A Fresh Dieting Perspective For The New Year

The new year is chock full of optimism and hope for many people. This shows up in any number of ways - an influx of newly committed fitness enthusiasts, a new gadget to unlock the secret of healthy sleep, or a renewed commitment to healthier eating habits.

When it comes to nutrition, there is no shortage of advice and information waiting for us, handed out freely by both those who are qualified to offer it and those who are not. Eat this, not that, not too much, and not after 8:00pm or before noon, or while standing on your head, and be sure to wash your food down with a glass of water, but only room temperature water that’s been through a filter, and make sure that filter is organic.

The messages are at best confusing, and at worst, actively harmful. One of the more harmful parts of those messages is specifically diet culture or the belief and expectation that values thinness above all else. One approach that aims to combat diet culture and place individuals on a path to food freedom and joy is intuitive eating.

Intuitive eating is a framework that aims to help individuals get back in tune with their own bodies and improve their relationship with food. Created by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in 1995, it is an evidence-based program to help individuals become aware of the way that diet culture is negatively impacting their life and to relearn how to be more in tune with their bodies.

By challenging food rules and removing restrictions, you can journey to a freer, more mindful, more joyful and more satisfying relationship with food. Every journey begins with a single step, and we welcome the opportunity to help you take that step forward.

Join the Severna Park Community Center for hour-long sessions that will cover more about what intuitive eating is and isn’t, commonly held myths and misconceptions, and ways you can begin incorporating these principles into your life. For more information, contact Megan Stidham at mstidham@spcommunitycenter.org.

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