Having a Healthy Eating Philosophy

Juliet Zuercher

According to the book written by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, Intuitive Eating, ten principles exist regarding this healthy eating philosophy. The first three are:

Reject the diet mentality.

Diets found in magazine articles and diet books provide one thing: false hope. They offer exaggerated claims regarding what they can do for you, then when results are not forthcoming, you feel like a failure. Sure, immediate weight loss might occur, but long-term weight reduction is simply not in the cards. And is that what you want? Lose five pounds, then gain ten back? Probably not. That’s why it’s time to get angry at these ridiculous diets, instead of yourself. Time to get angry at the lies, and then get serious about what can truly help you: intuitive eating.

Honor your hunger.

When your body gets tired, you sleep; so when your body gets hungry, feed it. Hunger is normal, so when it asks, give your body the fuel it needs, just as you would provide gas when your car edged toward empty. If you ran out of gas, you would fill up; you will do the same if you don’t listen to your hunger. Unfortunately, you will probably fill up, and up, and up.

Make peace with food.

It’s time to call a truce and stop the food fight. Food is not your enemy. It is intended to serve as a source of enjoyment and nutrition. Make friends with food and your body; each is going to be with you for the rest of your life.

Next month: three more principles.