Letting Go of Food Guilt!

Embrace your inner cookie monster. Food does not have moral value, it is neither good nor bad. However we often feel bad when we eat certain foods and the list of these continues to grow as we hear conflicting messages on social media or from friends and family.

Fifteen years ago, a gluten-free diet was only for the 1% of the population that has celiac disease, an auto-immune condition that causes the body to attack itself and damage the intestinal cells when gluten is present. Then mainstream media and the food industry started convincing us that gluten was a problem for everyone and all of a sudden we're feeling bad for having bread and pasta. But gluten isn't bad, it just needs to be avoided by those with celiac disease and limited by those with gluten intolerance or following a low FODMAP diet.

For the rest of us, gluten is a source of protein in wheat that helps to give bread the elasticity to rise. It's not good or bad, just a component of a food that we can eat and that nourishes us in many ways.

Cheese is commonly seen as a treat, however it is a fantastic source of protein and calcium. We can opt for lower-fat cheeses more often or use smaller amounts of higher-fat, sharper cheeses but it is absolutely part of a balanced diet.

Sugar is another obvious one that many people feel bad about. So much so that even fruit is questioned as to whether it should be eaten! The more natural the source of sugar or as close to how it came from the earth, the better. But does that mean never eating refined sugar?

Rather than restrict yourself, account for the foods that you love and that bring you joy. If it's dessert, consider having a lighter meal that's heavy on veggies and protein and lighter on carbs beforehand. Then enjoy your dessert as an essential part of your meal! If it's a holiday gathering with lots of food and drinks, get active before and after, so you can sample all of the delicacies with an open heart.