When I was going through my eating disorder, I was hyper aware of what everyone else was eating. I focused on how much they were eating, what food choices they made, and when they would eat. Even in recovery, food comparison still gets to me from time to time.
In being so aware of everyone else’s food patterns, I started to notice that I wasn’t the only one with food issues. A LOT of the people that I was surrounded with also had food rules, engaged in diet culture, and restricted food intake.
I call true, normal eaters my “hidden treasures.” They are few and far between (unfortunately), but they are so valuable and important. To be honest, I probably only know about 5-10 people who truly embody normal eating, and surrounding myself with them has been a huge part of my eating disorder recovery.