Stress-Eating At Its Peak
When I was in the eighth grade, I went through a tough time dealing with depression. I was on medication that reduced my appetite significantly. Often, I’d go a whole day eating only one meal or none at all. On top of that, I was actively involved in four different sports, so I was burning up calories my body didn’t have to spare in the first place.
Every now and then, I’d become ravenously hungry because of the lack of food and I’d devour multiple school lunches despite not always having the means to pay for them.
One day, heading to class after talking to a teacher, I noticed a forgotten lunch bag in the empty hallway. It belonged to a student who, I knew, couldn’t afford lunch from the cafeteria. Despite knowing he might remember and pick his lunch, I still ended up grabbing it and quickly left.
My classroom was located in a remote area, far from the main hall, so there was no chance of running into the lunch’s owner. Once I got to my class, I felt safe in the knowledge I wouldn’t be caught.
During the lesson, I started munching on the food that was tucked in the bag. I wasn’t thrilled to find the sandwich had mayonnaise, something I typically found unpalatable. To avoid most of it, I picked at the edges and the very top of the sandwich where I could.
Eventually, though, my teacher spotted me eating and told me to stop. Promising that I would, I nevertheless went right back to eating as soon as I could.
I have to say, even though I’ve done things that were probably worse but just don’t come to mind right now, that day has stuck with me. I felt guilt afterwards, especially when I had my regular meal that day along with the food I’d taken.
I couldn’t shake the thought that someone else may have gone without lunch because of my actions. It’s one of those memories that’s stayed with me all the way till now, years later.