Many people struggle with having a healthy, balanced relationship with food and their bodies. We live in a culture obsessed with restrictive dieting, body shapes, and “good” and “bad” foods. It’s time to make peace with food and with yourself.
That can leave you feeling guilty for enjoying certain foods, ashamed of our bodies, and anxious about our eating habits and weights. However, it is possible to cultivate a more peaceful connection to food and your body. Here’s how:
Tune into your body’s needs to find peace
Instead of focusing on rules, diets and rigid exercise plans, start paying attention to what your body truly needs each day. Notice when you feel hungry, when you feel satisfied, when you need more or less energy.
Eat more intuitively in response to those cues rather than out of emotional habits. Stop when comfortably full and find fulfilling activities beyond food.
Challenge diet culture messages
Be aware of how pervasive diet culture messages are around us, telling us we need to restrict, purge and shrink ourselves to be happy. Consider unfollowing social media accounts that promote this. Surround yourself with more empowering messages about health at every size and rejecting the thin ideal.
Practice self-compassion
Many women learn to beat themselves up over food choices and body shape or size. Instead, treat yourself with the kindness and understanding you would a good friend.
Recognize that you are so much more than your appearance or food behaviors. Appreciate all the good things your body allows you to experience in life.
Nourish your body
Make an effort to regularly provide your body with nourishing foods that help you feel energized, satisfied and well. That could involve more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats and hydrating liquids.
However, always give yourself unconditional permission to enjoy all foods in moderation. Food isn’t meant to be good or bad – it’s just food.
Find joy in movement
While exercise is beneficial, it shouldn’t feel like a chore or punishment. Learn to find more pleasure in moving your body, whether you enjoy gentle yoga, walking with a friend, dance classes, playing sports or lifting weights. Move to care for your body, reduce stress and experience joy — not burn calories or criticize problem areas.
Seek support for a healthier relationship with food and finding peace with your body
Know that you don’t have to handle difficult food and body image issues alone. Consider working with a qualified therapist or dietitian who specializes in these areas. A business like My Restored Purpose can help equip you with strategies for developing a healthier relationship with food and body positivity. You may also benefit from joining community support groups.
Be a role model
If you have children in your life, consider how you can model positive attitudes about food and body image for them. Avoid criticizing your own or others’ bodies in front of kids.
Teach them balanced eating habits without an emphasis on weight, diets or good/bad dichotomies around food. Help them build healthy self-esteem beyond appearance.
Focus on well-being goals
Instead of constantly trying to change your body, focus more on wellbeing goals: How can you create more happiness, fulfillment, connectedness and self-compassion in your life? What really matters most to you? When food and body frustrations arise, gently shift your attention back to the bigger picture of cultivating inner peace.
Should I hire a therapist or a dietitian?
Deciding between a dietitian or therapist for weight management and eating problems depends on your specific needs.
A dietitian primarily focuses on nutrition and meal planning, offering guidance on healthy eating habits and creating personalized dietary plans. They can help you understand nutritional requirements, manage medical conditions, and achieve weight-related goals through diet modifications.
On the other hand, a therapist specializes in addressing the psychological aspects of eating behaviors, such as emotional eating, body image issues, and disordered eating patterns. They provide support, coping strategies, and explore underlying emotional triggers contributing to unhealthy eating habits.
If your challenges with weight and food involve complex psychological factors, a therapist may be more beneficial. However, for practical dietary guidance and nutritional support, a dietitian could be a better choice. In some cases, a multidisciplinary approach involving both professionals may offer comprehensive support for long-term success.
Final thoughts on developing a better relationship with food and your body
This post has emphasized paying attention to your body’s needs, challenging diet culture messages, practicing self-love, eating in a balanced way, moving joyfully, getting support when you need it, modeling positive attitudes for others, and focusing on actual wellbeing rather than body image struggles. All with the goal to help you create a much more peaceful relationship with food and your body. It takes diligence and patience, but healing this relationship is truly possible.