Stop playing “GOOD” food, “BAD” food

“I was so GOOD yesterday, I didn’t eat…”

“It was a BAD day, I ate…”

“I bought only GOOD foods this week.”

“There was only crap (BAD) food at the party.”

We have a GOOD and BAD relationship with food.

We label foods as GOOD or BAD.

But we also tend to label ourselves as GOOD or BAD for eating, or not eating, those foods.

What if foods weren’t GOOD or BAD?

What if food was just… Food?

There would be room for all foods, without judgment.

You could approach an apple the same as you approach a cookie.

There would be no “I’m so GOOD for choosing the apple!” or “I’m so BAD for choosing the cookie.”

Food would just be neutral.

And maybe you’re thinking that you’d never eat GOOD foods again.

But actually, that’s not the case.

You’d choose foods differently, using different criteria.

And, most importantly, you wouldn’t judge yourself as GOOD or BAD based on your choices.

To be honest, these labels are actually a big cause of our tumultuous relationship with food.

They put us in a constant tug-of-war with our own minds over what-to-eat/what-not-to-eat.

Here’s kind of the process that goes on in our head:

• “I’m going to be GOOD today.”
• “Uh-oh. Ate that BAD thing. I just ruined my day.”
• “Might as well just continue eating BAD until the end of the day!”
• End of day: “Now, I feel really BAD.”
• “Tomorrow I’m going to be GOOD all day.”

And so on, and so on,…

It’s just layer upon layer of judgment, punishment, and trying to feel better.

The fact is, there are no BAD foods.

And you aren’t BAD for eating foods that are less healthy some of the time.

And you aren’t GOOD for eating only what you consider healthier foods.

You are just YOU.

And food is just food.

And you get to choose what you eat and how that makes you feel.

Let’s neutralize this.

How will you choose to eat if there are no GOOD or BAD labels?

Here are 3 steps I suggest:

1. Become aware of how different foods make you feel

This is a great experiment.

Try it for a week.

Just eat what you would normally, and notice how you feel.

Not only in your body, but in your mind too.

Notice judgment, notice emotion, notice taste, and notice your energy level after eating.

Notice what you feel in your body and mind when you’re hungry, satisfied, and stuffed.

When you tune into yourself, instead of the labels of GOOD and BAD, you’ll make much wiser decisions.

And you’ll notice that it’s not about the food itself.

It’s much more about the emotions behind the eating, and the quantities you’re consuming.

Always come back to what FEELS good.

Eating a large bag of candy probably won’t feel good (physically or otherwise), but eating a couple of candies that you actually taste and savor might feel like heaven.

And eating only salad might leave you feeling hungry and deprived, but adding some cheese, eggs, olive oil, nuts, seeds, legumes, or whole grains, may be a lot more satisfying.

Trust me, dropping the labels of GOOD and BAD won’t add up to BAD choices.

It will free you from the chains of judgment.

And give you a chance to enjoy food again.

2. Plan your foods

Knowing how food makes feel will allow you to plan to eat the foods that feel good.

So, make a list of foods you want to include in your day or week or month.

Include meals, snacks, and beverages.

Using this list decide what you want to eat at least a day ahead of time, or even better, plan a week at a time.

Include treats you enjoy, and also plan how much and when.

Plan for your glasses of wine and your frappuccinos.

This is your list, based on what feels good to you, free of judgment.

Dropping the GOOD and BAD labels here is super important.

You’re not counting points, calories, or macros.

You’re just putting your trust in YOU.

It takes practice, because you may have learned over the years that YOU can’t be trusted.

You may have learned that the answers lie in a diet, a system, or a person outside of you.

But the truth is, you’ve had this knowledge all along, Dorothy.

Your body is the best instrument you have for knowing what to eat.

It’ll tell you when you’re off track.

And over time, you’ll learn to trust this amazing instrument again.

3. Eat according to your plan

Without the GOOD and BAD labels, there are no GOOD or BAD days when it comes to food.

There are just times when you eat as per your plan, and times when you don’t.

And when you don’t eat as per your plan, that’s just feedback.

A chance to question your plan and see if it needs to be adjusted.

A chance to understand yourself better.

It’s not a time to beat yourself up, get yourself down, or throw in the towel.

It’s a time for curiosity.

Imagine yourself as that 5 year-old little girl you were.

You got off track.

You made a mistake.

Should you be punished?  Or should you use it as a learning opportunity?

Learning opportunity, 100%

The fact is, you’re still that little girl.

And you’re still learning.

Just because you’re a woman now, doesn’t mean you know better.

You only know what you’ve lived.

And there’s a whole bunch still to learn.

Be open to these learning opportunities.

That’s why you’re here.

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Are you ready to drop the GOOD and BAD labels?

The fact is that you can live a healthy life and not exclude any foods.

There’s a place for everything.

And when you’re connected to your body, you’ll learn what you need more of, or less of.

Nine years ago, I stopped eating meat.

All meats – land and sea.

It was an experiment.

I wanted to see what would happen to my energy level and muscles “without protein.”

I had to really tune into my body that first month or so.

I learned that I had to eat more of everything else when I wasn’t eating meat (obv, but I had to figure that out by getting really hungry.)

I learned that my digestive system didn’t take two days… It could move more than twice in a single a day (sorry if TMI.)

I learned that I felt less bloated and still had significant energy.

I learned what foods made me feel good, and what foods didn’t (sorry dairy.)

And most importantly, I learned to trust my body signals.

Which honestly, up until then, I hadn’t really done.

So, I encourage you to get into your body, and become aware of its amazing ability to know what’s good for you.

And keep moving forward,

Debbie

P.S. If you found this post helpful, or it resonated, or you have something to share, please COMMENT below… I love hearing from you!

P.P.S. Have something you want to talk about? You can always book some time with me here for free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultation

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