Celebrate Healthy Eating

When I first tell people that I am a nutritionist they almost always make one of two comments: they either say "Wow, you must be a really healthy eater" (although usually they ask me right after I've finished taking a bite of pizza or cake), or they say "Don't watch what I'm eating, I never eat well." The response I've become most comfortable with, because I believe in it wholeheartedly, is "Healthy eating isn't about what you eat, it's about how you eat it."


Here is one of my favorite perspectives on "healthy eating:"

What is Normal Eating?

Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it -not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful. Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. And it can be undereating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.

In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food and your feelings.

Copyright © 2011 by Ellyn Satter. Published at www.EllynSatter.com. 


What Ellyn Satter touches on is that healthy eating is part of healthy living. You can't follow a healthy diet if your emotional life, spiritual life, and physical life aren't in balance. My philosophy on healthy eating is important for me to cover early in my blogging, because I don't want anyone to think my love for food is sending mixed messages.

Food is wonderful, and meant to be celebrated! There are times when eating carrot sticks and grilled chicken can be unhealthy (when you're scared to eat it with other people), and there are times when chocolate cake is the healthiest food in the world (when you're celebrating a great moment with loved ones). I am sure throughout my blogging that I will cover many indulgent and many modest foods. All recipes and all foods are important for "celebrating life," and I hope I always leave you with something to chew on.