Vancouver Sun Article: How Much Should We Eat?
SUN RUN TRAINING WEEK 2: INTUITIVE EATING
In today’s Vancouver Sun article, I write about not letting a diet tell you how much to eat. Intuitive eaters know how to eat the right amount every day and everyone can practice Intuitive Eating. Here is an excerpt:
“Babies intuitively know exactly how much to eat. When given unlimited access to food, babies and young children will eat exactly the right amount for their bodies.
As we grow up, many of us learn somewhere along the way to eat for reasons that ignore our appetite and physical cues.
We have learned that food can comfort hurt feelings: “Here, eat some and you will feel better.” A well-meaning mother showed her love through food and we stuffed our bellies with food and love simultaneously.
Parents who grew up in tough times, taught us to feel shame about wasting food with three simple words, “finish your plate.” Others rewarded our accomplishments with food, “here, have some cake, you earned it!”
Now, we are so far removed from our hunger cues that we may turn to a diet to tell us how much to eat. We were not taught to check in with our bodies or to listen to our physical cues. We once knew to eat when we were hungry and to stop when we were full.
We can relearn how to eat intuitively as we once did. Ask yourself what is your tummy telling you? Are you hungry or full? Listen to your appetite, respond to your hunger and trust your body….”
