Hey there. For a long time, I believed food was either helping me or hurting me. If it wasn’t nutrient-dense or “clean,” it was something to avoid or feel guilty about. That mindset didn’t come from nowhere. It came from years in the fitness and weight loss space, where we’re told food is fuel and nothing more.
But food is more than fuel. It has emotional and social value too. We can enjoy it without sabotaging ourselves. I know this now, but it took time to untangle all the rigid beliefs I used to hold.
Let’s talk numbers for a second. If you ate 10 servings of vegetables and 10 servings of fruit each day, you’d barely hit 1,500 calories. That’s not enough for most people. And that doesn’t even include protein, healthy fats, or anything that brings comfort or joy. If we tried to only eat nutrient-dense foods, we’d probably be underfed and constantly unsatisfied.
I saw someone refer to less nutrient-dense foods as “mental health foods,” and honestly, I like that framing. We’re allowed to enjoy food. Not everything needs to be optimized. I keep Pop-Tarts in the pantry because I like them. On the weekends, I toast them and have them with my iced coffee. During the week, I make cold foam coffees with flavored syrups. These little routines give me structure and flexibility. They help me avoid feeling restricted.
This used to be hard for me to admit. About a decade ago, I was deep into paleo. I followed all the blogs, read the ebooks, and preached about grass-fed everything. If it wasn’t from the earth, I didn’t want it. But the truth is, my plan wasn’t built around my preferences. It was built on rules. And rules without context often lead to guilt and burnout.
We’ve all been taught to feel anxious around food. We’ve been told what we should and shouldn’t eat. But when we start from our preferences and remove the guilt, we open the door to something more sustainable.
I believe people can change. I believe you can find a balance with food that works for your life. Your mental and emotional health plays a huge role in all of this. That’s why I think therapy is one of the most valuable tools anyone can use. And it’s why I created a coaching program that focuses on building habits around your actual life.
If you’re ready to build a more flexible and sustainable relationship with food, join The YLF Experience. Let’s take the next step together.