∙Beware of headlines. The food industry profits off of misinformation and misconceptions
that many people today have around nutrition. It helps greatly to double-check certainly
modern beliefs about food: Are all calories created equal? Is a potato just
sugar? If you have specific health or fitness goals, it’s best to consult with a nutritionist.
∙Beware of diet mentality. A lot of people may not be on a labelled diet, but they do
adopt the mindset of a dieter. It’s important to be aware of the psychology behind
certain beliefs or punishments that rule your interactions with food. For instance, having
“a little extra” because you ate a slice of cake and “ruined” the day is one of the biggest
sabotagers in one’s path to living a consistently healthier lifestyle. Having “addictions” to
certain foods like chocolate warrant a closer look as well: Perhaps you’re just placing
chocolate on a pedestal because you’ve put it on the “forbidden list”? The common
thread between all of these thoughts is a tendency to blame ourselves as helpless when
it comes to eating healthier, which does nothing more than lead us down a vicious cycle
of making the wrong choices and subsequently punishing ourselves for them.
∙The key to intuitive eating is aiming toward authentic well-being. This holistic approach
to food requires you to take what your body is communicating to you in real-time and
blend that with objective, scientific principles on nutrition, instead of simply looking for
a one-size-fits-all diet.