Ahhh, food rules. Those little laws we create in our minds and believe because an infomercial or that Instagram influencer told us x food was ‘wrong'; we can make this something we have to live by ever since. A food rule is any decision about food (what to eat, when to eat, etc) that is based on what you think is “right” or “good” rather than what feels good to you and what your body needs. These can be extremely hard to break, so the question is: is what you believe about food true?
Rule: I should only eat 1 piece of fruit per day. And I should eat it without other foods. And I shouldn’t eat it at night.
True or false?
FALSE.
Fruit contains many nutrients for your body. If you are craving fruit, your body is asking for some nutrients, and if that means having fruit multiple times a day, then having fruit multiple times a day.
Rule: I am not allowed to eat past 7 pm for the night, even if Im hungry.
True or false?
FALSE.
Your body does not know the difference between 7 pm and 10 pm. When your body is telling you it's hungry, it is for a reason. You can eat food whenever you want, ESPECIALLY when your body asks for it.
Rule: I can only eat dessert if I have had a hard workout.
True or false?
FALSE.
Who told you that? No way, friend! You can have dessert today. If you worked out. If you didn't. You do not need to justify your food choices. Rather than “I'm only allowed to have dessert when…” What if you tried: Do I feel like dessert today?
Rule: Absolutely NO carbs after 4 pm.
True or false?
FALSE.
Carbs are your body's main source of energy. We like energy. And energy doesn't stop at 4 pm. Carbs are not the problem. Not listening to our body is.
Rule: I cannot allow myself to eat what I want, or I'll gain weight.
True or false?
FALSE.
If you listen to your body, you’ll crave a healthy mixture of nutritious and less nutritious foods, stabilizing your weight.
How do you break the rules? By choosing food freedom!
Food Freedom is choosing food based on preference rather than the rule. It is choosing what to eat based on what sounds good to you rather than what you are supposed to have.
Rules won’t all go away overnight; however, the more you challenge them, the less you will have until you eventually have none!!
Happy food rule-breaking!
