*Sidenote: Check out my Roasted Red Pepper Hummus recipe!
This week is all about finding your self worth and loving your body, mind, and soul. You will discover there is so much more to life when you stop obsessing over your self-proclaimed “imperfections,” the numbers on the scale, or the amount of time you do or do not spend at the gym.
After reading an AMAZING post yesterday from my friend Kate at Health for the WHOLE Self, it was brought to my attention that we might continue to obsess over food, even if we are trying to eat intuitively.
In her article, Kate addresses the hardships she used to face trying to practice intuitive eating while attending social gatherings. She discusses feeling as though there were still ”rules” she had to follow; “eat when you are hungry, stop when you are full.” But what if you just WANT another cookie or brownie; you’re not hungry for it…but it sounds so good? Kate addresses 5 steps for eating at social gatherings and I think you should all check them out! The one I like the most is allowing flexibility in to your life and “breaking the rules,” once in awhile!
The point of natural eating is not to induce even more anxiety and stress about food. The philosophy behind eating naturally is to listen to your body. If you are not especially hungry, but still want to partake in dessert or eat another brownie or cookie, I encourage you to do so. This is natural eating and will prevent a binge later on ( just keep moderation in mind)! The better you get at intuitive eating, the less appealing those brownies and cookies will even be when you are just not hungry.
Ever watch a toddler eat? One minute they eat everything in sight and the next, they don’t even want to think about food. These habits will carry out for a lifetime, if the child does not fall prey to the “clean your plate” mentality. My husband is still in the toddler mind-frame. He has ZERO issues with weight or food because he looks at food for the purpose it serves: sustenance. Yes, he may binge one night on beer and chicken wings, but the next day, he hardly eats because he says he is just not hungry. Food doesn’t appeal to him because his body says, “you ate too much yesterday.” This is natural eating; nothing is off limits, nothing is too tempting, food is food, and you can eat at anytime or anything you wish.
she looks pretty mindful...and cute!
This week, on top of finding self-love, I also want you to keep eating naturally and really tune in to what that concept means. I am not telling you to deprive yourself of Grandma’s potato salad or apple pie the minute you become slightly satisfied. I just want you to practice the principles we were born with; split the difference, try a little of both, satisfy those taste buds, and MOVE ON!
Food is a wonderful thing! Eat and enjoy it. If that means eating until you are a bit uncomfortable at the annual family reunion, so be it. I guarantee you won’t be as hungry at the following meal or the next day, as long as you are listening to your body. Help your body be its’ BEST self! It may take some practice, but you can do it!!
Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The good news is — optimism does too. Since you’re free to choose, choose success and happiness. Choose optimism! — Author Unknown
QUESTION: what are you greatest challenges with natural eating?
RECIPE:
GREEK Chicken Salad! Serves 1
- So colorful!
- 1-2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- ~5 olives
- 5-10 red grapes, slices length-wise
- 1/4 of diced cucumber
- 1/4 cup shredded green cabbage (or purple!)
- 1/4 cup diced chicken breast
- 1 small tomato, diced
- 2 T red onion
- 2 T Low-fat Feta Cheese
- 1-2 T light balsamic vinaigrette
[...] Eat like a toddler. [...]
I envy how little kids eat! It blows my mind when I’m babysitting and see this kids turn down yummy food, or eat only half of their ice cream sundae. If only we all ate like that!
[...] Your Best Self: Week 2-Are You Socially Anxious? [...]
It sounds so ironic, but I really have to struggle to eat naturally. I just love food so much that I could basically eat whenever even if I’m not hungry. I’ve definitely been better about it lately, saying to myself eat a little then wait five minutes and see if you still want more. A fair amount of the time, I realize that I don’t actually want anymore food. But sometimes I do go back for that second cookie!
I know what you mean about watching toddlers eat! They just don’t care..they use their food as straight fuel for running around like crazy. Ignorance truly is bliss..sometimes I wish I could go back to not knowing so much about food!
I think I sometimes eat like a toddler, but definitely am like your husband. If I eat a large (or late) meal, I’m typically not hungry the next day. I may not eat breakfast the next day if I’m not hungry – I know I have plenty of calories/energy to spare from the night before.
That Katie is a pretty smart girl, huh! I only hope to instill those healthy, intuitive eating habits in MY child once he becomes a toddler!
My biggest challenge is holding myself to my same healthy standards when NOBODY IS LOOKING! It’s so easy to cave in when you think no one will know…
Oh, and eating too fast. It’s a horrible habit!
Oh I’m loving all these recent posts of yours, girl! Some really great tips on how to develop a healthy relationship with ourselves and with food.
