The term “intuitive eating” might seem strange. As we need to eat to live, our bodies should communicate when we are hungry and when we’ve had enough to eat, right? Surrounded by so much nutrition information and endless food options- restaurants and grocery stores supply items from around the world, often regardless of the season- it can be challenging to understand your body’s needs. This is especially true if you’ve tried several diets with conflicting advice. Do you often find yourself hungry shortly after eating a meal? Or uncomfortably full? Are you confused about when you actually feel hunger? It is a good idea to talk with provider about these concerns if they happen to you. A dietitian can also help you become more familiar with your body’s needs and cues like when to eat, how much, and how to recognize when you’ve had enough.
Dietitians can help you navigate intuitive eating, which aims to develop a positive relationship with food and eating behaviors. It is important to recognize that intuitive eating is not a diet. It is not a plan to manage weight or other health conditions. However, sometimes it is helpful to reconnect with our body’s hunger and satiety cues. It can be even more difficult to navigate some of these decisions during special events.
Consider the following “Intuitive Eater’s Bill of Rights” if you plan to participate in any upcoming holiday meals:
1. You have the right to savor your meal, without cajoling or judgment, and without discussion of calories eaten or the amount of exercise needed to burn off said calories.
2. You have the right to enjoy second servings without apology.
3. You have the right to honor your fullness, even if that means saying “no thank you” to dessert or a second helping of food.
4. It is not your responsibility to make someone happy by overeating, even if it took hours to prepare a specialty holiday dish.
5. You have the right to say, “No thank you,” without explanation, when offered more food.
6. You have the right to stick to your original answer of “no”, even if you are asked multiple times. Just calmly and politely repeat “No, thank you, really.”
7. You have the right to eat pumpkin pie for breakfast.
– Evelyn Tribole, www.IntuitiveEating.org