Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

Living a healthy lifestyle is often seen as a tough challenge , but what if it could be a pleasant experience instead? Let's lose the diet culture thats been pushed at us for so long, and start enjoying food. Its sounds like a fresh perspective, but it's actually just reversing time to the way it was before all that diet marketing got inside our heads. Let's look at what intuitive eating is, how to transform food habits, and how you can embrace a healthier lifestyle.

Understanding Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating is a philosophy that encourages you to listen to your body's cues and respond mindfully. Instead of relying on rigid meal plans or calorie restrictions, intuitive eating helps you recognize your hunger signals. This means learning to both appreciate when you’re actually hungry and responding with the nourishment your body is asking for.

Advantages of Intuitive Eating

A Healthy Relationship with Food

Practicing intuitive eating leads to a striking change in how you view food. You start to pay closer attention to your body’s signals rather than obsessing over calories. You are less likely to lead to episodes of binge eating, because you are not denying yourself of any food type or food group in particular.

Intuitive eating encourages you to fill your plate with whole, nutrient-dense foods that make you feel good. Think of plates predominantly filled with fruits and vegetables with all the colours of the rainbow. Fuel your body with good food.

As you learn to listen to your hunger and fullness cues, you will find cravings become easier to manage. For example, when you are wanting snacks, if you ask yourself are you actually hungry and if the answer is no, you might identify that you are actually only snacking because you are stressed or bored. Then you can walk away from the snacks and take other action like going for a walk or something instead. Likewise, the signal for thirst sometimes gets confused with wanting to snack. Ask yourself, am I actually thristy instead? If the answer is yes, drink the water, and wait a little bit to see if your body if still hungry after all. This shift in mindset promotes a tonne of healthier habits.

Self Acceptance

Intuitive eating encourages self acceptance. Many people struggle with negative body image, usually reinforced by those strict weight loss diets and social media channels. Rather than critiquing your body, practice appreciating what it is capable of, and appreciating yourself for who you are.

Replace harsh self judgment with kindness. So often our own inner voice is the biggest hater we have. It is easier to make healthier choices when you are able to silence that inner voice and have an acceptance for your body.

Less Stress

Restrictive diets can create an atmosphere full of anxiety and detachment from food.

One of the greatest benefits of intuitive eating is peace of mind. You can stop worrying about when you can eat next or feeling guilty about enjoying a certain food. Let go of those dieting rules and you can gain freedom in your food choices. This change in mindset can be a game changer.

Listen to Your Body and Fuel with Quality Foods.

Start paying attention to your body’s signals. Before you eat, reflect on what you're craving. Your body is an intelligent being and knows what it needs. Suddenly craving bananas? Your body might low in potassium. Craving savoury foods? Your body might be low on sodium. Of course this doesn't quite work when you're craving a large tub of ice cream, but there might be something in that craving message, perhaps you are low on energy or perhaps you are just seeking comfort and another outlet would be a better option. By tuning into these feelings, you'll develop a deeper understanding of your needs, which leads to eating mindfully.

Building a Sustainable Healthy Lifestyle

Living healthily is about cultivating habits rather than forcing diets. Here are some practical tips to help you maintain a balanced lifestyle:

Regular Meals.

Be organised and schedule regular meals to keep your body fuelled. Regular eating helps to stabilise energy levels and minimise cravings, so you will be less likely to reach for those less nutritious snacks.

Experiment with Foods.

Challenge yourself to try new foods, new flavours, or try a new way of preparing them. Getting in the kitchen and trying new recipes can reignite your passion for cooking. Focus on enjoyment, when you truly enjoy what you eat, you feel more satisfied and fulfilled.

Stay Active.

Just as you need nutritious food, daily movement is essential to living. It doesn't have to vigorous, nor does it have to be for hours, you can start with finding time for a 20min walk in the park. Spend time doing whatever activity it is that you love, fuel that passion for life.

Practice Mindfulness

. Being mindful while eating transforms your meals. Make time to sit down and eat. Slow it down, enjoy the flavours, make it an experience. This can help you appreciate your meals more and better tune into your body and satiety signals.

Embracing Intuitive Eating for a Healthier You

If you've been part of the diet culture mindset, incorporating intuitive eating into your life can be empowering. It builds a better relationship with food, embraces self acceptance, and reduces stress around eating. This healthy relationship with food leads to a healthier lifestyle, one where you respect your body and fuel it well. Here's to living a balanced and fulfilling life - one delicious meal at a time!

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Written by Tanya Venables - Fuel and Movement

Disclaimer - The information on this website is provided for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.