Finding Our Way Back

Every year, the month of March is designated as National Nutrition Month by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. To honor this month, I (Karen) want to push back on the way our society tends to talk about nutrition, and find our way back to some fundamentals.

For so many people, the word “nutrition” means deprivation and weight loss. When people say they are "paying attention" to their nutrition, it often means they are avoiding a slew of foods and trying to shrink their body. Sadly, learning about nutrition usually means learning that certain foods are “healthy” or “unhealthy,” or "good" or "bad."

This kind of approach has a variety of ramifications. It can perpetuate disordered eating thoughts and behaviors. It introduces guilt and shame into what we eat, or do not eat. Making a food choice that is perceived as “unhealthy” or "bad" becomes a moral failure. And we completely disconnect with what our bodies want and need.

Distorting the concept of nutrition in these ways can cause a tidal wave of anxiety and confusion around eating. Because the "experts" all seem to promote a different nutritional dogma, who do you believe? How can you ever feel confident about what you are eating? And that is the real tragedy - not trusting yourself to decide what foods make you feel nourished, in both body and soul.

So how do we start to pivot away from this? Here are some thoughts:

- Reject the idea that anyone has all the answers about nutrition. If they say they do, they are lying. What we actually know about nutrition and its effects on the human body is actually quite limited. It is incredibly difficult to do well-designed research studies with humans - think about the ethical and practical limitations of such an endeavor. Therefore, we have very little reproducible and reliable evidence about nutrition. But some truths have endured the test of time: eat more plants and a variety of them, eat minimally processed foods, prepare more food at home, and eat foods you enjoy, If you're feeling overwhelmed, focus on these and ignore the rest.

- Embrace the concept of nourishment. Food is not just calories or nutrients. Food is also about connection, memories, traditions, and enjoyment. It nourishes our bodies and our soul. Sure, we want to find that sweet spot where most of the foods we eat are both nourishing for our bodies and our soul. But eating some foods simply because they taste good, or evoke a memory, or are a tradition, or connect us with others, is OKAY.

- Learn to trust your body. Your body is giving you information all the time about what it needs, what it likes, and what makes it feel good. When we are obsessed with following society's nutrition "rules," we lose sight of the inner wisdom our body has. Do you honor your body's hunger and fullness cues? Do you pay attention to how foods make you feel, both physically and mentally? Do you allow yourself to eat foods you love, regardless of their nutritional merits? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, then you have found a good place to start connecting with your body again! We'll talk more about all of this in next week's lesson, so stay tuned...