Whether you have a long-term condition in which food has become a chore rather than something you enjoy, or you have suffered or are suffering from an eating disorder, you can learn to have a healthy relationship with food again and enjoy meals with your friends and family. This is not an easy journey and below are some of the basics to begin building a good relationship with food.
Regular Meal Times
One of the best ways to begin is to have a routine. Having a routine will ensure you do eat, and at regular intervals. Your body will also get used to this routine and will start to learn when it is due food. Having a routine can help many of us feel like we are taking back control of what we eat and when. Having dinner with our family around the dinner table can help food feel like a more social event and can help bring up the confidence to eat out again if this is something you struggle with. Take into account when you have work, school, or college to ensure meal times fit in with your routine in order to stick to your plan, and remember, plans can change from time to time.
The Right Foods
One way to love food again is to eat the right things. Choosing healthier options can make us feel good both physically and mentally. There are many health benefits to all different fruits and vegetables and they can provide you with the vitamins and minerals needed to help feel better within yourself. Meats and fish are another great choices, and drinking water can make you feel full between meals and keep your skin looking and feeling healthy and hydrated. Don’t forget to finish your meals with your favorite condiments. If you love mayonnaise, perhaps look at an alternative healthier option such as avocado mayo.
Eat Your Favorite Foods
Whether you are a chocoholic or you love all things savory, there is no reason to stop loving these foods. You should not feel guilty or say you’ve had a bad day if you eat your favorite food, surely eating your favorite food makes it a good day. We all have cravings and ignoring these means we are more likely to binge. The healthiest way to eat is everything in moderation. Of course, fruit and vegetables are good for us, but we need carbohydrates, sugars, and fats in our bodies too, for them to function at their best. Perhaps if you have had a good food day this could be a treat for your last meal and something to look forward to.
Learning to love food again can be a long and difficult process and there are many professionals out there to support you in taking control of your diet. There are also groups where others going through similar situations can get together and chat about what helps them overcome their anxieties around food and how they overcome these. You are not alone, and you do not need to feel so.
