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Have you ever been somewhere with someone and noticed that they always finish every last bite of their food? Whether they’re stuffed or not, it seems like they could never leave a plate of food until it’s all gone. Now, while finishing a plate is far from a symptom of a psychological disorder, it may still be a peculiar behaviour that can be explained through psychology. The first and perhaps most common reason for this behaviour is learned behaviour. Many of us were taught as children to finish everything on our plate, not to waste food, or that there are starving children who would do anything for a meal. These lessons, instilled in us at a young age, can stay with us for decades. As an adult, they might subconsciously remind themselves of these lessons and continue to eat, even when they’re full, until their plate is clean Another explanation for this behaviour is scarcity. If a person grew up in a time or place where there was an inconsistent food supply, they might have developed a habit of finishing whatever food they can get. their brain still remembers the fear of not having enough food While there might not be an inconsistency in their current food supply.
As mentioned earlier, finishing everything on one’s plate may be a part of the “clean plate” habit. For some people, however, finishing everything on their plate or even all of the food prepared for the day is a way of expressing that they have no loose ends. They feel complete and satisfied once they’ve finished all of the food. But again, this doesn’t automatically mean that they are obsessing about completing things. Remember that it’s not a sin to leave a little bit of food on your plate. It is okay to prioritize your body’s needs above how full your plate is. If you’re consistently having issues with this or having issues with food in general, the best thing you can do is speak to a professional.