How to build a good relationship with food

With the media, the myths, this overload of information, and the marketing of food companies, it’s unbelievably easy to develop a bad relationship with food nowadays.​
Building a healthy relationship with food brings so many amazing benefits. You learn to appreciate food, you feel more confident, healthy and you start being able to listen to your body.

Please note, I’m not a therapist or nutritionist. I’m simply going to share some truths to remember to hopefully help you along in your journey toward a healthy relationship with food. And if you suffer from an eating disorder or any other struggle, please seek professional help. You’re worth it.

There is no “good” or “bad” food
There is simply food that you should eat more and that gives you more energy and food you should eat less. Don’t entirely remove food groups from your diet just because they are considered “bad”. Instead, try looking at eating as a chance to nourish and nurture your body.

Food = fuel
We need to change the way we view food. Food is nourishment, fuel, and energy. It keeps us alive. We need food to function properly, so instead of viewing food as this scary thing, try to view it as what it is: fuel.

We need calories
Calories are energy, and we all need the energy to function. All you need to understand is that a calorie is a unit of energy. Some food has more energy, some have less. That’s it. By viewing calories this way, you can create a better relationship bound with them.

Don’t feel guilty; balance is key
If you overeat on one meal, instead of feeling guilty and restricting or jumping your next meal try to balance it out over the next few days. Listen to what your body needs. You don’t need to skip any meals or do any additional exercise in order to compensate for the additional caloric intake.

Eat what feels right for you 
There is no particular way of eating right. You have to find what works for you, and what works for you won’t necessarily look like what works for others. The best “diet” for you is the one you can stick to and that makes you feel good. Allow yourself to eat what you love and practice moderation.

Stop restricting and dieting = no binge eating
The best way to stop binge eating is to stop dieting. Because when you start dieting, you restrict yourself from eating what you want. Then you end up reaching a point where your body can no longer take that deprivation, that’s when the binge eating happens. If you want to cultivate a positive mindset around food, you just have to quit dieting.

Emotional eating is okay
I’m not talking about binge eating, which is a direct response to dieting. I’m talking about using food that our bodies need in certain times of our lives. Because we eat to fuel, to celebrate, to enjoy, to ease the pain of a stressful day or when we’re sad. Don’t bit yourself if that happens, we’re just nourishing our bodies.

Respect your hunger and fullness
Don’t starve yourself when you’re hungry. And don’t keep stuffing yourself when you’re full. Just listen to your body, he knows what’s best for him. Intuitive eating is the key.

Really hope this post was helpful if you don’t have a good relationship with food. And share this post to help promote a positive mindset toward food 😊​

Article by Kati Pereira