I talk a lot with clients and on my social media about having a healthy relationship with food. Diet culture (and sometimes to an extent wellness culture) have created a fearful mindset around certain foods, eating with a strict focus on losing weight, and healthy being defined by a physical appearance or the numbers on a scale.
A healthy relationship with food not only takes changing your mindset but learning to trust yourself and your body. I thought it would be helpful to dive in a little deeper on the 4 key parts that I cover with clients to help them remove the fear around food and start eating and living freely!
Freedom
Finding freedom around food allows you to choose foods you enjoy. Does this mean you can't enjoy a salad, no (I know I definitely do)! But the decision around eating that salad comes from your body craving those veggies and greens, it sounds appetizing and delicious. Not from the mindset that you should because of how it will impact your weight or what is the 'healthiest' option. Satiety and the feeling you ate enough (based on fullness instead of suggested serving sizes) allows you to eat amounts that are right for you! (spoiler alert - that amount will change day to day too based on your body!)
To help find that freedom, instead focus on the foods that make you feel good! While eating them and after eating them.
Flexibility
Life isn't stagnant. Neither is what, how, or when you eat! Having flexibility around your diet allows you to change based on circumstances.
Is eating more home-cooked meals shown to be beneficial for your health, yes. But is it realistic to always eat at home for every meal, no! Life is busy --
you have work, meetings with clients out, celebration dinners with family at restaurants, going to friends' houses for dinner (where you aren't the one cooking), and it goes on and on. When there is no longer fear/stress/anxiety/guilt or rules around what and how you eat, embracing flexibility becomes freeing!
It's not about what you do some of the time, it's about what you do most of the time. Consistency is where the biggest impact on your health comes into play. If you eat one salad, you're not all of a sudden going to fix all your health problems. The inverse is the same - eating one meal out (whatever that may be) isn't going to throw your health all out the window.
Knowledge
What is a healthy diet? This is a trick question because it is different for everyone! Based on your lifestyle, your health history, and based on your health goals its going to look a little different. Are there some recommendations and general practices that can be applied, sure! But there is not a one size fits all answer to this. Nutritional needs are unique to you and by honoring your hunger and fullness cues, cravings, and curiosity, there is room for all foods in your healthy diet. Part of your relationship with food comes with learning what works for your body based on your season of life.
I also like to throw this out under knowledge because its worth the reminder - at no point, do you ever have to earn your food. You deserve to eat regardless of what you do or don't do today, tomorrow, or next week. How much you eat will fluctuate, foods you like with change, and your life circumstances change. But the fact that you can eat without having to earn or burn off any food will never change!
Now finding freedom from food doesn't mean you throw all nutrition and health information out the window. Having that knowledge is what gives you the freedom to make choices. Having the knowledge about what foods are more nutrient-dense and nourishing for your body will help you improve your health by making decisions from a place of self-care, instead of restriction. And sometimes having a decadent pastry or indulgent dessert is also from a place of self-care!!
Self Care & Compassion
Self-care and compassion when it comes to your diet mean letting go of when things aren't ideal and being kind to yourself. Food is fuel for our bodies, but it also is fuel for our souls. It's important to nourish and fuel your body so it can do all the things you ask of it and to feel your best in doing so. Sometimes that means having a veggie and lean protein-packed meal. But sometimes what is more nourishing for the soul is to have that unique fried food when you are traveling or trying something for the first time without stressing about how many calories it will be or what it is going to do to your body!
By adopting nutrition and freedom principles that serve you, letting go of what doesn't, you can honor and value your nutrition and health without letting it consume you! Some of my favorite ways to show myself care and compassion are:
having frozen meal options in the freezer when I just don't feel like cooking.
getting a latte while I'm out and about just becuase (and getting it decaf when I want to avoid the late night caffeine buzz)
celebrating how I feel in my body instead of how much I weigh
ordering the burger and fries (without the salad) when it makes my mouth water
moving my body in some way every day to boost my energy & honoring how that looks each day
saying yes to dinners out with friends when it feels good, and saying no when it serves me to stay in and rest
Its the little things that can make the biggest difference in your health, and they span outside of just the food you eat.
Now I want to end this on a quick note about dieting and losing weight.
You can still have a goal to lose weight and want to make changes in your body. This is not about shaming anyone who wants to lose a few pounds or feel better in how they look. Wanting to improve your health is GREAT! But this doesn't mean that you have to demonize certain foods and solely focus on calories and what you can and cannot eat to get there. Finding a healthy relationship and freedom from food rules can lead to you finding your healthiest and happiest self!
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