It's Okay to Eat This. I've Had a Bad Day!
/Does the following sound familiar?
“Screw it! I’m going to eat whatever I want. I’ve had a bad day!”
If you can relate to this, it’s completely understandable. It’s how diet culture has conditioned us to think.
Special Circumstances Only
Diet culture tells us we’re only allowed to eat certain foods under special circumstances.
It makes us believe it’s okay to eat cake at a birthday party but not on a regular ol’ Tuesday.
It drives us to think we can eat whatever we want on vacation as long as we get back on track once we’re home.
It tells us we can eat "bad" foods on the weekend, yet they are off-limits on weekdays.
It grants us permission to order dessert when celebrating a special occasion but not on an ordinary night out.
It gives us a free pass to eat forbidden foods on holidays but no other time of the year.
It causes us to believe we only deserve to eat what we want when we’re suffering, like after a bad day.
And, it's all a bunch of B.S. The truth is:
You have the right to eat whatever you desire today—and every day of the year.
You don’t need a special reason, other than it’s what you want.
Diet Mentality vs. Non-Diet Mentality
If you feel the need to justify your food choices, you’re likely operating from a deeply ingrained diet mentality—one that includes a lot of rules and beliefs regarding what’s okay and not okay when it comes to eating.
Your experience is much different than if you’re operating from a non-diet mentality—that is, if you’re eating intuitively.
If you’re an Intuitive Eater, you truly know you have unconditional permission to eat whatever you want, whenever you want (of course, depending on what food is accessible to you).
You don’t feel the need to give yourself special permission to eat certain foods during certain times because you know you can eat them anytime they’re available.
If you want to move toward greater peace, ease and freedom with food, you can start by replacing any justifications, excuses or conditions for your eating with “It’s okay to eat this because it’s what I want.
