How To Deal With Food Guilt? – Get Rid Of It!
May 10, 2022 2022-05-10 17:49How To Deal With Food Guilt? – Get Rid Of It!
How To Deal With Food Guilt? - Get Rid Of It!
Written by: Shruthi Chacko – M Sc
(Psychology)
Table of Contents
How To Deal With Food Guilt? – Get Rid Of It!
How many times have you felt guilty after eating food? Your mind keeps popping up with questions such as ” this is not good for you”. Well, maybe it isn’t. That ice cream that you are eating may not be the best for your health. But, can you have it once in a while? Of course, you can. The idea is to bring a balance. If you are eating that ice cream, it is better to enjoy it rather than feel guilty about it. Now you may wonder, how to deal with food guilt? or perhaps how to get rid of food guilt. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Chapter 1:Where Does the Guilt Come From?
Mostly the guilt comes from a sense of breaking the rules. Also, a tendency for perfectionism around eating can also cause it. It is true that these rules may come from a real sense of doing well. But, it is very important to have a healthy relationship with food. When you keep certain rules, and unrealistic expectations of how when and show you should eat, it can be unhealthy. Moreover, It does not enable you to have a peaceful relationship with eating and food. Hence, it makes it hard for you to enjoy and relish food.
Did you know guilt is a habit? It is a learned behaviour. The good news is, there are ways that you can unlearn it too. We are not born with the notion that ice cream is bad or you are a terrible person if you like chocolates. These are not thoughts and opinions that you are born with. In fact, the extremist diet culture might have contributed to this idea of ” bad” and ” good”. Therefore, it is great if you put effort into letting go of these food rules. Letting go is the first step toward the idea of ” how to deal with food guilt or how to get rid of food guilt?

Chapter 2:Overcome It- How to Deal with Food Guilt?
Once you figure out what your food rules are, the next step is to end these feelings of guilt. Allow yourself to enjoy the food. Also, give yourself permission to relish what you are eating. Goodness, this step can very difficult, especially if you are starting out. but, that’s okay, you can really do it if you put your heart into it. Most of the time, just the thought that it food is “good” or ” bad” itself can cause feelings of guilt.
A Small Practice- To Get Rid Of Food Guilt
With practice, you’ll get more comfortable with this. It’s also a good idea not to try to solve every tricky meal at once. It is better to work through the foods that are bothering you one at a time. Choose one food to practice with. It could be crackers, chips, or chocolate. Also, it is best that you begin with a food that you believe will be easier. Rather than one that you believe will be super difficult.
Just like when you had learnt to ride a bicycle, you may have trained with wheels initially. You can get through the new skills of eating with practice and belief in yourself. Try to eat intuitively. Meanwhile, keep in mind that it is essential to stay present while eating these foods. Don’t tune out with Tv, social media, or phone calls. Sit comfortably, eat gently (don’t inhale it to speed up the process and hide it!) and enjoy the process.
Think to yourself: how does it even taste? Is the fifth bite as good as the first? How would I explain this dish to someone who’s never had it?
