilt and encourage responsible and often healthier food choices

Reading Time:5 minutes

Many of us eat junk food, especially things like ice cream, cake and pizza, despite knowing we shouldn’t. Psychologists say the reason for this is to do with associations, habits and evolution. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:15pm, 16 Sep 2022

I’m lactose intolerant and I know I should keep an eye on my cholesterol, but neither of these factors stop me from picking at a cheese board or ordering ice cream for dessert.

I’m aware while I am eating that my choices aren’t benefiting future me. I never feel good after, yet I keep repeating the cycle.

I don’t know why I keep doing it. I often swear that I’ll stop. “No more cheese,” I say to myself, or, “I’ll stay away from sugar.” But somehow, even with the restraints I put on myself, I still want what I “shouldn’t” have – sometimes even more.

I’m not the only one who struggles with this. When I shared my problems with this decision-making process on Twitter, several users replied with their own stories about foods they consume despite being better off staying away from them.

Cheeses like Camembert, while not necessarily healthy, are a go-to snack for many of us. Photo: Shutterstock

Zach Honig wrote that even though he knows he’s susceptible to gout, he still indulges in red wine, rich foods and beer. “I just deal with the gout attacks from time to time.”

Like me, Victoria M. Walker refuses to give up dairy. And @ACHolliday replied that they have cysts and aren’t supposed to drink coffee, but sometimes they still do because it provides “comfort”.