We have been doing it since we were kids. Eat this good food (broccoli) and then you’ll get
this bad food (dessert). The problem is that as grownups, we’re still doing it! Time after time again in our practice we see clients come in with the “I am not good unless I eat a certain way” mentality and it all goes t*ts up if they have a "it's ok to have a little cheat today just don't tell Kim" moment on their plan.
Don't get me wrong – we do need a category, a way to talk about the foods we should eat more of and those we should eat less of, but words like good, bad, cheat and treat aren’t the best because they imply worth and value – and after all, it’s just food. I hate the good/bad idea because this categorisation of food keeps us hooked into emotional eating. It’s one more manifestation of too much emotion
being tied up in to food and the problem is that when we feel bad – about our food choices or whatever else – it’s really hard to do good, to do better! We eat the bad food, we feel bad and guilty, we eat some more bad food and we struggle to right the ship again because the guilt is such an anchor to those bad feelings.
Time to set yourself free of the good bad treats and cheats (important when it comes to children's nutrition too!) and just enjoy food for what it is and what it can do for your body. Choose what works for you and will help you reach your health goals whatever they may be.
So
from this day try the whole new way of thinking about food that is empowering and leave out the drama. Think of:
1) Foods that work for you.
2) Foods that's don't work well for you.
3) Foods that do not work for you.
Foods that work for you.
Food that makes it easier to do better. Food that doesn’t increase your appetite, gives you even energy, keeps cravings away, doesn’t make your tummy hurt
or your face breakout, food that doesn’t worsen joint pain or hinder your sleep. These are foods that work for you.
Eat more of them. Let them take up room in your diet. They serve you and effortlessly crowd out other foods, that don’t work as well for you.
For the majority, veggies, lean proteins and water are foods that work for you. You'll then have your own unique tolerance of carbs and healthy fats you can add.
Even foods you used to deem as bad may actually work for you. For example, you may have always thought sugar = bad, but if a square or two of dark chocolate keeps your cravings at
bay, your mindset strong, willpower on high and keeps you out of a pint of ice cream after too many days of feeling deprived, then that is a food that works for you!!
Foods That Don’t Work Well For
You.
These are the half way foods; they aren’t your best choice but they don’t totally derail you and can work for convenience or as a better option when your best choices aren’t available. They may also be foods that in moderation keep you on track, keep you eating overall more foods that do work for you. This may be a Naked Bar; convenient, tasty, but high in
sugar; however much better to have on hand as opposed to a Mars bar. Another example for me is feta cheese; it works ok but not great for me. I'm not good with cows milk, so it's better choice than cows milk and then again a little on a salad makes the salad so much more appetising.
Foods That Do Not Work For You.
These foods are those that make you feel like rubbish; tired, bloated, puffy, moody. They increase your appetite or cravings, or max out your energy. Great examples for many of our clients are sugar, alcohol, gluten or any food you know makes you
feel yucky in some way. These foods can even have a lasting effect well past the meal when you ate them.
For many people, if they overdo sugar, it's all good at first with the feel good dopamine release but soon enough they wanting chocolate for breakfast as it puts my cravings on full tilt really easily. Same with gluten.. A lot of people feel immediately fatigued,
ready for a sleep and feeling quite low for the rest of the day – queue quick release energy refined foods for a pick me up! Sore joints, depression, puffiness, nasal congestion - it can happen immediately or up to 72 hours later. it's worth noting here that gluten sensitivity doesn't always have to manifest itself via digestive issues.
How Do You Know What’s What For You?
Sometimes you just know – even if you don’t like the answer. You have to listen to and trust your body!! Keep a food diary for a couple of weeks if you have
to.
Working out what foods do and don’t work for you is a time to get really honest with yourself. It feels hard at first but it’s very empowering and puts you in total control. So just do it. Take a look at what that guilt is about – is it arbitrary dieting stuff or do you really feel bad in some way when you eat that? Is your body telling you something you aren't
listening to? It’s not that you’ll never have the foods that make you feel bad again, but when you’re faced with figuring out how often you can have them you’ll be armed with this new framework and can more easily make choices that make you feel good, that nourish you and get to where you want to be. They allow you to keep doing better vs. getting derailed.
If you really aren’t sure what foods don’t work for you consider food sensitivity testing or an elimination diet – or by all means get some guidance.
Kim
