Craving a fresh start that doesn’t involve any diets or deprivation? Making peace with food and letting go of deprivation is well worth considering if you want to end the struggle with food.
Reasons to stop dieting
Eating well often comes with the expectation that deprivation is par for the course. But it’s no secret that diets generally don’t work in the long run and can wreak havoc on our metabolism. Even wholesome foods that we love to eat are often maligned as “fattening”. This can lead to unnecessary guilt about eating nutritious foods, and that can actually be counterproductive.
Make peace with food
Tired of feeling like you should always deprive yourself? There’s a much kinder and better way to health that’s gaining a lot of popularity - making peace with food. This alternative approach focuses on building a positive relationship with food. It’s about learning to give yourself permission to enjoy the pleasure of eating, while taking care of nourishing your body well.
A few key principles
Making peace with food works best when you follow a few key principles. Remember to eat regular meals and snacks that really nourish your body, to give you the energy and nutrients that you need. Enjoy delicious, wholesome, nutritious foods that satisfy your hunger, including protein-rich foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt, meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds, hearty whole grains, and a wide variety of veggies and fruit. Tune into your hunger cues to guide how much you eat. Focus on choosing a healthy balance of foods that suit your taste preferences, budget, and lifestyle. This is a much more sustainable approach in the long term.
Here are some tips to help guide you on this journey:
- Make nourishing foods the foundation of your diet to satisfy your hunger and thirst
- Learn to really savour the pleasure of your meals and snacks
- Let go of deprivation and eat the foods that make you happy
- Listen to your body and let your hunger guide how much you eat
- Respect your body and accept the genes you’re born with
- Quiet the inner voice that makes you feel guilty about foods
- Stop judging yourself and others for their food choices
Recipe ideas for a little inspiration
Looking for a little inspiration to help you get started? Here are a few easy, scrumptious recipe ideas chock full of goodness to help encourage you to make peace with food:
- Brighten up your mornings by starting your day with this creamy strawberry banana Breakfast muesli smoothie bowl.
- For a satisfyingly delicious weekend brunch or lunch, savour this Spinach and roasted red pepper crustless quiche.
- Big fan of Asian takeout? Try this umami-packed homemade Chicken noodle bowl, it’s sure to quench your craving!
- Super as a snack or dessert, cheese and fruit pair perfectly, exploding with flavour and freshness in this Fruit salad with Bocconcini and tarragon.
