Intuitive Eating Principle #4: Challenge the food police
Ghandi once said:
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
This intuitive eating principle — challenge the food police — requires you to become aware of what your thoughts about food are, and then to evaluate whether those thoughts come from a place of truth.
Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?
- “It’s too late at night; you shouldn’t be eating.”
- “You didn’t exercise today; you don’t deserve that cake.”
- “That bagel is fattening — so many carbohydrates! Don’t eat it.”
We would classify these as “food police” — a strong voice developed through dieting that determines whether you are “good” or “bad” based on your food choices.
But dig even deeper with me. Be curious for a second about what these thoughts reveal about your beliefs. Might you be believing:
- That your food choices determine your identity?
- That the way your body looks defines who you are as a person?
- That your weight governs your value?
In a fatphobic, diet-centered culture, these ideas are everywhere. But we are each responsible for how much we internalize cultural “truths.” It is a defining moment in your life when you realize that you have the power to accept or reject a certain thought.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:15
When I started embracing intuitive eating by rejecting the diet mentality, honoring my hunger, and making peace with food, I was shocked at how many “food police” thoughts I had. The guilt I felt around food revealed that I was believing something I did not want to believe. I don’t truly believe my worth is based on how my body looks or what foods I put in my body. I believe my worth comes from what Jesus says about me!
So let’s start taking some of those unhelpful thoughts captive and replace them with truth today!
To see my next post on principle #5: “feel your fullness,” click here!
