Food is how a body is nourished or fueled. Without proper nutrition, the brain and body will suffer. A negative relationship with food overshadows any attempt to live a healthy lifestyle. However, developing a healthy relationship with food is possible.
What Is Food?
The reasonable answer to what is food explains the five food groups. Foods help your body heal and grow. However, is the only role of food to nourish the body? No. Food is an expression of culture, hospitality, or love.
Food as Culture
Every culture has traditions built around food. Think about how your family celebrated holidays, events, or moments of joy. Traditional dishes and the rituals surrounding them are a part of those moments. Expressions of feelings or cultural traditions increase the bond you have with others. Food isn’t the enemy when you’re celebrating.
Food as a Means of Hospitality
Nor is food the antagonist in your life. Sitting down to eat is a way to have a peaceful conversation. Perhaps you’re trying to find common ground with a loved one. A meal is a way to slow down the discussions. You can focus on what another person is saying. Use the time you’re chewing to assess the conversation and discover a creative solution to any problems you are having.
Food as Love
Who hasn’t expressed their love for another by taking them out, cooking, or ordering in? A meal or a romantic gesture is how some express their feelings. Sometimes, the conversation between two people begins when they’re cooking together. Preparing a meal allows you to talk, share, and learn about each other.
Can I Have a Healthy Relationship With Food?
You can learn to love food if you reshape how you think of it in your life. Eating isn’t a punishment or something to dread. Negative associations with food can stem from worrying about your weight, looks, or dependence on food. Allow yourself to replace harmful thoughts with healthy thoughts. You can start to think positively by following these tips.
- Forget about what you ate yesterday: What you ate yesterday or for your last meal is in the past. Stop giving power to what you can’t change.
- Eat with your senses: Enjoy your food. Take in the smells and colors of your meal. Focus on each bite. Two of the benefits of practicing mindful eating are eating smaller amounts and giving your stomach time to digest.
- There’s no perfect way to eat: No one has ideal eating habits. Why? Perfection doesn’t exist in eating. You won’t always eat healthy foods or have time to prepare a meal. There are times when you will rely on convenience or have a treat. Don’t condemn yourself for being human.
Don’t let food run your life. Whether you’re battling negative food feelings or unhealthy habits, you can learn how to have a healthy, positive relationship with food.
Food can help express emotions or fill a void. The drive to have a perfect diet can harm you. If you feel guilty because you ate one cookie, those feelings of guilt can sabotage your relationship with food. You can, however, rebuild your relationship with food. The Guest House believes healthy relationships with food are possible. Our therapists can guide you to rebuild a healthy rapport with food. You can wander our historic estate and participate in holistic and traditional therapy during your stay. We encourage you to find your inner peace. Call us at (855) 483-7800.