Improving Your Relationship with Food: A Guide from Raine Marie Nutrition, Registered Dietitian in Poole
Your relationship with food is more than just what you eat—it includes how you think and feel about food, and how you make food-related decisions, or even how food may cause you to think and feel about yourself. It is not uncommon for people to judge themselves critically because of what or how they eat, which can lead to a difficult relationship with food and how we feel about ourselves. If you are feeling like this, please know that you are not alone and help and support are available.
What Is a Relationship With Food And How Can This Affect Me?
Food and eating concerns may interfere with your eating habits, including usually enjoyable experiences that involve eating out or eating socially. Some concerns can feel overwhelming, leading to eating difficulties such as disordered eating behaviours and stress, which can impact your well-being and your physical and mental health.
A healthy relationship with food involves balanced, mindful eating habits where food is seen as nourishment rather than a source of guilt or stress or whether we are ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It means enjoying food without restriction, shame, or the need for constant dieting.
A poor relationship with food can stem from our beliefs, often developed early in life, leading to negative thought patterns and rigid food rules that leave you feeling restricted or out of control. Food and eating difficulties can form as part of coping with difficulties in life. If you are experiencing disordered eating behaviours or think you or someone you love may have an eating disorder, it is important to speak to your healthcare professional to get the help that is needed and to keep you well, both mentally and physically.
It is possible to experience a poor or difficult relationship with food and not have an eating disorder, yet notice a significant negative impact on your life. Judgement and concern relating to eating and health are commonplace. But how can we improve our relationship with food and our diet? Let’s explore this in more detail.
Signs of a Poor Relationship with Food
How do you know if your relationship with food needs improvement? Some signs include:
Guilt or shame after eating: Feeling bad about what or how much you ate.
Emotional eating: Using food to cope with stress, sadness, or boredom.
Restrictive diets: Constantly following rigid diets that make eating a chore rather than a joy.
Overthinking food choices: Obsessing over calories, portions, or labelling foods as “good” or “bad.”
Fear of certain foods: Avoiding certain foods due to fear of weight gain or negative health effects, even when eaten in moderation.
If any of these sound familiar, it may be time to rethink your approach to food and your diet.
Steps to Improve Your Relationship with Food
Improving your relationship with food is a process, and everyone’s journey will look different. Here’s how our dietitian can support you:
Adopt Intuitive Eating: Intuitive eating encourages you to listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, as part of noticing and responding to your body’s needs for nourishment. It also helps you to identify the physical sensations of emotions and notice behaviours linked to our thoughts about food. This helps you develop a more natural and enjoyable way of eating, guided by the body and not external diet or food rules.
Focus on Balance, Not Restriction: Rather than cutting out entire food groups or following strict diets, Lorraine can help you find a balanced approach that considers both your physical and mental well-being. Eating should be pleasurable, not stressful.
Challenge Food Rules: Many of us hold onto rules like “carbs are bad” or “I can’t eat after 8 p.m.” Lorraine can help you break free from these unhelpful rules and rediscover the joy of food.
Practice Self-Compassion: Being kind to yourself is crucial when improving your relationship with food. Lorraine provides a non-judgemental, confidential space to explore your food habits and patterns.
Seek Professional Support
Raine Marie, based in Poole, is an experienced dietitian who can guide you on this journey. Through personalised nutrition counselling, she’ll help you address any underlying issues with your diet and support you in making sustainable, positive changes.
Remember, improving your relationship with food takes time, but with the right support, it’s entirely achievable. Reach out to Lorraine today to start your journey to a healthier, more balanced relationship with food.
