Intuitive Eating Principle 4 - Banish the Food Police
Principle 4 of Intuitive Eating is Challenge the Food Police.
This is where we start to identify all of the judgemental inner voices and influences that are dictating the “food rules” in your history. These "food police voices" may tell you that you are “good” for “eating clean” or “bad” for reaching for the ice cream before bed. These voices are in no way positive or even neutral-- they place blame on you, increase guilt and shame.
Where did these voices come from? You can thank dieting and diet culture again for this one. The food police is our inner critic that has developed over our lifetime based on our society's unreasonable and frankly inaccurate portrayal of what “health” looks like.
You may be haunted by the food police if any of these statements sound familiar:
- “I can’t have bread in the house, I have no control when it is around”
- “I always go over my calorie goals for the day, I’m so weak!”
- “I’m a lousy parent if I give in and get McDonalds”
- “Today is the last day of ice cream, no more junk food, I’ve got to be better.”
- “No wonder I feel like crap, I eat so bad, I deserve to feel this way”.
Yikes... would you say any of these self-critical statements outloud to a dear friend or loved one? These thoughts that we have over and over don’t serve us in any way- if anything, they bring us further from our goals of health and wellbeing.
How can we reduce the noise from the Food Police?
Examine your beliefs about food and what is good or bad. For example, pasta is bad. -- Has pasta actually hurt you? Where did this belief come from?
Thoughts affect feelings -- I ate pasta, which is bad, so now I am bad. -- This can cause anxiety, anger, shame, etc.
As these thoughts arise, stop them in their tracks. Replace the voice with one that is kind. Maybe replace the thought with a mantra that speaks to you: “I am worthy of nourishment”.
Immerse yourself in positivity. Surround your social circle with friends and loved ones that support the work you are doing to improve your relationship with food and body. If you use social media, seek out accounts that reinforce the learning that you are doing.
Have patience with yourself. These voices and thoughts will quiet over time, lots of time. The un-learning involved in challenging the Food Police will feel easier as you move through your journey in healing your relationship with food. Time well spent if you ask us!
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