I’ve been exploring the topic of food and meals & asking whether it’s time to look at a ‘non-diet’… never heard of it? It’s probably a bit of what you’d expect – rebelling against the classic constraints & nuances of a diet & embracing a positive relationship with food & our bodies.

This approach includes intuitive eating;

“Intuitive eating has been linked with improved cholesterol levels, blood pressure, & reduced markers of inflammation,” Dawn Clifford, a registered dietitian & associate professor of health sciences at Northern Arizona University. She also said “In terms of mental health, intuitive eating is associated with improved body image, lower levels of depression, & self-esteem,”

It’s about reconnecting with your body, listening to the signs of what you need & eating accordingly – realising when you’re hungry & when you’re full. That might mean you need to practice mindful eating – zero distractions & take your time. There’s also a lot to be said for savouring the moment when ordering, shopping for, preparing & eating food. It will help you to appreciate what you’re taking in.

The non-diet also asks you to respect & be kind to your body – take away the unrealistic expectations & look to logical, kind & respectful choices. That might mean you stop labelling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or ‘naughty’ – of course some are more healthy than others, but the labels we assign them only incite guilt or the thought that food can be seen as a reward to us.

Constantly being on restrictive diets can take a toll on your mental health & just takes up a lot of our brain space! I know it has for me, for most of my life! We’re all on our own journeys when it comes to our relationships with food, so be easy on yourself & remember that food is what gives us the energy to do all the amazing things that we want to achieve! I’ve been building up my cooking repertoire recently, roasting chickens, trying news recipes & making bone broths – it’s felt so good to eat in this way again.