Let Food Freedom Ring: How to Reclaim Your Power with Food
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.
The one thing I know for sure about people is when we’re told we can’t have something, we want it so much more.
How can we ignore this elephant in the room? Why do we believe deprivation is the solution to better health or a leaner body?
Deny it if you will, but deep down you know it’s true. As soon as you put the mental “X” on a food, what you’ve really done is hand all your power over to that food. And when food has power, it wins! As a result, you are left feeling hopeless and lacking any shred of willpower.
This doesn’t have to be your destiny! You can flip the switch in an instant and take your power back by remembering these three words: Nothing is forbidden.
Give it a try and watch what happens when you lay that mantra on top of any food you feel weak and powerless around.
At first it may sound like I’m suggesting you grab a cart and fill it with pizza, ice cream and potato chips. Of course that’s not true!
By allowing all food to be in the running, you give yourself freedom of choice, which unlocks the door to your self-made food restrictions. Now you are mentally free to choose those foods that will serve you best in mind, body, and spirit, something that’s impossible to do while in a mental tug-of-war with food!
Signs of Food Freedom
How do you know when you’ve broken free from the chains of food?
You can walk past a bowl of chips without taking one and without feeling deprived.
You can refuse the dessert at your favorite restaurant without feeling like a caged animal that really wants the chocolate mousse cake but knows you shouldn’t. You just really didn’t want it!
You can order a scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor and savor every bite without an ounce of guilt or regret.
Key Takeaway
Feeling at peace around food is your birthright. When you lift the mental “X” off any food you’ve ever placed it on, you my friend are free. Why wait another day? Now is the time to reclaim your power.
