Food Freedom: A trend or state of mind?
You might be seeing the term “food freedom” everywhere you look these days, but what does it actually mean and why is it important?
If you struggle with your relationship with food, we see you. In a world where we are inundated with information about what it means to be “healthy,” what you should or shouldn’t be eating, and how to achieve quick fixes, it’s important to take a step back and remember that you are unique and your bio-individuality is independent of the latest trends. The mass of information can be overwhelming and at times can perpetuate our struggle with food even further.
When you feel free around food, your physical and mental health can drastically improve. It can eliminate the “yo-yo dieting” and weight fluctuations as a result, improve the way you look at yourself in the mirror, and you can even enjoy life a little more. Sounds too good to be true, right? Though we are big believers, it’s important to note that it can take a lot to work to get to this point. So we are here to help guide you toward true independence around food!
As you read this, please remember that achieving this mentality is not an overnight process, nor is it realistic to constantly stay in this mindset once you’re there. There are ebbs and flows in food freedom, like anything you’re working toward. However, the important part of this is to give yourself grace when you fall out of it and then quickly jump back into this state of mind.
But first thing’s first. We are breaking down what “food freedom” means, feels like, and how to get there.
What exactly is “food freedom?” Food freedom is the idea that you have unconditional mental and physical enjoyment to eat whatever foods you’d like. In other words, you aren’t guilt tripping yourself for your food choices. It means that you are no longer allowing food to control you, rather taking the driver’s seat yourself of how you wish to fuel your body. However, true food freedom doesn’t mean you’re living off of pastries and pizza, either. It’s the idea that you can incorporate these foods into your balanced lifestyle and enjoy them in moderation within the context of your overall healthy lifestyle.
What is an example of food freedom? Like anything, food freedom is bio-individual. However, an example of this would be knowing there are a dozen baked cookies in your fridge and not hearing them call your name every time you walk by, but also not being afraid to make eye contact with them because they are the stepping stones to “bad decision making.” Instead, food freedom would be having a nourishing meal and enjoying one afterward because it sounds good, enjoying it, and then moving on.
Is food freedom a trend? No. It may be something people are talking a lot about, but it is a sustainable state of mind. You may be seeing other concepts along these lines, like intuitive eating, which is an approach to eating that is grounded in the ability to honor and understand your body’s hunger and satiety cues and factors in both mental and physical benefits from what you’re eating. Food freedom is what you can achieve from an idea like intuitive eating, but it’s not something you can achieve from a strict protocol, like the Keto diet or even a tracking system like Noom or Weight Watchers. We have found these fads and tracking systems to go against our body’s natural cues and can create a toxic relationship with food.
How do I know what to do if there are no “rules” or “structure?” This is the hardest part about trying to achieve food freedom when you come from a background of dieting! As a society, we are so used to being told what to do and how to do it. However, think about our ancestors as they chose what to eat on a daily basis. They didn’t have an app on their phone to tell them what to eat or how to track it. They simply listed to their body’s cues, sourced the food that was available to them from the land, and trusted their bodies’ abilities to tell them when they were satisfied. We need to take a note from their book! It can be scary when you don’t have rules or guidelines to how you’re eating, but we promise your body is the best judge or tracking system there is. We just have to listen to it again and respect its cues, not resent them.
Where do I start in order to find food freedom? We acknowledge that this is not an overnight process (hence, why it works!). Here are some realistic and attainable steps you can take starting now to your food freedom journey.
Ditch the comparison game. When we are comparing ourselves to others with totally different biological needs, we are creating an unfair and unrealistic baseline. Instead of using someone else’s baseline, we need to create our own baseline – one that is rooted in feeling good internally before externally. The first step in achieving food freedom is accepting that you are unique and will require different things than any other person.
Learn how to properly nourish your bio-individual body. Whether that’s by finding a holistic nutrition professional to help you determine what’s best for your body or paying close attention to what makes your body feel good, find what brings you both mental and physical enjoyment through food. Tip: when in doubt, eat real, whole foods! Explore different types of seasonal produce, enhance your flavor by adding spices and fresh herbs, and try eating your meal outdoors to connect with nature. All of these things will help determine what makes you feel good.
Identify your self-made food rules and negate them. Time for a quick exercise! Write down 5 “food rules” you have made for yourself. For example, “I can’t have carbs during the week.” Now, poke a hole in that. Write, “All fruits and veggies are carbohydrates, and I eat real foods every day, so I will not discriminate against this food group any longer.”
Find how to move your body with enjoyment. Movement goes beyond the physical benefits! Moving your body every day will enhance your relationship with it and motivate you to nourish your body in a way that makes you feel good. Moving your body also helps you live a mentally healthy life.
Talk to yourself as you would your best friend. Just like you wouldn’t talk smack on your best friend, don’t talk smack on yourself! You are an amazing being. Next time you have a negative thought about yourself, put yourself in your best friend’s shoes and simply say, “don’t talk about my friend like that!”
We hope this brings you this much closer to finding freedom around food. Now let’s get those fireworks going! Happy Food Freedom Day!
In love and wellness,
