This is Part Four in the How to Become a Whole Food for Life series.
Other posts in this series:
Part One: Make Small Changes
Part Two: Slowly Replace Foods in the Fridge and Pantry
Part Three: Make Healthy Versions of the Foods You Eat
We all have moments of weakness and make mistakes with our food. Im here to tell you that it’s okay – don’t beat yourself up over it!
I think this rule applies to all aspects of our life – sometimes we are just too darn hard on ourselves! We all do our very best with the circumstances we have, and I think sometimes that just needs to be enough.
Don’t let your slip-up send you into a shame spiral (I know we’ve all been there – here’s looking at you, salt & vinegar chips).
In some situations, you can learn from it and consider what you can do better next time. And it’s always helpful to remember why you are doing this in the first place – your health!
Did you eat something bad because you were out longer than expected and were starving? Maybe you could keep some nuts or muesli/granola bars in your bag for next time.
Were you feeling sorry for yourself about something and grabbed the chocolate bar in the back of the fridge that your partner sneaks in? Why not keep some healthy dessert snacks in the freezer. (This story sounds a little detailed it’s because it has happened to me. A few times. Shame spiral.)
No one is perfect, even if they seem to be!
Over the years, I have been on so many fad diets that it’s ingrained in me that I should examine everything I eat with a fine tooth comb, whether its counting calories, keeping a food diary or making meal plans. Sometimes I still accidentally let my mind slip back into those old habits.
But I think its really important to snap yourself out of that viscous diet cycle, and let go of your negative relationship with food.
I’ve had over 10 years of beating myself up over my diet (and I’m only 23!). I have my celiac disease to thank for snapping me out of this, and bringing my focus back to being completely on my health.
I can now make food decisions based on what’s best for my health. And while I think I will always use food as a sort of a comfort when I’m feeling down, I now find it much easier to reach for a healthy comfort food because I have the tools, recipes and knowledge (cacao milkshake, anyone?) to do so.
Now I’m here to help you do the same, because once you stop the calorie counting and start thinking about your health as the goal, everything will eventually fall into place.
Take a deep breath, release those thoughts and move on.