Intuitive Eating Practices
For far too long, mindful and balanced diets seem to consist of rapid cleanse and fasting tips with a large sum of claims behind them. These restrictions can lead to a loss of nutrients that your body needs. Instead, we encourage you to try and implement more mindful eating practices into your day to day life. Here we’ll be giving you some guidance through a food journey that will allow you to indulge in meals that taste delicious, while simultaneously adding great nutrients to your body.
"Mindful eating practices... will allow you to indulge in meals that taste delicious, while simultaneously adding great nutrients to your body"
What is Intuitive Eating?
Intuitive eating focuses on nurturing and feeding your body whenever you feel hungry. Rather than starving yourself, this practice encourages you to have more body awareness and make peace with the food that you prepare and enjoy everyday. Sometimes you may feel guilty after having a meal. But through practicing intuitive eating, you will find that there are many ways to create a healthy diet that still allows eating to feel like an enjoyable experience.
"Intuitive eating focuses on feeding your body whenever you feel hungry... and make peace with the food you prepare and enjoy everyday."
HEALTHY FOOD CAN BE DELICIOUS
Somewhere along the rise of diet-culture's popularity, healthy eating turned into a scene of meal suppressors, weight loss teas and other supplements deemed to be “acceptable” as part of a healthy diet. But these can be harmful as they only encourage control and restraint. Through intuitive eating you have the opportunity to start healing your relationship with food, without having to compromise having the meals you love.
"Through intuitive eating you have the opportunity to start healing your relationship with food."
Many people seem to believe that when starting a healthy diet, many of their meals of choice are no longer an option. However, the first step in healing your relationship with food is to recognize that a “healthy diet” can be delicious AND include ingredients that you love. Mindful eating doesn't mean you have to create an entirely new recipe book. Simply start looking at how you can implement new and healthy ingredients with those you already love. By exploring new recipes, you’ll find that they offer nutritious benefits that are not too far from what you’re already eating.
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KITCHEN
Walking into your kitchen may seem like a dreadful experience if you’re someone who feels limited to the options of what you can eat. Rather than feeling suppressed and limited to your food choices, walking into your kitchen should bring you excitement for all the possibilities of what you can prepare.
"Create a more joyful experience in the kitchen by exploring new ingredients; many of them can be implemented into you recipes you love.
As mentioned, we encourage you to continue using the ingredients you love. Some of your favorite ingredients may be considered “unhealthy,” however it is important to recognize that as long as you include them into your diet in moderation, there’s no reason to take them out of your kitchen. You also can create a more joyful experience by exploring new ingredients; many of them can be implemented into recipes that you love and prepare regularly. Have fun venturing out of your comfort zone-- we are sure you’ll surprise yourself at the possibilities of what you can create in your kitchen.
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Intuitive eating allows you to eat when your body is telling you it’s hungry -- but does this mean we can eat anything at hand? Eating out or having your fair share of treats once in a while won’t hurt you. But if you find yourself eating out at fast food restaurants every time a craving kicks in, maybe it’s time to make some lifestyle changes. If you’re on-the-go often, or lacking time to cook during the week, then meal prepping may be a great solution for you.
"Healthy meals made in advance allow you to feed your body whenever you're feeling hungry without compromising your health."
Meal prepping prevents you from falling into the trap of eating unhealthy food every time you get hungry while in a rush. Healthy meals made in advance allow you to feed your body whenever you’re feeling hungry, without compromising your health. You can also look into restaurants such as Toasty, who offer healthy meals for delivery. This ensures that you're not restraining yourself from eating when you are hungry, while also feeding your body healthy ingredients.
SNACKING
Like our team at Toasty, we are sure that many of you may find yourself craving a snack at random times, sometimes even after having a meal. It may be hard to come to terms with having a snack in between meals, but as long as you know that it can offer some nutritional value to your body when you're feeling hungry there’s no reason not to enjoy one.
"Healthy snacks.. can fill a craving, while adding nutritional value to your body."
It would be foolish to say that any snack can or must add nutritional value to your diet; in fact, snacks deemed “unhealthy” should be enjoyed in moderation. However, It is crucial to recognize that there are many healthy snacks that can fill a craving, while adding nutritional value to your body. Preparing for these cravings by stocking your fridge and pantry with healthy choices is a great way of making sure that you’re keeping healthy options in your kitchen. You can also look into your local restaurants such as Toasty who can quickly deliver a flavorful yet nutritious pick me up like their Avocado Smoothie, right to your door.
Healthy snacks you can enjoy:
Kale Chips
Dried Fruit
Berries
Yogurt
Trailed Mix
Boiled Eggs
Edamame
Oatmeal
Love Yourself
After a long time of falling under the traps of “diet-culture” that demonize ingredients that we all love and enjoy, we hope that you can begin a new and healthy lifestyle that does not restrain you from having the food you want, whenever you want it. After all, implementing intuitive and healthy practices into your life will bring you satisfaction and in turn allow you to eat whenever you are hungry.
"Practice self-love... by finding peace with yourself, you are also allowing yourself to find peace with the choices you make in the kitchen"
Remember to always practice self-love by staying active with exercise and meditation. You’ll discover that by finding peace with yourself, you are also allowing yourself to find peace with the choices you make in the kitchen. Have fun exploring all the new ways you can implement intuitive eating practices into your daily routine and STAY TOASTY!