What is Intuitive Eating
“A form of attunement of mind, body and food.” Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, coauthor Intuitive Eating
While intuitive eating is still a fairly new concept in our diet-fueled culture, it’s actually based on some of our most basic, fundamental human instincts that, sadly, society has taught us not to trust.
It’s a theory centered around the idea of creating a healthy body image, calling a truce with food, and giving diets, and all the rules that accompany them, a big kick in the toosh. Research shows that Intuitive Eating helps pave the way to a healthier relationship with food and improved peace of mind in regard to eating.
Intuitive eating encourages to eat when you’re hungry, choosing foods that satisfy and nourish you, and to trust your body’s natural cues and signals to guide you. What a notion?! Sadly, most people have gotten so far away from living like this and have been operating from unrealistic and even harmful guidelines and food rules, instead of natural instincts.
10 Principles of Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating follows a set of principles that serve as intentions to guide your eating, helping you learn how to connect with and trust yourself, while challenging old thinking. Each principle encourages exploration using a compassionate and gentle approach. You can read more about them here.
Reject the Diet Mentality
Honor your Hunger
Make Peace with Food
Challenge the Food Police
Respect your Fullness
Discover the Satisfaction Factor
Honor Your Feelings without Using Food
Respect your Body
Exercise – Feel the Difference
Honor your Health
All Food is Allowed
Intuitive eating encourages an all foods fit approach, which is a hard concept for most people to grasp but a necessary one if we’re to begin seeing all foods more neutrally, instead of all or nothing, good food v. bad. Because when we label foods as bad and then restrict them, it just makes us want them that much more.
I know many of you are thinking, “but this goes against everything I’ve heard.” Yes, it does, and I encourage you to ask yourself this- is what you’re doing working for you? Many people have restricted things like, bread, pizza, and pasta, for so long that allowing them feels wrong because it goes against what the diet industry tells us. We’re told we have to cut these foods out, replace them w vegetables and low carb alternatives, but then find ourselves feeling out of control when we’re around them.
The goal is boundaries, not rules. Balance, not restriction.
Slowly bringing high value foods back into your life, while you build more connection with your body, can begin to diffuse the emotional power that they hold. This way, eating them doesn’t automatically lead to a spiral.
Does it take time? Yes. Easy? No. Worth it? Very. Some foods will take longer than others, and it’s not a linear process. Just as therapy is unique to each person, challenging old beliefs and behaviors around food is no different.
I don’t recommend my clients indulge in every single food they love, all day long, as they please. We work slowly with one to two foods at a time, holding off on the more emotionally charged foods until my clients are ready to being to incorporate them.
This sounds too good to be true
The truth is, this work isn’t easy. It’s not a straightforward process and it’s not recommended for everyone, especially if you’re struggling with any kind of disordered eating or eating disorders. The other thing to remember is that IE is a practice, and one that is very individualized. When working with IE, it’s important to understand that what may feel intuitive to you, does not automatically mean is what’s healthiest for you, which is why IE work should be explored with a professional. Also, if you’re someone who reads this and thinks, I don’t know what hunger and fullness feels like, that’s okay, there’s nothing wrong with you.
I have seen this work change lives, mine included, and I believe in its ability to cultivate healthy change and greater peace, but it’s essential to approach IE as a journey, not a destination.
In peace,
Lindsey
