This is a cause that matters to Rheault Construction.
Ending the struggle with food… What does that mean to you?
Putting an end to an unhealthy relationship with food?
Does it have to be severe and diagnosed as an eating disorder? NO, not necessarily.
However, struggling with food can mean using it more or less frequently to cope with or find relief from unpleasant moments, such as conflict, stress, a heavier workload or fatigue, or even to reward yourself during happy moments.
These are situations in which you eat without feeling physically hungry and are driven much more by emotional hunger.
Other people, on the contrary, stop themselves from eating when physical hunger appears in an unconscious attempt to control many things. Others may completely forget to eat because of stress, worry, fatigue or an urgent work deadline.
If either situation is also connected with dissatisfaction about your body, the risk of the eating problem becoming more significant increases.
One thing is certain: in every case, forget diets that promise rapid weight loss. The best decision is to:
- Identify the problem: What makes me eat or not eat? What makes me uncomfortable about it?
- Learn about the problem, resources and solutions, and find reliable sources.
- Ask for help putting your chosen solutions in place. Make a plan and take action. Be willing to ask a properly trained, capable and trusted professional for help.
During your research, pay particular attention to food trends, any digestive problems, foods you dislike or enjoy, and the impact of stress on your eating habits. How do social norms affect you? How does your body respond?
The goals of a healthy, varied and balanced diet are to:
- Consume the necessary nutrients, including calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals;
- Eat a variety of foods: as often as possible, enjoy foods you like that are prepared at home, while occasionally eating at restaurants and choosing less nutritious foods that bring you pleasure;
- Eat three meals a day most of the time, with snacks if needed;
- Follow a balanced plate most of the time, with similar portions of a starch or carbohydrate, a plant- or animal-based protein, and vegetables—or fruit at breakfast;
- Stay well hydrated;
- Listen to your hunger: I eat when I am hungry, before I become ravenous;
- Listen to your fullness: I stop eating before I feel overly full and when I am satisfied and feel I have had enough;
- Try new foods.
These are just some of the many tips that can help you feel better about food!
P.S. 1: The ideal, perfect body shown in magazines does not exist. Learn to appreciate and care for your own body. It allows you to take part in so many activities and enjoy life! J
P.S. 2: All three of our projects have grocery stores near our lots. You can even walk there—another opportunity to cook more, eat better and do so in a home you love. How fortunate!
