Intuitive Eating has become increasingly popular in recent years as a new food approach that emphasizes listening to your body's signals and needs, rather than adhering to strict diets or food rules. This approach has gained traction on social media and blogs, as people seek a healthier and more balanced relationship with food.
The excessive attention to body image from society has led to many people feeling insecure about their bodies. This has resulted in a rise in eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, and more. However, Intuitive Eating is a new wave that is starting to break free from the negative aspects of diet culture. It promotes the idea that it's not possible to have the perfect body or find the perfect diet because we are normal people with normal lives where everything is not perfect, as social media might show.
Thanks to this new approach, people are starting to enjoy food again. It's important to remember that eating something that may not be considered "fit" but brings happiness and joy, is more important than not eating it because it's considered too fat.
The Intuitive Eating approach is based on ten principles developed by registered dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch:
- Reject the Diet Mentality: Reject the idea that there is a "perfect" diet or that a certain body type is ideal.
- Honour Your Hunger: Eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full.
- Make Peace with Food: Allow yourself to eat all types of food without guilt or shame.
- Challenge the Food Police: Let go of the idea that certain foods are "good" or "bad."
- Discover the Satisfaction Factor: Enjoy your food and savour the experience of eating.
- Feel Your Fullness: Pay attention to your body's signals of fullness and stop eating when you're satisfied.
- Cope with Your Emotions without Using Food: Find ways to deal with stress, boredom, or other emotions without turning to food.
- Respect Your Body: Treat your body with kindness and respect, regardless of its size or shape.
- Exercise—Feel the Difference: Focus on how exercise makes you feel, rather than using it as a tool for weight loss.
- Honour Your Health—Gentle Nutrition: Make food choices that honour your health and taste buds, without being too restrictive or rigid.
By following these principles, people can learn to trust their bodies and enjoy food without feeling guilty or anxious. Intuitive Eating has been shown to improve self-esteem, body image, and overall well-being.
In contrast to traditional diets, which often lead to weight cycling and negative impacts on mental and physical health, it is a sustainable approach that encourages a healthy relationship with food and one's body. By incorporating Intuitive Eating into your lifestyle, you can develop a more balanced and positive relationship with food, leading to a healthier, happier life.