Make Peace with Food and Tune into Intuitive Eating

Make Peace with Food and Tune into Intuitive Eating

Start intuitive eating. A lot of people find that they have to make peace with food before they can start eating intuitively. This means accepting that you may never be “thin” or “perfect,” and embracing your body exactly as it is. It also means forgiving yourself for any mistakes you’ve made in the past and resolving to move forward in a more positive way.

Once you’ve made peace with food, it’s time to start tuning into your body’s signals. Intuitive eating is all about listening to what your body wants and needs, and responding accordingly. This may take some practice, but eventually, you’ll develop a “sixth sense” for what’s best for you. Some tips to help get started include:

Avoid counting calories or measuring portions.

When you’re trying to figure out how to intuitively eat, the most important thing is to avoid counting calories or measuring portions. Both of those things can be really restrictive and make it difficult to listen to your body’s signals about how much you need. Instead, try to just pay attention to how you feel after you’ve eaten different foods and how hungry or full you are. If you’re not sure how much to eat, start with smaller portions and see how you feel afterward.

Pay attention to how foods make you feel physically and emotionally.

If you’re looking to start intuitive eating, the most important thing to remember is to pay attention to how foods make you feel physically and emotionally. Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and choose foods that make you feel good. If a food doesn’t make you feel good, don’t eat it!

Eat slowly and mindfully, savoring each bite.

When you eat in a hurry, you may not register when you’re full and wind up overeating. Intuitive eating is all about listening to your body’s hunger and satiety cues. So, take your time when you eat, and really focus on the food. Notice how it smells, tastes, and feels in your mouth. This will help you to eat only until you’re full, and not a moment more.

Respect your body’s natural hunger and fullness signals.

When you’re intuitively eating, you’ll naturally eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. This is because you’ll be paying attention to your body’s natural hunger and fullness signals.

Hunger is the physical feeling of needing food, while fullness is the physical feeling of being satisfied after a meal. When you’re intuitively eating, you’ll eat only until you feel full, and you won’t continue eating when you’re no longer hungry.

Avoid dieting and restrictive eating behaviors.

Intuitive eating is not about dieting or restricting your food intake. In fact, it’s the exact opposite! If you’re trying to follow a specific diet or restrict certain foods, you’re not going to be able to eat intuitively.

The key to intuitive eating is being flexible and open-minded. You may find that some foods make you feel good, while others make you feel bad. That’s perfectly normal and okay! There is no “right” or “wrong” way to eat, as long as you’re listening to your body and honoring its needs.

Embrace the journey. Eating intuitively is a process, not a destination.

Be patient – it may take time to learn how to eat intuitively.

The bottom line is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to intuitive eating. What works for someone else may not work for you, and that’s OK. The key is to listen to your body and find what works best for you.

Different Diets

Most people agree that our diet is directly tied to our health. In an effort to maintain a healthy body weight, it’s common to adopt an eating style, or diet, in an effort to lose, gain, or manage weight and be healthier. It’s a bit mind-boggling how many diets claim to be the best way to become and stay healthy. Some of the most popular diets include:

* Keto

* Mediterranean

* Veganism

* DASH diet

* Whole 30

Nearly every diet requires the elimination of “bad” foods and concentration on “good” foods. Adhering to the diet also includes adopting a pattern of eating including what, when, and how much to eat. 

Your Dietary Needs are Unique

While traditional diets in and of themselves aren’t necessarily bad, they may not be right for everyone. Your body is one of a kind and what works for someone else may not work the same for you.

One option for a healthy eating lifestyle is intuitive eating. Intuitive eating is an anti-diet, which means foods are not labeled good or bad, and there are no restrictions on what, when, or how to eat.

Instead of being at war with food, intuitive eating makes peace with food and helps you tune into your unique dietary needs. 

Stop Going to War With Your Dinner Plate

Intuitive eating takes the pressure off choosing foods based on a specific diet and places the emphasis on:

* Eating when you are hungry

* Knowing what your body needs for fuel

* Recognizing when you’re full

* Respecting your emotions

This is wildly different from dieting because the focus is on your unique situation every time you eat.

Rather than following a pre-planned diet, intuitive eating relies on your own intuition about when what, and how you eat food.

Where some diets require discipline to avoid foods you may enjoy or consume foods you may not like, intuitive eating ends the internal battle.  

Intuitive Eating Isn’t a Free for All

If you’ve been dieting, the idea of intuitive eating may sound like an invitation to eat everything on the naughty list with abandon.

Moderation is key and intuitive eating may not result in rapid weight loss if that’s the goal, but it can improve mental health and reduce the likelihood of developing some eating disorders.

Some health issues like diabetes, heart disease, or others may require modified eating plans and restrict some foods. Consulting with your treating physician can help set any limits you need while adopting an intuitive eating mindset. 

If you’re struggling to get started, don’t be afraid to seek out help from a professional. A registered dietitian can provide guidance and support as you work to develop a healthy relationship with food.

Making peace with food and tuning into your body’s signals may seem like a daunting task, but it’s definitely worth the effort. By taking things one step at a time, you can eventually learn to trust your own intuition when it comes to food. And that’s something nobody can take away from you.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quick-guide-intuitive-eating#principles

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/what-is-intuitive-eating