As a nutritionist I get asked frequently about the best ways to eat. Most of the time the response I give shocks when I reply by saying a “balanced diet”. There is no food that is ‘evil’ or ‘bad’ normally linked with foods and drinks like soft drinks, doughnuts and fast food etc. The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating includes these foods I like to call ‘sometimes foods’ as part of a balanced diet but in moderation.
As a group fitness instructor and personal trainer I often see what I call the ‘clean eating club’. People who remove or claim to remove all discretionary food choices or ‘sometimes foods’ from the diet. Although there is nothing wrong with this personal choice, I often see these people shaming others who choose to include the sometimes foods and drinks. This shaming encourages the association of the sometimes foods and drinks as ‘bad foods’ and socially unacceptable. What can happen? People feeling guilty about certain foods or drinks, distorting the relationship around eating or drinking and ultimately destroy the enjoyment or worst case an eating disorder.
I believe the French have mastered the skill of moderation and enjoyment of food and drink. The ‘sometimes foods and drinks’ such as wine or croissants are not shamed but celebrated as a part of life and culture. Yes, some do enjoy these foods too much but as a whole this culture has mastered the ability to eat and drink, enjoying the process and appreciating the whole experience.
So what do I suggest?
Have your ‘sometimes food’, enjoy it, savour it, let the process last by taking the time to be thoughtful about what you are putting in your mouth. Make your ‘sometimes food’ special by making it something you have sometimes. This mindfulness can help improve the relationship around eating or drinking and also help be moderate in the amount. Eating and drinking is a lifelong partnership and it should be an enjoyable relationship.
Reference:
(1) Council NHaMR. Australian Dietary Guidelines (2013) [Document]. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2013 [updated 29/7/20114; cited 2016 16/4/2016]. Available from: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/n55.
