Making Sense of “Inside Out”- A Nutrition Counselor’s Movie Review
Exploration of the nutrition and recreation angles within the Pixar movie “Inside Out”
Initially, I did not want to watch “Inside Out” because I assumed that juvenile animation would minimize strong emotions. However, “Inside Out” has psychological depth and is more suited for mature minds. “Inside Out” was viewed and discussed in a group therapy session. As a future Master of Science in Nutrition, I observed various elements concerning the psychology of food and recreation.
(Warning: Movie Spoilers Ahead!)
Observation #1= Dinner Table Manifestations
Emotional personas of Joy and Sadness transfer to the protagonist’s subconscious and long-term memory portal. Therefore, Fear, Disgust, and Anger were the sole emotions within her consciousness and manifested through her words, actions, and behavior. Dinner tables should bring families together. However, many families rarely eat together except on holidays. Drama is common.
Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas are draining for individuals when toxic family members judge the high or low amount of food consumed, pry about personal affairs, or blatantly gossip. Psychological pessimism or optimism affects the social and sentimental value of family dinner traditions. A common etiology of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder is associated with negative familial dining experiences.
The movie depicts parenting styles. For example, the father’s intrinsic Anger was the first emotion that spoke up within his mind. The protagonist’s Disgust stimulated her father’s Anger. Misunderstandings cause strife within families and spread through communities, states, and nations.
Fathers are usually the disciplinarian in a conventional nuclear family dynamic. Although a stable masculine figure assures confidence, adequate financial support, and protection, this aggression is unsettling and insensitive for a daughter forced to live somewhere new, not make new friends, and learn how life works at the tender age of eleven. Puberty is tough.
Defensive parents amplify and worsen the mentality and circumstances that catapult into dinner table flaws. Alcoholism amplifies toxicity within family dynamics due to the high probability of violence and abuse through words and actions. Substance use may manifest to escape from stressful life situations. Stress within the home worsens with the presence of any substance.
Modern women are more likely to have a substantial career orientation. Nurturing and domestication elements cease to exist or are a juggling balance for career-oriented mothers. Single and childless women are not exempt. College loans are astronomical and are mandatory to pay. Work hours add up while conventional and nutritious gatherings are compromised. Lunch hour is more like lunch quarter or lunch minute. The career orientation of women has an unfortunate high probability of singlehood, divorce, and neglected offspring. Worse, this has an even higher likelihood among modern and single women (mothers or childless) of color.
Observation #2= Nostalgia Nutrition
Everyone has a Goofball Island that is manifested and stimulated through food. Foods within recreational establishments such as baseball hot dogs- peanuts- Cracker Jacks, amusement park Cotton Candy, funnel cake, and picnic basket cuisine stimulates optimistic activity within the limbic system (The regions of the brain associated with emotions).
Optimistic episodic memory enhancement and nostalgic food consumption may be linked. Joy initiated an idea for the protagonist and her mother to try a local pizza parlor to emulate a positive memory in Minnesota. However, the protagonist and her mother were disappointed with the flavor. The best pizza in the States arguably comes from states with an abundant Italian population, such as New York and New Jersey.
Representations of various demographics and cultures manifest the beauty of The United States of America. Culture is evident in dining experiences, whether homemade or at a restaurant. The experience of regional, cultural, and international cuisine is vibrant when individuals step out of their comfort zone and embrace the unknown in a healthy yet fun way through nutrition and leisure.
A city that I always wanted to travel to is Miami. Key Lime Pie is well known there. I emulate a Miami getaway by trying my sister-in-law’s mother’s pie (and salsa dancing all over my house in my fun, bright, floral, and feminine apron as I clean and play Latin Jazz Radio). I do not feel the need to be a sanctimonious nutrition counselor 24/7/365. A slice of pie is a delightful tropical paradise.
Hockey is the protagonist’s favorite activity and coping skill. Joy provided the idea of playing Hockey in the new home to make light of a sad situation. A positive core memory developed as she scored her first goal as a young child. However, as a preteen, she could not express her Joy and Sadness as her best friend met a new friend and continued playing Hockey. The movie ended with a beautiful resolution as she experienced Joy in Hockey again through lamentation and mourning with the expression of Sadness. Her parents showed zeal at her game (face paint and all 😊). Every athlete desires a fanbase from the home front. She made new friends when all five emotions blended to create new islands and new core memories.
Share your happy memories! Share your pessimistic experiences if comfortable. Ask questions associated with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical elements of nutrition and recreation. I will be happy to share my perspective! 😊
