Find Food Freedom and End Your Dieting Struggles
Have you tried paleo, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, an every single new diet and seem always to be starting again?
If that is you, food freedom might be right for you.
What is food freedom? For many people, it’s a dream. A life without diets, rules, or restrictions.
But what does that look like in reality? How can you achieve food freedom and end your dieting struggles for good?
In this blog post, we will explore some tips to help you find food freedom and break free from the chains of dieting once and for all! avoid binge eating.
What is Food Freedom?
Finding food freedom means eliminating rules around what you can and cannot eat that control your life.
It means letting go of the idea that we should all be losing weight when we think about our next meal.
In simple terms, food freedom is being able to consume a balanced diet without having to worry about counting every calorie or following a strict eating plan.
It’s being able to choose the meals and snacks you want without guilt and without overindulging in unhealthy options.
Why Ditching the Diet Culture is Important
As social media continues to control so much of our time and attention, women are convinced more and more that their bodies must be smaller in order to be considered good enough for society.
This leads many women to believe they must count every calorie they consume and avoid so-called ‘bad’ options forever.
Living this way can be stressful, disappointing, and unsustainable. It can also inevitably lead to emotional eating and weight gain. Overall, this sort of obsession with size, weight, and the food you eat creates an unhealthy relationship with food.
Food freedom enables you to develop a healthier relationship with food.
How to Find Food Freedom?
You should not be ashamed if you have the desire to lose weight; we have all been there. Diet culture has led us to believe that we must lose weight to be of higher status.
So what is the key?
Is it Right for You?
If you’re looking to enjoy eating without guilt, to control your eating habits, and to have a healthy relationship with food, then yes, it’s right for you!
If you relate to this unhealthy experience with food, you might want to attempt to find food freedom to see how your relationship with eating improves.
Reject the diet mentality
Get rid of diet books, websites, and all the influences that talk about diets. A diet is not the answer you are looking for.
Honor your hunger
Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. Eat satisfying meals with an appropriate combination of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to give you the energy you need. This will help you to effortlessly balance your meals through the day.
Make peace with food
Allow yourself to eat the foods that you enjoy.
Challenge the food police
Remember, there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ foods. Furthermore, you are not a better person for eating lower-calorie foods.
Discover the satisfaction factor
Enjoy your meal time again. Find a nice environment and sit to eat. Finding a feeling of happiness and satisfaction with each meal can make it easier for you to listen to your body.
Feel your fullness
Listen to your body’s cues for fullness, and stop when you are full rather than eating more or less based on external factors.
Cope with your emotions
Deal with ongoing emotions so that you don’t trigger emotional eating. Understand when you’re feeling anxious, bored, or lonely, and find ways to deal with these feelings rather than turning to food for comfort.
Respect your body
Body size and shape naturally look different for everyone. Body respect is an important way of loving yourself and being content in your life.
Focus on movement
Instead of focusing on exercise that you might not even enjoy, focus on getting movement in throughout your day.
Honor your health
Select foods that honor your health and make you feel great. Focus on nourishing your body while allowing yourself to have a treat occasionally.
For greater insight into how to implement the principles of food freedom in your life, I recommend Intuitive Eating by Tribole and Resch.
Benefits of Intuitive Eating
The concept of food freedom is relatively new; therefore, there hasn’t yet been very much research conducted into the theory.
However, more research has been done on the health benefits of intuitive eating. Learning to eat intuitively can help you find food freedom.
Improved mental well-being is one of the greatest benefits. Many participants in studies focused on intuitive eating improved their body image, self-esteem, and overall mental health.
Multiple other studies have examined women’s behavior and attitudes related to food and eating. The results reveal that and found that women who eat more intuitively are less likely to suffer from disordered eating.
The Bottom Line
Intuitive eating can work well for women who are tired of the diet culture. The most important benefit is the mental well-being that comes with this new attitude to eating.
If food freedom is for you, let go of the diet. Put those years of restrictions behind you and see what you can achieve when you start to trust your own body again.
Find Food Freedom was written by Registered Dietitian Solana Nicole Faerman. Reviewed/edited by Su-Nui Escobar, DCN, RDN, FAND.
Dr. Su-Nui Escobar, a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist in Miami, FL, is dedicated to empowering women in perimenopause and menopause to live healthier, more satisfying lives.
With a doctorate in clinical nutrition from the University of North Florida, she has expertise in menopause and weight loss, including the unique challenges faced by those on weight loss medications.
Su-Nui’s passion for her field is evident in her previous role as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson.
