Nibbler/ grazer  
·         Eats often throughout the day and sometimes the night
·         Often chooses fast foods or finger foods
·         May miss meals and essential nutrients

Speed Racer  
·         Is always in a hurry and makes choices for speed and convenience
·         Eats quickly without taking time to enjoy or taste foods
·         Pays little or no attention to choices, taste, nutrient value or consequences
·         Often skips meals and then overeats later
     
Trigger Unhappy  
·         Associates foods with emotions or uses “good/bad” scenario
·         Trigger foods are “bad” because they instigate over eating
·         Foods are blamed for behaviors/attitudinal circumstances
·         Trigger foods are often high fat/high sugar
·         Trigger unhappy eaters may also be deprivation sensitive

Deprivation Sensitive  
·         Occurs when individual has not had free access to desired foods
·          Avoidance leads to obsession and bingeing
·         History of restrained eating patterns
·         Desires structure to come from outside of themselves
·          Feels out of control, chaotic—lacks trust in self to manage foods/eating
·         Those who skip meals can fit into this category easily

Social Eater  
·         Uses food to socialize and celebrate events
·          Ignores hunger cues in favor of being social
·         Sometimes puts on a show of good eating behaviors and eats in secret later  
·         Can be disconnected eaters
·          
 Self-Medicator  
·         Uses food as a comfort or distraction to numb unwanted feelings
·         Uses food as a companion, survival tool or coping skill
·         Sees him/herself as weak or helpless
·         Questions self motives, discipline, capabilities - loses self trust
·         Chooses foods according to moods, can be addictive
·         Exacerbated by deprivation
·         Can trigger eating disorders or like behaviors
·          
Disconnected Eater  
·         Lacks internal hunger cueing
·         Uses external messages like time, smells, social events to cue eating
·         Follows history of training (“Finish what’s on your plate.”)
·         May choose the same foods over again, lacks variety in nutrients
·         Eats while doing something else (TV, computer)
·         Usually eats quickly without tasting
·         Tends to eat for reasons other than hunger (fatigue, emotions)

Physically Connected Eater  
·         Eats for vitality, health, enjoyment
·         Eats in response to physiological hunger and recognizes emotional eating
·         Tempers choices with scientific facts and health education
·         Understands appropriate portion sizes, food choices and effects on health and
·         disease while still promoting pleasurable eating Recognizes food as fuel and puts in mostly “high octane”
·         Is flexible with food choices and open to new tastes
·         Avoids punishment in regard to food choices

STRATEGIES FOR BECOMING A PHYSICALLY CONNECTED EATER  
·         Use the hunger scale to increase body awareness
·         Conceptualize food as FUEL
·         Feed on demand
·         Chew slowly and completely, noticing flavors
·         Eat without distraction
·         Avoid labeling foods as good/bad. Recognize you are labeling your behaviors.
·         Keep a food journal and record circumstances and emotions.
·         Plan ahead. Know your limits, weaknesses, schedule issue, etc.
·         Focus on PROCESS not OUTCOME. Strive for health, not weight. Weight loss is an outcome, but being healthy is a lifelong process with better rewards.