Intuitive Eating: Part 2

The subjects of weight, dieting, and body image (how we feel about what we look like) are constant subjects of thought, discussion, and observance. My book Feed My Soul discusses reasons for this, but for now, I want to continue our discussion on what we can do today to start acting differently with food! 

If you read my first blog about Intuitive Eating and you are back, welcome back! If you are just tuning in, Intuitive Eating is a book written by two fabulous dietitians, Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch MS, RD. It can also be considered a guiding light out of inappropriate guilt and shame with food and our bodies and an introduction to freedom with food and peace with the body. There are 10 principles of intuitive eating. The first two, “Reject the Diet Mentality” and “Honor your Hunger”, were our topics of discussion in Part 1. Today we will dive right into principles 3 and 4!

Principle 3: Make Peace with Food

Several years ago while leading an exposure group for clients with bulimia, I had a client declare to the group as she chose a doughnut to enjoy in the group, “I am now going to shake hands with this doughnut.” She proceeded to eat it and enjoy it, but her declaration was a funny and clever way of saying that she had decided to make peace with a food that she had been afraid of and probably binged on many times in the past.

“Good” food & “Bad” food

Many people with a history of yo-yo dieting, disordered eating, or eating disorders are at war with food. To them, food is the enemy and must be avoided and “conquered.” Not all food, of course. There are foods that don’t cause any trepidation at all like celery, lettuce, rice cakes and all of their friends which also have little to no flavor, enjoyment, or calories. These are considered foods “safe” to eat.

But then there are the “bad foods” like pizza, ice cream, and french fries that really just have to be avoided at all costs. The only problem is this always leads to a preoccupation with these foods that are labeled as “bad” and avoided and can, in many cases, lead to overeating or binge eating. It is the belief of many dietitians, myself included, that there are actually no good foods or bad foods, other than those foods which are rotten, moldy, or ruined. There is also no morality associated with food. In other words, eating certain foods does not make you or your body good or bad. Food is just food and once full permission with all food is given, there will be peace. All food will be appreciated and eaten in variety, balance, and moderation.

Principle 4: “Challenge the Food Police”

“Challenge the Food Police” is closely related to making peace with food. You see, making peace with food and ultimately intuitive eating is only possible when you silence that critical voice making all the rules about what is “right” and “good” to eat and what is “wrong” and “bad” to eat. If all foods are on an even playing field and all food can be enjoyed equally when they sound good and would be satisfying to your body, then you can fire the squad of task masters screaming at you in your head! You can learn to live in a place of wisdom, utilizing logic of what balanced nutrition looks like, while also enjoying the pleasure and appropriate emotion associated with food as well. 

If you have enjoyed this short synopsis of the principles of Intuitive Eating you can find more information at www.intuitiveeating.com and stay tuned for my next blog about the next two principles of Intuitive Eating, “Feel Your Fullness” and “Discover the Satisfaction Factor.” Until then, may you begin or continue the journey to freedom with food and peace with your body!

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If you have further questions or need direction about getting help for disordered eating or treatment for an eating disorder, please contact me at www.bodyandsoulnutritioncounseling.com.