A Different Message
I’M HERE TO CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO FOOD.
Thinking about food, and our relationship to food can feel overwhelming. Food is one of our basic physiological needs (the other basic needs, according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, are water, rest, and warmth...sorry for the Psych 101 detour). If we don’t eat, we don’t survive. However, our relationship to food becomes more complicated as we age because we are influenced by our culture and community.
Like most dietitians, I worked in the weight loss space. I heard a lot of: “I wish I could just not think about food anymore.” I understood the sentiment. Clients had been cycling on and off of diets for years, feeling like food was their enemy. When they were being “healthy” or “good,” they felt elation and a sense of accomplishment. These feelings were short-lived. Inevitably, the pendulum would shift, swinging back to negative feelings and guilt for eating “bad,” and “off-limits” foods, starting the shame spiral anew. Though it was a valuable experience, I decided I was not aligned with this philosophy. I don’t believe in “good” or “bad” food. I want to support a sustainable and supportive path. I want to help people find joy in eating.
We live in a culture that places moralistic value on what we eat and how we look, further perpetuating the myth that health is directly tied to weight and appearance. I won’t try to dismantle the messaging of a $60 billion industry with a diet culture rant, as there are plenty of thoughtful posts and illuminating articles out there already. Food is not just “good” or “bad.” Our perception of food does not have to be binary. WE aren’t “bad” for eating a cookie or “good” for eating kale. As a society though, we have internalized these beliefs. It is time to shift the conversation! So where do we start?
Let’s start with two guiding principles: balance and joy.
Let’s start with balance, which is a deeply personal endeavor. I believe that all foods fit. I don’t endorse restrictions of any food or food group (unless medically necessary). By employing balance in our relationship to food, we move away from the binary good-bad mentality and look for the middle ground. We learn to trust our body’s innate wisdom to know what we need to feel nourished, both physiologically and emotionally.
Eating is a sensory experience that elevates our lives. It’s fun and it brings us joy, which is our second guiding principle. Cue the good thoughts: biting into a crunchy salad on a hot summer day; enjoying sweet ice cream with your kiddos; that savory pasta dish at your favorite Italian restaurant; a crisp rosé at the beach; or a slice of birthday cake surrounded by your favorite people. These are the sensory experiences that shape our memories. Typically, these are food memories from special occasions, but they can also come from the simple, day-to-day. What if each eating opportunity brought more joy into our lives?
As we begin to dismantle the narrative around food and give ourselves permission to find the joy in eating, we will create our own definition of “healthy.” My mission with InTwoEat is to support you, as you define what “healthy” means for you. With this blog, I will share recipes and resources that will inspire, elevate, and simplify how you nourish yourself. I will help you establish balance, and I will help you discover (or rediscover) joy. My intention is not to promote certain foods over others, but to encourage exploration of what works for you. Ultimately, you are the expert of your body, not me. What if we looked at food as a means to enrich our lives? Let’s make food FUN.
I promise to share more as this digital space evolves and grows, and I promise it will be delicious!