Is Intuitive Eating the Answer?

The non-diet that may be worth a try. It’s how I eat now and it works!

There’s no shortage of people ready and willing to tell you what, when, and how much to eat, whether it’s a relative telling you to “clean your plate,” a friend promoting all things Keto, or an infomercial insisting that protein shakes will cure what ails you.

What if you turned the tables, so to speak, and started eating according to internal information? An approach known as intuitive eating is gaining a following among people who are tired of riding the diet roller coaster. With an emphasis on using your body’s internal cues to decide when to eat and when to stop, intuitive eating also promotes accepting your body, eating for overall health and enjoyment, and moving away from categorizing foods as “good” or “bad.”

That may sound like a license to go wild at the bakery, but some preliminary research suggests that intuitive eating isn’t just an excuse to explain away bad habits.

This early research suggests that intuitive eating may improve eating habits, metabolic health, body image, and mental health—and best of all, that people can sustain it long-term. Incorporate the principles of intuitive eating by tuning into your body before you eat and while eating: Am I hungry? Am I full? Pay attention to how you feel after you eat, too. Did those foods make me feel energetic, satisfied, and clear-headed, or induce a bellyache, heartburn—or a nap? Let that awareness guide your choices.

If you find that you tend to eat in response to stress or difficult feelings, try pairing intuitive eating with light exercise like yoga or dance, which can lower stress and help you respond to challenges in healthier ways.

Want to try my Intuitive Eating program by a registered dietician in my new group just getting started? Complete the application below and we can chat and get you set up.

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