What I eat in a day | Part 3
Dinner, once a struggle of striving for perfection of health, has undergone a profound transformation in my journey towards food freedom.
Gone are the days of rigidly clean and 'perfectly healthy' meals, which often left me unsatisfied and yearning for something more after dinner.
I vividly remember going to bed hungry, only to be jolted awake by hunger pangs in the middle of the night. Or worse, the relief of waking up from a dream where I succumbed to forbidden foods, only to find it was just a dream.
Navigating meals around my shift work added another layer of chaos to the mix, leading me to seek a sense of control through meal delivery kits promising weight loss with pre-portioned, low-calorie, 'clean' meals—an approach that ultimately enabled my disordered eating patterns.
Amidst my recovery journey, I re-discovered my passion for cooking—a joy that intuitive eating and food freedom have unlocked. Embracing creativity and flexibility, I've learned to experiment with new ingredients and flavors without fear of certain food groups.
Today, I no longer view dinner as a struggle but as an opportunity to nourish my body and soul. With each meal, I feel truly satisfied, waking up the next day feeling fueled and ready to live my full life.
Old me (consumed by food rules and disordered eating behaviours)
Keep it clean
Low carb and low calorie recipes only
I should have a salad
Use the same recipes and meal ideas as I know these are ‘clean’
If I have carbs, they cannot be white carbs
If I haven’t worked out today, I need to compensate with less dinner
Feel guilt and shame when eating out, or have to choose the ‘healthiest’ thing on the menu
Portion controlling dinner to limit calorie intake.
Feeling guilty or ashamed for indulging in certain foods at dinner, such as pasta, bread, or desserts.
Feeling pressure to have a "healthy" or "balanced" dinner, as defined by diet culture standards.
New me (working towards being intuitive eater and finding food freedom and a healthy relationship with food)
Understand I can have carbs at every meal
Lots of options available as I allow all foods
Can eat out or with friends and family and be flexible
Can try out new recipes and meal options
I deserve to nourish my body, regardless of what activity I’ve done that day
Pay attention to hunger and fullness signals and choose dinner when I’m truly hungry. Eat until I’m satisfied and stop when I’m no longer hungry
If I’m craving a specific food for dinner, I can allow myself to enjoy it without guilt or restriction
Focus on dinner options that bring joy and satisfaction, rather than what I feel obligated to eat or what I "should" eat
Remind myself that all foods can fit into a balanced and intuitive eating approach, and there's no need to label foods as "good" or "bad.”
Use gentle nutrition as guidance for building a balanced plate that will nourish me
By using intuitive eating principles to guide your dinner choices, you can enjoy a wide variety of nutritious and satisfying meals while nourishing your body and honoring your cravings and preferences.
Be kind to yourself,
M x
