Finding the sweet place between cravings, satisfaction and health.
Approaching food with an open mind and sense of appreciation for taking care of the body and mind is one of the best ways to be effective, consistent and create a joyful practice of living well.
Can you support your health and still eat what you want?
Absolutely! Tapping into your creativity and utilizing awareness will turn the science of eating well into a daily enjoyable art. Since mindful eating allows us to really investigate our true eating experience.
Maybe we feel… the only food that we enjoy is the food that isn’t “good” for us, which is simply not true.
The mind is programmed to see the danger in every situation. Being critical allows us to identify possible threats, which is crucial in hazardous situations but when it comes to food, the negative bias does not serve us.
Do you ever feel like…
“Of course this food is bad for me, because I really love eating it”.
Or what about…
- I cannot eat that, I’m being so bad.
- I was really good today I didn’t eat the [X].
- I am staying away from bad food.
These statements add power to the perception that being well, taking care of yourself and eating is difficult and unattainable. Simply not true.
Labeling food as ‘bad or ‘good’ creates a binary perspective- meaning food either is helping or harming us.In actuality, each food offers a unique proportion of calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, fiber, water and micronutrients. This is the nature of nutrition.
There are certain ingredients that are lower quality and foods you may need to avoid for a medical reason. However, there are no right and wrong foods to eat, and eating less nutritious foods with intention is not going to contribute to weight gain or disease.
What Food Is…
A source of nourishment needed to perform basic functions like breathing, digesting food, and organs to function properly, so that we can live our best lives.
Food is also pleasurable, memories, tradition, a social experience and love.
What Food Should Not Be…
- Guilt Inducing
- Anxiety Provoking
- Bad or Good
How to Blend a Black and White Thinking into a Shade of Grey?
Labelling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ may appear to simplify eating, however what it really does is create inner conflict, feelings of guilt and shame. Try this instead…
- Eat with Intention. Staying true to your thoughts, feelings, circumstances and allow yourself permission to enjoy food fully.
- Identify the abundance in each food. Ask yourself what does this food offer? How is it nourishing me?
- Always challenging yourself. How can you become increasingly aware of the inner critic? Black and white thinking?
- Taste and notice of the language you use when talking about food, your hunger, satisfaction and enjoyment with eating. Do you label food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’? Is the experiencing of eating pleasurable? Or is it just a habit?
- Be kind, and open minded- you have the freedom to make the choices YOU want about food. No one knows your body and needs better than you do.
Let’s Hear it…
Would love to hear about where you are at in your journey?! Leave a message in the reply section below!
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