As a young adult, having to live again by the rules that apply at the parental dining table or under the parental Christmas tree can feel like a step backwards in personal development. It is completely different with the 22-year-old student Sabrina *. When she drives home to her parents' house over the holidays, she suddenly has more freedom there than in her own four walls - so much freedom that it scares her. Suddenly she could eat and drink whatever she wanted, could do without food completely if she wanted, but she sticks firmly to what she knows: a measuring cup, with the help of which she measures a normal-sized portion of muesli. Sabrina does the same in her shared flat in Munich, an institution for young women with eating disorders.
The full-size serving does wonders for Sabrina's health. Because of her bulimic illness, she only knew the extremes for years. Either she didn't eat at all or she ate huge amounts as soon as cravings got the better of her. She then vomited to maintain her weight. Until she moved into a flat this year, bulimia dominated her life. "Most people can't even imagine that when they get up, the whole day revolves around it," she says, "how food suddenly takes precedence over social contacts and everything else." Thoughts crept into the while starving Binge eating, which in turn could take up entire afternoons. Sabrina planned the contents of her stomach in layers: Far below, she laid a foundation made of lettuce - on top of that came the large pack of toasted bread with honey,which had to be got rid of afterwards.
Today it is the flat share classes that give Sabrina's life a structure. Garbage and cleaning services, as they have to be distributed in every student flat share, are supplemented by weekly appointments with therapists and nutritionists; also through mandatory meals, in which attention is paid to quantity and balance. To prove this, they all stand in line with their plates in the kitchen. Anyone who eats bread has to add at least two extras to it. So butter or cream cheese is an essential part of the hummus. The first supervised breakfast is already at 6.15 a.m., because Sabrina also has to include her business informatics studies in her daily schedule. Sometimes she leaves the classroom early to make it back to a meal in time. So far, nobody at the university knows about their living situation.
A dinner party where someone always cries
Shortly before our conversation, Sabrina even beat a speculoos pudding, which is a proud achievement for her.
The flat share residents should be confronted with fat and sugar in particular.
During the Advent season, the teachers bake Christmas cookies with them, even though nobody really wants to eat them.
"But every time you do it, it gets easier," says Sabrina.
When she thinks about Christmas, she immediately thinks of sumptuous meals and high-calorie alcohol.
It is difficult to look forward to big celebrations when you only have the dilemma at the dining table in mind.