Food has an elusive draw. There is both a survival element to food and an enjoyment element. We need it for our survival and at the same time, it can be so delicious and seductive.
The line between survival and comfort eating is so fine because it can be both at the same time. The waters become murky and we can easily fall prey to the sirens of food… The temptation, the deliciousness, the excitement of food can grab hold of us even if we are not hungry or our bodies are not in need of it. We can easily tell ourselves that it is fine to eat something that may not be healthy for us because we physically need the sustenance. Every day we have to make the decision of what we are eating. But we don’t often ask “why” or step back to see if what we are eating is the best thing for us.
When we don’t know why we need certain foods, why we crave some types of foods over others, or when we are unclear what exactly our bodies need to be healthy, then eating becomes a free-for-all where we eat only what we enjoy eating, not what our bodies need for us to eat.
For so much of our history, we have looked to the agricultural and political powers to tell us what we need to eat. Remember the food triangle? That was created by the US Government and heavily influenced by industry lobbyists (who would be making money off the products they sell). Wait, what? So, this chart that dictated how the entire country ate was influenced by people that were looking to make a money off of it? How can we be sure, then, that what we were told when we were younger is accurate or if it was created with selfish intentions? Exactly.
There is debate as to whether the outdated food pyramid is still healthy or not. Some people say it is, others say it is not. But this highlights another frustration around food. We are told so many different and often contradictory “facts” about food. We read from one source that XX food is good for you and another source tells you that it is terrible for you.
The truth is that food and the research around food is changing constantly. It is ever evolving. New discoveries are being made, new information comes to light, new issues and allergies arise, etc. It can be super overwhelming for us, as the receivers of this constantly evolving and changing information.
I don’t have it all figured out yet, but as I continue to explore this food dilemma I have come to some realizations, which I will share with you. For now, this is the only way I know to stay sane through the contradictions and to honor my body above all advice I get from other sources.
- Stay Informed. Do the research. Talk with professionals. Understand the basic nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, etc, that the body needs to function and stay healthy. Understand the foods that are not good for you. Seek advice from health professionals in order to get a better idea what you in particular need to be healthy. Look to several different sources of information. Understand the arguments for and against different foods. There is an endless supply of information, so just pick a place and get started.
- Go with your gut. We have all the answers within us, we just need to get quiet enough to listen. If we took a moment after drinking a sugary soda or eating a tub of ice cream (or whatever your guilty pleasure is) we could most likely figure out that it wasn’t the best thing for us to consume. With other foods it can be less apparent. But we have to keep listening to our gut to figure out how our body reacts to certain foods. Try to get past the noise of the “little brain,” the side of our brain that is driven by fear and desire. It is the brain that tell us that we need to eat the entire pie because we may never get to taste it again. It is the one that tells us that it is ok to eat an entire bag of cheese puffs because they are delicious and you enjoy eating them (even if your body doesn’t).
- Experiment to find out what works for you. In order to figure out what is right for us, personally, we can use the powers of experimentation to aid us in the search. Based on the information you research and what your gut is telling you, experiment with different foods - try bringing in healthy foods and taking out unhealthy foods from your diet. I recommend keeping a food journal to jot down what you eat and how you are feeling throughout the day. This will provide you (and your health care/nutritionist) with more insight when you are not feeling well rather than just guessing at what you ate and what might be causing a problem.
Above all, it is important to acknowledge that we are individuals and therefore diet should be determined on an individual basis. We all have different histories and experiences around food and our bodies have different needs and deficiencies. In addition, what our bodies need will change throughout our lifetime. We have to stay informed, listen to our guts, and experiment with our diets in order to figure out what works best for us.
If we just sit back and get complacent with food or complain about why it is so difficult, we won't get anywhere or figure out what it takes to get (and stay) healthy. That hasn't worked for me. It takes work and commitment and a desire to be truly healthy. And remember, balance is something we find over time. We may have phases where we are super gung-ho about nutrition and other times in our life where we don’t have an inch of brain-space to deal with the food dilemma. That is ok. We just have to make sure to come back to it, especially if our bodies are screaming at us to take notice. Don’t ignore it.