Food is a mood.

Hey everyone, doing something a bit different this week- Let's discuss food as a topic. There's a lot to cover but I thought I'd give you a little insight into my view on food and how to feel more open about it.

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Disclaimer: I am not an expert, I am simply sharing my own opinion and experiences. I understand that I am privileged and fortunate in many ways and do not want to turn a blind eye to those that do struggle with the topic. Please note that I do not intend to mislead or give anyone the wrong ideas or impressions on food. Thank you.

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My Journey.

I love me some good food lol. From the sweet-smelling aromas to the tangy taste to the spicy kick after a few seconds. No, but honestly I'm the type of person that appreciates really 'hearty' and wholesome meals. Thankfully, I've grown up with a mother that has really made food an enjoyable thing. I owe it to her for helping me appreciate how creative you can get with random ingredients to create lovely meals. My upbringing has shown me how to make the most out of a little budget for food (find the best value) as well as how to wisely use a range of items to create a wonderful feast. I'm privileged to have this outlook on food even as a 'picky' eater and 'unadventurous' gal.

I've taken interest in shows, documentaries and articles over time which has revealed how important food is for our health and wellbeing. I've found myself lost in the diet culture, also I've also felt tempted (but haven't thankfully) to try unhealthy habits. I have had to be open to learning a new trick about food. The jargon, the useful stuff and pure business marketing techniques nowadays has really blurred the lines of what really matters, well that's how I feel at least.

I now know that food is about providing the nutrients that our bodies need to function well. This is the main reason why we need it, it just so happens that there are additional choices that we can make (e.g. eat plant-based or invest in quality food or even have more desserts). After reminding myself of this, I shifted my mindset from 'I just need to eat' to 'what does my body need?'. I've tried to be more conscious efforts about what I put in my mouth.

I like to think of food as a mood. What we eat is dependent on how we feel. It has meant I make a conscious effort not to indulge in food for the wrong reasons. Some delight in eating with friends or may stress eat during tough times to 'fill the void'.This links well to the saying 'we are what we eat' because what we feed our bodies matters.

My relationship with food.

Eating'healthy' affected my relationship with food. I used to feel really guilty if my idea of healthy food didn't match what I was consuming and it really made me feel bad about myself- like a big let down. I've been back and forth with just not caring and overthinking too much and it was draining. A big part of the guilt was not feeling confident as a cook. For many, cooking comes naturally to them and it is a passion but for me, I saw it as a chore. It was something that I couldn't master and it was just a roadblock in my mind. I craved the feeling of being able to cook food that I would thoroughly enjoy making (rather than stress/sweating it) and eating. However, I am now in a place where I've accepted that I just have to find a way to learn and be willing to give it a try, even if that means failing or not being 100% happy with the outcome. I also try to view 'healthy' as 'would my body thank me for this?' and this allows me to get a direct answer 'yes' or 'no'. If I find the answers occasionally 'no' I feel ok with it or make a slight change (e.g. find an alternative) in future. This gives me the ability to define 'healthy' for myself and not compare it to anyone else's version (e.g.vegans).

How to improve your relationship with food :

1. Familiarise yourself with basic but useful terminology

I used to be oblivious to simple terms in the food world such as 'hydration' and I didn't spend much time trying to understand what they meant. As a result, I wasn't being mindful. I would recommend just educating yourself on the basics as if you were back in primary school learning about nutrition and the body etc. This would really help you to understand the why's in everything. E.g. Why lots of water can be good or bad.

2. Stop feeding on jargon.

I say this because the fitness world is growing. It doesn't mean that all the resources and people in the industry really know what they're talking about. An example, I simply typed in 'how to lose weight' on youtube during the week and after listening to many videos on the same topic I realised that I had just clouded my head with information that wasn't necessary truthful or useful. Save yourself the confusion and being influenced in a negative way. Your relationship with food is personal.

3.Get inspired

Your relationship with food might just need a little something different. Try to find new recipes or alternatives to your favourites because then you can actively work on finding something that gives you a positive perspective on food. You might just find that you incorporate new healthy habits by getting inspired.

4.Find what works for you

It common to compare someone else's food choices, lifestyle, results to your own hence you forget that what works for them might now work for you. Standby what is good for you be it fruits or vegetables It takes time to know what is effective for yourself but once you do just stick with it (adapt it if necessary) and don't liken your choices to others.

5. Experiment

I've developed a better relationship with food by accepting that it really is a trial and error kind of thing. Food is ever so dynamic, different with endless limitations with what you can do. So I would advise that you don't be afraid to experiment in different ways that will benefit your health.

Did you enjoy this week's blog? I'm still learning and growing in this aspect of health and wellness but I thought it would be worth sharing with you. Let me know if you'd like me to continue food-based blogs (also give any suggestions) in future in the comments below. Until next time...Ludel.