Your Food Decisions Are Protecting You From Something

One of the very first clients I worked with came to me with intense bloating. They practiced yoga and ate, what they considered, a very "healthy" way of eating.

Upon further investigation, we explored how at every meal they were trying to add as many "superfoods" into their meals as they could. Their breakfast oatmeal was dense with things like chia seeds, goji berries, nut butters, and protein powders. Their lunch salad was full of every raw vegetable you could imagine and topped with protein, nuts, seeds, and a grain. She was so worried about taking care of her body, that she made every meal overly complicated for her digestive tract to process and assimilate.

As we worked to simplify her meals, her bloating subsided where she felt more relaxed in her body and the deeper relaxation further supported her digestion in working optimally. She had a beautiful intention in wanting to take care of herself and it was her fear that was making her Food Decisions not her body. Loading her meals with every superfood she could think of provided her with some sense of safety that if she just consumes all of these foods claimed to provide health that she won't get sick.

Let's also take a look at nighttime binge eating. This is often the time of day I work with my clients the most on. The Food Decisions happening in the evenings are serving you in some way. For example, let's say you rarely check in with yourself throughout the day. Finally, you get home in the evening and all the emotions that have been wanting your attention now feel like a tidal wave to address. Instead of giving the emotions space to be heard, it might feel easier to choose to eat. The discomfort of feeling overly full, on some level, actually feels more comfortable than the discomfort of giving your emotions space to be heard. Your Food Decisions are protecting you from what your body thinks is a danger, which is your emotions.

Think of a food or a food pattern you engage with every day, even ones you feel are supportive ones.

Imagine not eating that food or not engaging in that pattern. What emotions arise thinking about not having that a part of your day? Those are the emotions wanting your attention. Those are the emotions that your body is holding on to and wanting to be seen and heard. When we give those emotions space to be expressed, food becomes less desirable to reach for when you're not physically hungry. And, you may start to make different food choices as you release food from the responsibility of helping you to navigate fear, loneliness, anxiety, anger, and discomfort.

We first need to cultivate awareness of how our Food Decisions are protecting us from something. Once you have that awareness, you get to decide what Food Actions you want to take that would feel protective and supportive and also invite relaxation into your body that no matter what happens you are safe.

Let's say you know having a certain breakfast in the morning supports you in feeling emotionally stable and physically grounded. And one morning, you're rushing around and you discover you don't have time for that breakfast. You can assess what other Food Decision you could make that will also support you in feeling emotionally stable and physically grounded. Let's say you grab a protein bar and it does not make you feel the way you want to feel. The next steps here are appreciating your Food Action was the best decision you could make with the awareness and time you had and tell your body everything is going to be alright so you can still support yourself in feeling emotionally stable and physically grounded by how you're interacting with your emotions and sensations. This is a practice you can engage in over and over again.

To break it down, it can look something like this:

1. Notice what Food Decision you're trying to make

2. Get curious what emotion that Food Decision might be protecting you from

3. Choose what Food Action you feel is going to be the most supportive thing

4. Acknowledge yourself for doing the best you can

I've said this before and I'll say it again, every eating experience is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves. Trust your process and where you're at currently on this food and body adventure.