I have always liked the idea that natural foods, plants and nature provide the best medicines for our health and wellbeing. It makes the most sense as we are all connected to the world around us, right? We can’t live without food. Food needs the sun, atmosphere and soil etc. to grow. Our bodies need what natural foods provide. How long would we last without air? We need to interact daily with others. Like it or not we are all human, more connected and at the same time more vulnerable than we’d often like to think of ourselves as.
Well, I invite you to think about it just a little as you read this post, especially in relation to food and you as an eater.
Since starting my nutrition training I have been a fan and follower of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating. Their stated mission is to re-unite the psychology of eating with the science of nutrition. I understand this to mean that you cannot consider the body’s needs without considering the needs of the soul. ‘Soul’ meaning the individual person with their own unique body, needs, wants, experiences, emotions, senses, circumstances and responses to life. My own observation [not judgement] with clients and people in general, is how our attitude to food and eating completely reflects our attitude to ourselves and life.
My experience is that some people view a nutrition qualification as a personal attribute. As if acquiring this qualification has transformed one into someone who never lets an unhealthy food pass their lips … And, has now morphed into the role of watching and judging every bite others make, like the ‘diet police’! Well, on both counts, that’s not me! You may, of course, come across people who do take on and enjoy such a role. No, I’m just like you but with an acquired knowledge and interest in the benefits of nutrition which I love to share. I can be your guide, supporter or educator, but not your judge or savior. I believe that healthier eating is a life-long challenge, a choice and a personal responsibility. And, because eating is something you and I have to do each and every day, I see it as an ideal opportunity for growth and transformation. That said, knowledge of food is for the mind but food and eating as an experience goes far beyond this to the very core of our being.
I acknowledge everyone as an eater. If we were purely physical beings, the knowledge of what to eat in the best interest of our health, would be enough. Like how to put the correct fuel in your car….. petrol and a little oil in this one, but diesel and lots of oil in this other one. The reality is we are more than physical beings and often our food choices are motivated by unconscious thoughts and feelings about ourselves. We may have negative thoughts and feelings wrapped around eating. Yet, eating can be a joyous, satisfying, healthy, creative, not to mention completely necessary experience.
Have a think about what your relationship with food is? Does it mirror how you feel and think? If you recognize yourself in any of this, the knowledge of healthy eating will not be enough. It might even become a stick for you to punish yourself with. More bad feelings? That won’t help! The issue is not a lack of knowledge. Practicing some mindfulness and self-inquiry around eating, or working with someone that has a greater understanding of eating behaviors, might help.
I am currently only aware of one Nutritional Therapist in Ireland, but there may be more, who deals in this particular area of work. Here: www.straightforwardnutrition.com
Finally, I can’t count the number of times people have told me stories like “Oh, so and so died…… and s/he was so into healthy eating”! There is no promise of immortality in choosing to eat a healthier diet. The point of dealing with food or eating issues is that you can feel better today, have a better quality life than if you didn’t and possibly live a little longer. This is not without it’s challenges but it is within your grasp. As human beings we know we are affected on many levels by factors other than by what we eat, but this is the one area where we can reclaim some personal power over our own well being.
© Limelight Nutrition 2019
Busy Hands Anne 