Intuitive eating is really about getting back to the basics when it comes to food. It allows you to stop labeling foods as good and bad, ditch the food police, and just honor your body when it comes to hunger and fullness. Intuitive eating allows us to be free to eat all foods, but at the same time listen to our bodies and minds about them as well. But there are definitely some misconceptions of intuitive eating out there.
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If you’ve listened to anything I’ve been talking about in the past, you know I’m all about intuitive eating and ditching the diet mentality so that we can live in a fresh and free way. But, I know there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to intuitive eating, so we are here to break it down.
7 Most Common Misconceptions of Intuitive Eating
1. Everything on social media on intuitive eating is right
Social media’s has got the most misconceptions of intuitive eating. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of different graphics on instagram giving out all sorts of misconceptions about intuitive eating and nutrition in general. No, a piece of chocolate cake is not nutritionally equivalent to an apple, or a whole and nutritionally adequate meal. Sorry to break it to ya friends! But the problem is that it’s making people feel bad or wrongly for considering the nutritious value of foods, or feel that they’re falling into the diet mentality. One of the 10 components of intuitive eating is gentle nutrition, which keeps us having a good relationship with food.
All in all, I would definitely say watch out who you follow on social media. There are a lot of people promoting intuitive eating in all the wrong ways. Intuitive eating requires you to listen to both your body and mind, and that means eating foods using your mind to put the right foods into your body.
2. Intuitive eating is NOT anti health just because you have food freedom
This is a really common misconception when it comes to intuitive eating. People will sometimes think intuitive eating is not for them because it’s all about eating what I want when I want, and that’s unhealthy. But that’s a strong misconception that trips a lot of people up. Because like I mentioned before, healthy nutrition is an incredibly important factor of intuitive eating. It’s just not the primary factor. Nutrition gets caught up in the dogma of foods and solely looking at foods from a nutritional perspective and doesn’t factor in preferences or satisfaction.
It’s true that once you adopt intuitive eating you might find yourself eating foods you used to deem as “unhealthy.” But if you’re honest with yourself about how they make you feel, you’ll start to mostly crave nutrient-packed foods.
Our bodies have biological nutritional needs, and intuitive eating allows us to be able to hear them. It involves being mindful about how things make you feel, and honouring your body in a way that makes you feel your best.
I often suggest eating like a child does. And no I’m not suggesting you eat baby food! But a child doesn’t obsess over carb counting, and actually stops eating when they’re full. It’s not until we start telling them these foods are good foods and these are bad foods and they develop that relationship with food. Until then, food is neutral, and we eat as such.
Let yourself go for seconds if you’re really physically hungry. But also, don’t feel like you have to finish your plate if you feel full.
3. You have to obey every craving instantly.
A lot of people think that when you intuitively eat you’ll get really huge because you’re obeying every craving that comes up. Intuitive eating incorporates listening to your body intelligently and being honest with yourself. When you do that, you realize it’s probably not going to make you feel your best to eat a whole package of Oreos or a whole loaf of bread. Some people experience new carb cravings when they first start intuitive eating but like I said, that will level out.
As you begin to explore and allow yourself all foods, while being still being mindful to the foods you eat. See what’s making me feel my best? What foods do I not really want to have at all? And what foods are so dang good I don’t care how bad they are, I’m going to have them (in moderation)? What foods have I always labeled as “bad foods,” and now that I’m allowing it I realize… I don’t actually like that much?
These are the kinds of things are going to come up when it comes to food and starting the intuitive eating lifestyle.
4. Intuitive eating is the exact opposition to dieting
Intuitive eating is relearning how to eat based on your internal cues as opposed to the diet mentality. Considering satisfaction as opposed to obsessing over nutrient intake.
Some days, I am just craving a good burger! So I will go and enjoy a burger!! But if I’m being super super honest, a lot of days I’m just craving a whole and nutritious salad. A lot of good proteins, greens, and healthy fats that make me feel my best. So everyone once in a while that burger is okay, but all the time? Probably not.
So intuitive eating isn’t the exact opposition of dieting. It still factors in nutrition and movement, just like most “diets” out there do- just in a much more freeing way. It doesn’t tell you work out for this exact amount of time and eat this exact amount of nutrients, but more so listen to how you feel and how foods make you feel. Start eating the things that make you feel your best, and then move your body to feel the difference. We use nutrition and movement to feel our best, and that’s why we do it. Not because its “good” or “bad,” it’s about how you feel and your health.
5. Intuitive eating is the best place to start for everyone
You do need to follow a lot of these principles when intuitive eating to get started on a healthier and freer journey. But you also need to understand what gentle nutrition looks like in order for you to listen to your body in a way that honors it.
If you don’t know what gentle nutrition even looks like, or a well balanced meal looks like, then how are you going to honor your body through gentle nutrition? That is the first step
As a professional that has worked with hundreds of people to reach their goals I’ve truly realized not everyone can start in the same place. With some clients, I need to help them and break down what a good and nutritious meal looks like in the first place- and that’s okay. Some people need to adopt and learn gentle nutrition before they can truly intuitively listen to their body.
Also, if you are in the middle of an eating disorder or just coming out of it, your body’s understanding of real fullness or hunger and mental relationship with food is probably not a place that allows you to intuitively eat. This was me at one point, and with an eating disorder you just have to eat past what your body thinks is full.
6. You’ll gain or lose weight with intuitive eating
Intuitive eating is weight neutral. You’ll see some people lose weight, some people gain, and some people stay in the middle. Intuitive eating isn’t targeted for weight gain or loss, but rather intuitive eating gets your body back to that happy place that is best for you. That looks different for everybody.
Healthy isn’t weight. Weight doesn’t have to be what decides what is healthy or not. There are a lot of “skinny” people that aren’t healthy, and a lot of people that society would deem “overweight” that are actually really healthy.
Change is hard and takes time. A diet may promise you a drop of 30lbs, but is that really healthy? Sustainable? Good for your mental health? When you honor your hunger and fullness, exercise as you are able, get enough sleep, drink enough water, and take as best care of yourself as you can, your body will respond and be the best for you.
I know it can be hard, but when you are doing all the right things, your body will get to it’s best weight.
7. Intuitive eating is easier than dieting
Honestly, dieting can sometimes be easier than intuitive eating. A diet is pretty strict and tells you what to eat and when and when to exercise and how much. With intuitive eating, there are many new habits to create. Eventually the change becomes more comfortable and eating normally is actually normal.
The freedom and the sustainable, long-life choices that come from intuitive eating will be worth it.
Food needs to be the fuel that allows us to live our best life. It is part of what allows us to have fun and enjoy life, but it doesn’t have to be life.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the 7 biggest misconceptions of intuitive eating! If this is something you’re trying out, I want to hear about it! Leave a comment or pop over to insta!
It can be challenging, and if this is something you want to learn more about and really dive in to, I have some resources that can help you.
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