I still struggle with natural eating quite a bit… suffering from an ED for so long pretty much made me forget what it’s like to be “normal” with food, and things like intuitive or natural eating seem so far removed from the rigid planning and scheduling that I adhered to for so long. My biggest challenge right now is allowing myself to have treats that aren’t nutritionally beneficial in any way; ones who’s sole purpose is pleasure. I still allow myself to have them on occasion, but not without some struggle and guilt afterwards. I could definitely learn a few things from kids who don’t feel bad grabbing a cookie whenever they want one
great post, I love how my girls eat…I need to pay more attention to their style, I had that clean your plate pressure when growing up, hard to break
sweetlife
My biggest obstacles when it comes to intuitive eating would have to be me over thinking it. I’ll either eat way too much or not eat enough. It’s an annoying cycle but one that I’m determined to break. It would be so nice to just get that childhood relationship with food back. People who have that, like your husband, are so freaking lucky!
I’m pretty good at mindful eating. I always clean my plate, but I try to only serve myself as much as I’ll eat, and then go back for more if I’m still hungry. Of course, at restaurants I usually pawn off my leftovers on the boy, or save them for lunch the next day.
oh, i so wish i could eat like a toddler! i definitely have the ‘clean my plate’ mentality, and it’s a hard one to break. i love the feeling of being satisfied and then stopping!
Like the Southern Heather (above), I too was raised in an Southern household where you cleaned your plate no matter what. In fact, even at the homes of some my friends it was considered RUDE to leave food on the plate! To this day, I struggle “eating intuitively” at buffet restaurants because of the “clean plate” mentality. The best way I’ve found to combat this is to put a smaller portion of food on my plate to start. If I like it and am still hungry, I tell myself that I can have seconds if I “feel” that I want more. Seems to take the “clean plate” guilt away
Super post!
Excellent point! My fella is totally intuitive. He can leave cake out and not feel drawn to pick at it or anything. He just has a slice when he wants it, stops when he’s full. My family, however, was poor and did the “Clean your plate, there are starving children in XYZ who would love to eat what you’re eating.”
My problem with intuitive eating is stopping when I’m full when it tastes good. =P
I am actually reading a book that talks about the same types of things. It is called Intuitive Eating..pretty interesting and good so far.
Great words of advice. I like the analogy to a toddler, because it absolutely true. I think when we think about something obsessively we tend to see it as more difficult than if we just went about our business and ate when our bodies told us. Perfectly stated Erin. My thing right now is that I’m just being more mindful when I eat. My goal this month is to turn off the tv or any other major distractions when I eat and absolutely no eating in the car. In two weeks time, I’ll already recognizing that I eat less because I’m eating slower and I am actually tasting my food a bit more because I’m focused more on it. Hopefully it will pay off with a few pounds lost by the end of the month.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks again for the retweet! =)
i agree with samamntha-i tend to lick my plate clean and sometimes go back to lick the pot clean too-ugh!
Yes! I try to manage my portions so that I don’t put too much on my plate from the start. I am working on listening to my inner voice to cue me when to stop and when to continue eating.
My boyfriend definitely has the toddler mentality when it comes to food. I look to his attitudes about food for inspiration. Eating doesn’t have to be an emotional, taxing thing.
That Greek salad looks amazing!
I think a busy schedule hinders “natural eating”. Sometimes I’m not hungry when 12pm rolls around, but I know I won’t have a chance to eat between 12 and 5, so I go ahead and eat. I hate it, but it kinda is what it is. I really love practicing “natural eating” at home and on the weekends though
It feels great once you gain a trusting relationship with your body.
I remember reading once about toddlers/little kids- how they’re the ones who are best at intuitive eating. Before they learn the generally unhealthy habits of our culture… sometimes kids really do know better…
You make me smile…you are such a great role model!
So, all I need to do is emulate my two year old? AWESOME! That salad looks delish. : )
I totally agree with natural eating. But I feel like it’s so hard to be okay with “being flexible” and “breaking the rules” when you are trying to lose weight. Every time I slip up, or mindlessly eat – I end up putting back on the pound I just lost that week/month. It’s basically like I can’t afford to be all that flexible.
great post! being from the south we have the finish everything on your plate and don’t waste food mentailty. I am not as bad about it but my husband is!
Thanks for mentioning and expanding on my post!!! And I love the toddler metaphor – that’s really a great way of explaining it.
This is so great that you’re following through on “Your Best Self”. Yu have a knack for speaking to the crowd, young lady!
Great post. I think my problem when stopping when full is that I eat too fast
I like to finish eating everything in front of me, even if I know it’s more than what I need to feel satisfied. If there is food around I instantly think I should eat, even if I’m not hungry.