Food attitude

Recently I was shopping in a supermarket and heard a lady, who I would guess was around 70 years old, make a comment about avoiding the dessert fridge because she was “being good”.

It reminded me of my Granny and the fact that even in the weeks leading up to her unexpected passing at 72 years old, she was on a diet. She was actually in a weight loss race with my Dad! I do also have fond memories of my Granny having a bar of Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut by her bed at all times, and enjoying a piece of cake with her cup of tea, so I’ve no doubt she enjoyed herself and often had a “treat” – that lady knew how to live.

But it got me thinking. I hope I don’t still care about “being good” when I’m 70. Do we really have to go through our whole life allowing what we eat and how we look to make us feel good, or guilty? What is a truly healthy attitude towards food? I don’t think morals should come into it.

When recovering from my eating disorder I had to change my whole perception of food. Food to me had become the enemy, something I was genuinely fearful of. After eating just one apple a day for over a year it took a long time for me to slowly introduce new foods back into my diet, one small step at a time. The support I had around me from close family and friends was what carried me through the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced. One moment I remember clearly is when my sister, Imogen, and I were shopping and went to Hotel Chocolat – I had reached a point where I was feeling brave enough to delve back into the glorious world of chocolate. But after buying a bar of Fruit and Nut (clearly, I have my Granny’s taste in sweet treats) I asked Imogen: ‘When do you eat chocolate?’ She looked at me, confused. ‘Seriously, like, when? I can’t think of an appropriate time.’ She laughed and said ‘Whenever you want!!!’

I laughed too. A world where you can eat chocolate whenever you want…who would have thought it?!

For me, food is many things. It’s fuel for my running, it’s something to enjoy socially, it’s art, it’s culture. But it’s not good or bad. Of course, there are foods that are more nutritious than others, and there are foods we might choose to only enjoy occasionally. But that’s not to say that when we do enjoy them we should feel guilty, or that they should be considered a treat for ‘being so good recently’. If I go for a run that doesn’t mean I deserve a pizza; I deserve a pizza if I want one! Allowing food to have control over us and become attached to our emotions can manifest itself in many ways. And it’s so dangerous.

I think these food attitudes have been ingrained into society over a long time and I don’t think we’ll be able to get away from them any time soon. But for me, thankfully, my attitude has completely changed. It had to. And I can tell you I am so much happier and healthier for it.