What You Eat is Not Who You Are
This statement literally makes no sense to me: “you are what you eat.” Nope.
You’re not kale or quinoa or pizza or a burger. Your body is psyched to use whatever you give it, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, water - and does so with ZERO judgment.
The fact is, if you’re privileged enough to eat a variety of foods, to eat foods occasionally cooked at home, I have very few concerns about your nutritional status. You needn’t worry about specific minerals or vitamins if you’re eating a variety of foods. Equally, considering macros is unnecessary if you are eating adequately. It’s unnecessary anyway, because the way people talk about MACROS right now is so irritating and diet culture laden. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are not new, FYI.
You are not what you eat. You’re more effected nutritionally by how you’re feeling about what you eat, familiarity, comfort level, stress level, than anything else.
So take care of yourself. Eat what you enjoy. And fear not, you’ll never turn into sugar. Although I’m certain you’re very sweet!
*sugar chosen as a representative of anything edible. Just makes the joke work.
Organic Food is a Treatment For Nothing.
I was just talking to a friend who had been experiencing gastrointestinal distress, sought out the help of a professional, and was advised that her symptoms would resolve entirely if she ate organic foods only. (I choked a little bit...) This is not only elitist, but it is utterly foolish.
Organic food is a treatment for nothing.
This public service announcement also applies to dietary recommendations including, but not limited to, juice fasts, kale in everything, cleanses, clean eating as a concept, gluten-free/dairy-free, for no reason, alkalinity, or blood type eating. The stupid list is endless.
Healthcare providers, before we make recommendations about how to take care of other humans, we must have a greater global awareness of their life and lifestyle. A human is NOT noncompliant if they are unable to afford the recommendations you are making for them. They are not non-compliant if they disagree with your recommendations.
And also, the recommendations listed above are not based in GOOD science, at all. That irks me ENDLESSLY.
Food is not actually a treatment for anything. I hate the expression “food is medicine.“ True, we need a variety of nutrients and adequate energy to live our lives fully and healthfully, and food is not medicine. Medicine is medicine. And I hear you, and understand that scurvy is preventable with adequate vitamin C. But even that is not about an organic lemon.
Having a healthy relationship with the food you eat is wayyyy more important than eating the latest and greatest food ‘solution.’
PS: if you are healing from the eating disorder, food certainly is medicine. This post is about my frustration with the idea that specific foods will (but won’t) provide cure all’s...
Also, if food or a change in food has helped you to feel better, I’m delighted for you! Please refrain from commenting about it. This is not at all about shaming you, but protecting folx from confusion and comparison. Thank you!
Restriction is a Disordered Behavior
I’ve been having lots of conversations lately with clients who feel embarrassed about certain parts of their interactions with food, and revere other parts.
To be clear, restriction is a disordered behavior. As are binging, purging, and exercise abuse. There is no such thing as a “good” eating disorder. There are just different symptoms. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. I take every single symptom seriously. I do not care what your body looks like. I do not care what your BMI is. (Ugh.) I do not care if you are able to hide your behaviors or not.
If you are in a place where you are upset by one part of your eating disorder behaviors, but are apathetic or pleased by another, please know that they are connected. Restriction is a wonderful invitation for binging. This is about survival. This is about persistence of the specie.
Human bodies are incredible.
Please give yourself permission to eat food. Regularly. Your body exists with the sole purpose of taking care of you. Return the favor.
I believe in you.
If you are stuck in a series of shifts between restriction and other behaviors, know that that is your body protecting you. An underfed body is going to seek out food. This is biology. This is factual, not a fault.
For reflection:
1. Why/when/what was going on when restrictive eating or avoidance of certain foods began? Is this helpful in the same way that it first was? Have the rules shapeshifted?
2. Is avoidance of foods based on MY experiences of them? Or someone else’s? Society’s?
3. What might happen if I incorporated these foods? Pros/Cons list time. There can and will be both. That doesn’t need to stop you from challenging this belief. The existence of the pro is probably what keeps you stuck. Use the cons with equal attention.
4. Create a mantra and make a change.
“This is my parent’s rule. Feeding myself differently is my parenting myself. I deserve gentle care.”
“This food is safe. My body knows how to handle foods. All of them.”
“The glorification of restriction is about making me quiet and small. I am here to take up space.”
Body Diversity is Not an Accident
Body diversity is not an accident.
Some bodies are small.
Some bodies are large.
Some bodies hang out somewhere in the middle.
Some bodies are short.
Some bodies are tall.
Some bodies come with large hands or large feet.
Some bodies come with small hands or small feet.
Some bodies enjoy a relative health.
Some bodies experience disease.
Some bodies are nourished.
Some bodies are malnourished.
Some bodies are privileged.
Some bodies are oppressed.
ALL bodies are worthy.
You, today, are worthy. Please don’t buy into the diet culture promise that if you change your body, you will achieve life goodness. The fact is, the majority of people are unable to sustainably change their body. Our bodies’ miraculous biology, their staying power, the part that makes it difficult for sustained change to be maintained, is amazing. It’s life-giving.
If you have spent any time or energy trying to change your body, know that you are welcome here. If you’re currently on a voyage of body change, you are welcome here. If you’re grieving the loss of time dedicated to body change, you are welcome here. Body success, in my book, is about arriving to yourself, your body, on all of the days.
Body size is not a life goal.
You are a million wonderful things. And whether you love it or not, your body represents only a tiny part of that wonder.