From “Clean Your Plate” to Intuitive Eating: Learning to Listen to Your Body
Happy Thursday, everyone!
Today, let's dive into a topic that a lot of us can relate to: the "clean your plate" mentality. If you grew up being told that you had to finish every last bite of your meal, you're not alone. Many of us have had this message ingrained in us since childhood. The idea was often rooted in good intentions—avoiding waste or making sure we were properly fed—but it may not always serve us well in adulthood.
The Problem with "Clean Your Plate"
The "clean your plate" mindset can make it challenging to understand our natural hunger and fullness signals. Over time, it can cause us to ignore our body's cues and eat past the point of being comfortably full. This might lead to overeating, discomfort, and, ultimately, a disconnection from what our body truly needs.
Instead of feeling pressured to finish everything, what if we focused on listening to our bodies? Enter intuitive eating.
What Is Intuitive Eating?
Intuitive eating is a way of eating that encourages us to trust our body’s signals and respond to hunger and fullness cues. It means slowing down and paying attention to how you feel before, during, and after eating. Are you still hungry? Are you satisfied? Are you full?
Rather than eating just because there's food in front of you or out of a sense of obligation, intuitive eating empowers you to make choices that are right for your body in that moment. And it helps move away from the guilt and pressure that often come with eating.
How to Start Eating Intuitively
Here are some simple steps to start practicing intuitive eating:
Pause During Meals: Take a moment halfway through your meal to check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Are you still hungry, or are you starting to feel full?
Listen to Your Body: When you feel comfortably full, give yourself permission to stop eating—even if there's food left on your plate. It's okay to save leftovers for later!
Remove Judgment: This is key. Intuitive eating is not about guilt or pressure. It’s about honoring your body and what it needs at that time. Some days, you'll eat more. Some days, less. And that's okay.
Reflect on Hunger Levels: Before you start eating, take a second to assess how hungry you are. This helps you better understand how much food you need and can help prevent overeating.
Nourishment Over Obligation
Shifting away from the "clean your plate" mentality takes time, especially if it's a message you've internalized for years. But learning to trust yourself when it comes to food is a powerful way to take care of your health and well-being.
It's about nourishing your body, not punishing it. Intuitive eating gives you the freedom to eat what feels right and stop when you’re satisfied, without the weight of unnecessary guilt. Remember, it's perfectly okay to leave food on your plate if you're full. You're not wasting food—you're respecting your body's needs.
Your Turn to Reflect
Have you struggled with the "clean your plate" mentality? What have you done to shift towards more intuitive eating habits? I'd love to hear your experiences—let's learn and grow together!