Hello Dear Ones
Oh my goodness. I am not that sarcastic, though I appreciate the art of it. But I get a little snarky when I hear the term “Clean Eating”.
We all know when people use that term ,they mean free of certain “undesirable” components in food.
Maybe it’s like Panera (ugh) that advertises eating should be free of xyz .
Or back in my dieting/disordered eating days in the 90’s where the fitness/bodybuiliding industry coined the term to mean free of anything but protein and vegetables.
Now I see clean eating being used as a term to be free of even basic food groups, such as certain starches and grains, certain fat and of course sugar.
If we want to cut to the chase here, when people say clean eating, they are restricting. Restricting because they think that by “being above” eating or needing/wanting certain things, they are above being criticized and maybe, just maybe, will feel safer or more loveable.
That if I get the “leaner” or “healthier body”, I will be doing something right, have say over something, be doing the right thing, be somebody.
It is hard to hear that striving after “clean eating” is more about soothing hurts than it is about the food. Or health.
We don’t need perfect eating to be healthy. Or Happy. Or Loveable. Or Worthy.
We need trust and slowing down and listening. More listening.
When I talk about “clean eating” I am talking about avoiding foods that
– I am allergic to
– I have food intolerances to
– trigger migraines for me
– trigger my Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
I am not saying no-one should eat foods X, Y, Z, but they make *me* quite unwell for days.
What phrase would you suggest for avoiding allergens/food intolerance foods, other than clean eating?
Hello MoominGirl, Supportive eating definitely is a part of attuned eating so of course not eating foods if you choose to especially to feel better is great. It’s the fear and negatively that certain foods are inherently bad that makes people get a little dogmatic about it. I hope your eating is going well as is your health!