In today’s world, where diet trends and nutrition advice constantly evolve, the concept of having a “healthy relationship with food” frequently comes up.
But what does this really mean? How can we define a healthy relationship with food, and why is it so crucial for our overall well-being?
Understanding Your Relationship with Food
When we talk about a relationship with food, we’re referring to how we think, feel, and behave around eating. This relationship is deeply personal and influenced by many different factors, like cultural background, personal experiences, and societal messages.
So, what does having a healthy relationship with food look like?
Mindfulness
First and foremost, a healthier relationship with food is characterised by mindfulness. Mindful eating is about being present during meals, fully engaging with the eating experience, and, most notably, in the context of weight loss, paying attention to hunger and fullness cues. It’s about savouring each bite, noticing the flavours and textures, and really enjoying the food. This practice can transform mealtimes from a rushed or mindless activity into a more pleasurable and satisfying experience.
Restriction
The next significant aspect of a healthy relationship with food is the absence of strict restrictions. Many of us have been conditioned to label foods as “good” or “bad,” leading to a cycle of guilt and shame when we indulge in so-called “bad” foods. The TikTok generation has ushered in a new army of “keyboard dieticians and nutritionists” who love jumping on a fad diet or expressing in no uncertain terms just how dangerous fruit is to the human body. Just to clarify — it’s not.
Ignoring all the Instagram like hoarding pseudo-intellectual fear-mongers out there, it must be said that ALL FOODS can fit into a healthy diet. By rejecting these labels and embracing all foods in moderation, you can prevent feelings of deprivation and reduce the likelihood of overindulging in restricted items. This mindset shift can be liberating and help you to build a more balanced approach to eating.
Listen
Listening to what your body is telling you is another crucial component. This means tuning into your hunger, fullness, and cravings and responding to these signals appropriately. Eating when you’re hungry, stopping when you’re full, and allowing yourself to enjoy the foods you crave (in moderation and depending on the circumstance) can help you maintain a natural and healthy eating pattern. It’s about trusting your body to know what it needs and when it needs it.
Emotional
Emotional eating is a big, highly nuanced, and highly complex topic that often comes up in discussions about food relationships. Many of us have moments when we turn to food for comfort, whether stressed, bored, or sad. While this is completely normal, it’s important to recognise these patterns and address the underlying emotions rather than solely relying on food for comfort.
Building awareness around our emotional triggers can help us develop healthier coping mechanisms and reduce emotional eating. There is a lot of psychology at play when we talk about emotional eating; a lot that I am not sufficiently qualified to comment on or give advice about, so I won’t say much, but trauma (I mean real trauma, not the BS highschoolers claim to have because their parents had the balls to limit their social media usage) can have an enormous effect on your eating patterns and behaviours. These can often be in the form of disordered eating practices that require professional clinicians to treat.
I suffer from heavy emotional eating behaviours. When I get angry or emotional, I immediately crave all sorts of highly palatable, overly processed, sugary foods. I deal with it daily and have learned how to adapt my eating practices to avoid indulging or overindulging, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes, I find it easier to have a little of what I crave, like 25g of jellybeans, and then move on with my life rather than fight the cravings until I have a moment of weakness and then cave in and eat my weight in jellybeans.
Self-compassion
Self-compassion plays a vital role in this process. Being kind to yourself and forgiving food-related “mistakes” is essential. Everyone has moments of overeating or indulging more than planned. Instead of beating yourself up, view these moments as opportunities to learn and grow. Practising self-compassion helps maintain a positive mindset and prevents you from falling into a cycle of very counterproductive and damaging negative self-talk.
Enjoyment
I find that enjoyment and satisfaction are very rarely discussed and often overlooked in conversations and articles about food and diet, specifically in the context of weight loss, but they are fundamental to a healthy relationship with food.
Food isn’t just fuel; it’s also a source of pleasure and connection. Taking time to enjoy our meals and appreciating the sensory experience of eating can enhance satisfaction and make healthy eating more sustainable.
It’s also worth noting that a healthy relationship with food doesn’t happen overnight. Like any relationship, it requires patience, self-awareness, and continuous effort. There will be ups and downs, but each step towards a more balanced and mindful approach to eating is a step in the right direction.
Last Thoughts on the Subject
Having a healthier relationship with food means cultivating a balanced, mindful, and compassionate approach to eating. It’s about trusting your body, enjoying food without guilt, and embracing a holistic view of nutrition and well-being. Focus on these principles, and you will absolutely transform your eating habits and enhance your overall quality of life. If you’re on a weight loss journey, this might not be the best place to start, but it is definitely one of the most important aspects of a long-term weight-maintenance plan.
At the end of the day, it’s all about making eating a more pleasurable and positive experience.
Enjoy your food!
Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think, or let me have it in the comments if you want; it’s up to you.
Otherwise, if you want to work with me, feel free to email me. My email is in my bio.
Peace be da journey!
- Taron
