I think about food a lot. I love food, but for many years I had very mixed feelings about it. I’d enjoy a huge bowl of pasta, and then feel guilt or shame afterwards. Can you relate? Do you see food as something that controls you? Is food a guilty pleasure or something you view with joy and gratitude?

Many of the feelings we have about food, the thoughts and rules we think of, were created in childhood, by other people or circumstances that no longer exist. It might be time to re-examine how we think about food as something that nourishes our minds, body, and soul. Here are some steps how we can do that:

Don’t cut out before you bring in

Were you taught ice cream is bad for you and celery is good? How many carbohydrates are allowed? Not to eat past certain hours? Or certain foods? Some of these habits may be good, but cutting foods out, before bringing other foods in can leave you hungry, cranky, and resentful, with a feeling that you’re being punished or denied.

The foods we eat can either energize us and refuel us, or drain us of energy. Instead of focusing on cutting out foods we enjoy, let’s first  focus on bringing in more healthy nutritious food that will give us energy and fuel us. Before having a cookie, have an apple. With your pizza, order a salad. Increasing foods with a lot of nutritional value, will increase your fiber, your nutrients, and help you feel full, so you may still have a cookie, but you may not have five.

Sustainable Changes

Rather than trying to change too much too quickly in how you eat, make small sustainable changes. If you are trying to reduce sugar intake, maybe exchange one can of sweet drink during the day,  with a seltzer, or herbal tea. If you want to try to reduce simple carbohydrates, don’t eliminate a beloved sandwich or toast, try replacing white bread with spelt, or whole wheat. 

Healthy living is not a marathon, it’s a lifestyle. We are looking to enjoy the changes, to learn a new energizing way where food is vitality and health, rather than control and guilt. By making small changes, we aren’t resentful or denying ourselves of something we want. One small change can lead to other small changes that add up to boosted nutrition over time.We are taking baby steps towards the best version of ourselves.

Love yourself through food

Food plays an important role in our life in addition to nourishment. It’s sometimes about connection, like sharing a piece of cake and coffee with friends, or about tradition, like having certain foods on different holidays. Give food that place of joy and love.

Sometimes, we express self love by nourishing our body with healthy food, and sometimes we can express self love by enjoying a delicious fried potato latke on Hanukkah. Our body knows how to process and get rid of unhealthy foods. The issues arise when we eat too much that is unhealthy. And not enough of the  healthy choices. 

Love food

Give food that place in your life where it brings you joy, nutrients, friendship, nice childhood memories, and honor yourself by making your own healthy choices. What is something you want to bring  into your life to build a healthy happy loving relationship with food? Share in the comments below.

To learn more about eating healthy, living well, feeling good, and being happy, contact me, and keep visiting.