Creating a better relationship with food

January 1, 2021. 

For many, this will be the day that they plan to commit to some New Year’s Resolutions or ‘start fresh’ (after the year that 2020 was, this may be ringing true for even more people that usual).  

However, when it comes to food and nutrition, an all or nothing approach often does more harm than good. 

Over the years there has been many a fad diet come and go – and there is a reason they all end up fading into the background. They don’t work. They don’t support a healthy relationship with food long term and they are often not based on any solid nutrition science.

So if you were planning on making your New Year’s resolution to jump on a new food bandwagon, or start a new ‘diet’ or to avoid a certain food or food group – maybe think again. Chances are that you will find yourself in a similar situation in a few weeks, months or a years’ time. 

When you focus on ‘diet rules’ you are placing emphasis on foods you are trying to avoid. 

Any kind of diet restriction is difficult to sustain long term, and can often result in feelings of failure and disappointment when you inevitably end up breaking said diet ‘rules’. 

Deprivation often leads to overeating, which then starts the whole cycle all over again. 

If this is all sounding too familiar, it might be time to try a different style of New Years resolution this year. 

Instead of resolving to eliminate a certain food, instead try aiming to eat your five serves of vegetables or two serves of fruit per day. 

Instead of creating rules and guilt around food, aim to eat slowly and enjoy every mouthful that you eat (I promise you will enjoy it even more when you slow down and pay attention to your food).

Instead of resolving to not eat any take away food, aim to try out a new recipe each week or month and increase your home cooking repertoire. 

If you are ready to make a change, jump off the diet cycle or would like to learn about food and nutrition to support good health for the long term, a visit to a Dietitian might be the best start to the new year.

Working with a Dietitian will provide you with easy to understand, evidence-based nutrition information and makes sifting through the many new year food fads that much easier. We endeavour to make food stress free and enjoyable and provide simple tips and tricks to feel more satisfied with the food you are consuming. 

Our Dietitians LOVE food, that is why we studied it for so long and can talk about it all day. We are passionate about eliminating the confusion surrounding food and nutrition, helping people to eat well, forever (guilt free!). 

Want to know about our Dietitans and how they can support you? CLICK HERE.