Sometimes, our relationship with food can take a turn for the worse. It can become unhealthy and toxic, which can lead to various bad food behaviors in return, which can continue to spiral onwards until you’re only eating one or two things at a time.
And while this can be a serious issue you should talk to a doctor about, it’s also a good idea to recognize a pattern like this and stop it in its tracks. Your relationship with food can be healed when you put an active effort into knowing what’s good for you, and with the tips below we hope to help you back on track towards food freedom.
Do Away with the Diet
Most diets do a lot more harm than good in the long run. And unless you’re on a diet specifically assigned to you by a doctor, it might be a good idea to throw out the fad diet ideals you’ve been surrounded with so far! You might not have even realized you were following a trend, so now’s the perfect time to re-evaluate how you see food.
After all, when you’re leading a well balanced life, you’re able to notice your bad habits as well as what you’re doing well. You know you’re eating right, and you don’t feel guilty about any of the food groups. You don’t cut them out and avoid them, and you don’t need to use ‘special occasions’ to consume them either. Diet culture tends to encourage all of this.
Talk to Someone
Alongside seeing a doctor if you feel your relationship with food is at a critical low, it’s best to talk to a friend, or a counsellor, to discuss the way you feel about your own diet. Giving yourself a safe space to talk about what you eat, or why you feel you shouldn’t eat certain things (intolerances aside!), is a big part of improving the way you approach food.
Above all, if food is always on your mind, especially the difference between what you should and shouldn’t eat, it’s a good idea to seek out support. You could be holding back a healthy lifestyle in a number of ways you don’t even realize, and something like that needs working on with the help of an objective viewpoint.
Remember, You’re Allowed to Eat
Finally, it’s just a good idea to remember you’re allowed to eat. If you’re hungry, cook up a storm in the kitchen and make sure there’s a helping of dessert there too. If it’s mid afternoon and you’re a bit peckish, grab a snack, even if you’re ‘cheating’ on your diet.
Eat when you need to and then stop when you’re full – it’s the healthiest way to approach food! It’ll certainly help that headache go away, and give you more energy for your evening workout or late errands run.
Improving your relationship with food can be hard, but it’s something you can make constant progress towards if you want to.
