Enjoyment of Eating Paradox
Eating healthy. We hate this part of it. No doubt.
A lot the foods we want to eat, we’re not supposed to. A lot the things we are supposed to eat, we don’t want to.
Talk about a losing battle.
So, I give you a list of foods. I tell you how much to eat, and when to eat it throughout the day. That should work, right?
Besides you just gotta do this until you get in shape, right?
Wrong on many levels.
The main problem is this is YOUR diet. Not mine. No one else’s. It applies to YOUR goals and lifestyle. And YOU need to sustain it after you attain the fitness or goal you have set for yourself.
There are main functions of food that I’ve spoken about before, which are Rebuild, Refuel, Restore, and Enjoy (check my old blog 4 Functions of Food for more context), but I want to talk about the application part more specifically.
This is the “Enjoyment” part. If you don’t enjoy the food, it’s a no go.
Why is it so hard to enjoy food and have a heathy diet?
Here are the main problems to acknowledge:
1) Food is timed different for everyone
You could enjoy 3 meals, 2 meals, maybe you only have time for 1 meal, but if the plan someone gives you isn’t for YOUR lifestyle timing, it’s going to fail. If someone told you that you HAVE to eat 4 times a day, what happens when you run late and don’t have time for breakfast? OR what if you’re not hungry in the morning? What if you eat late after an evening workout? Is that allowed? There many ways to make your meal timing optimal for you on any day. If we get stuck in rules, we will be doomed to fail.
2) Food preference is very relative
I may love meat, but maybe you don’t or prefer to be plant based. Someone may love having toast in the morning, but other may feel bloated. Some may love fruit and prefer spicy foods. Without giving a person the options to understand what they DO love can be in their diet, it’s always going to feel like you’re fighting up hill.
3) Food culture is so valuable
It doesn’t matter nearly as much if windowed eating (intermittent fasting) and skipping breakfast has been more efficient to me, because when you tell me you want to have breakfast with your kids then that matters WAY more. Even though white rice is high glycemic, if you’re going to family dinner and it’s a cultural routine, that matters more. We’re better off understanding how healthy choices can fit into our culture.
4) Food is emotional – especially delicious ones
There can be huge challenges for people to get over with specific foods. I’ve experienced this myself. I’ve seen a client who enjoyed carbs, go on a keto diet and straight up act depressed (not full depression but sad). Their statement was simple “I miss my friend, Food!” I learnt then not to tell someone they CAN’T eat something. It only makes it worse. I’ll mention the diet was their choice, not mine, but this showed me the dangers of having someone not enjoy their diet. The individual needs to work continuously on this relationship with certain foods, especially because of this power, but showed how they can have foods they love! Rather than create too many rules, which can give too much power to the food.
5) Enjoying Whole food vs. Processed food is a learned behaviour
The real battle is creating a positive and powerful relationship with whole foods over processed food. If we only recognize flavor and not digestion after, the obvious choice is quick, tasty, processed foods. However, it’s very rare there are ZERO whole foods someone likes. They just may not realize they can enjoy them. I had client say after taking a break from bread and eating a mainly whole foods diet for over a month say, “I now know I just don’t want this food (bread) in the house. I crave sustenance in my food instead.” This was a slow process but life changing.
Remember the first problem I noted. “We’re supposed to eat what we don’t want to.”
The reason I want to bring this back, is because you need to make it for YOU. Not anyone else.
It’s your enjoyment, and it’s your goals that matter.
How can you want to enjoy the “healthier” foods?
Starts with the education of it all. Learning about what’s in foods (4 main functions), and then exploring each of the principles above.
When assisting my clients with their plans, I always take into consideration all of the above, to help them find THEIR diets.
You think they all have the same diet? I don’t think I know 2 of the same. Some similar, and some drastically different. But for those who are able to consider the 4 purposes and work them into the principles above, they will get the results they are after and ENJOY IT!
Are you curious if I could help you?
Just ask, and book a call below.