5 Tips To Get Over Food Guilt.

5 Tips for Getting Over Food Guilt

Food should fuel your body and bring you pleasure. Here are few strategies to help you have a guilt-free relationship with food:

1. Don’t food-shame yourself

Stop mid-sentence when your inner critic says, “That cupcake is going to go straight to my [insert body part].” Take the cupcake or leave it, but avoid being judgmental. Watch your words or else they may tinge your buttercream frosting with regret.


Related: What To Do After A Binge To Get You Back On Track. Part 1

2. Commit to enjoying your food

Once you decide to eat a food that otherwise would make you feel guilty, start focusing on the positive. That means giving your full attention to what makes those fries so crave-worthy! Relish in the crunch of each bite. Savor your food slowly as you engage all the senses related to food (think: taste, smell, texture, color).

3. Try intuitive eating

Intuitive eating, also known as mindful eating, is about listening to your body, so that you can better give it what it wants. It involves everything in tip number two, plus reassessing your hunger as you eat so that you don’t overeat. Chances are if you prevent a binge you will feel less guilty about this “indulgence.” It also builds more positive experiences with foods you see as out of bounds. This may help you feel less guilty about eating these foods in the future.

4. Rethink your relationship with food

Does food guilt hit you hard? Take this as a sign that you need to change something about your relationship with food. Are you being too restrictive? Are you giving food too much power over you? Relax your food rules a bit to make room for what you love. It’s also helpful to avoid labeling food as “good” or “bad.” Doing so escalates a food rule from guidepost to moral doctrine. Remember, there is no such thing as perfect eating.


Related: 3 Ways Mindful Eating Can Help You Stay Slim

5. Distract yourself

If food guilt still has you in a chokehold, nutrition expert Elle Penner, M.P.H., R.D., says to “redirect your energy and intentions to achieve balance moving forward. Prepare a nutritious meal to enjoy the next day, do next week’s meal planning or put your shoes on and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised how fast the guilt subsides once you take action and do something good for yourself.”

The Bottom Line

We know you know this, but it deserves repeating: Losing weight is a lifestyle change! In the long run, your long-term weight-loss efforts won’t be tanked by one chocolate bar. Eat well most of the time and the results will follow.

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