This article debunks the idea that we need to feel guilty about pleasure. Even though it’s focused on media pleasure – the trashy novel or silly tv show – the lessons are equally true when it comes to eating.
It turns out that so-called guilty pleasures are good for us in moderation. We need a balance of productivity and downtime in life and a balance of nutrition and pleasure in eating.
“When we rest, we think we’re supposed to use that time productively with problem solving,” said Dr. Kristin Neff, an associate professor in the department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. While “that may be good for survival,” Dr. Neff said, constantly running through hypothetical problems “is not very good for happiness.”
Guilty Pleasures – There’s No Such Thing | New York Times
Photo credit: Dr Les (Leszek – Leslie) Sachs on Flickr
