Did We Take Intuitive Eating Too Far?
Did we take intuitive eating too far?
Today's episode is a follow-up from last week's with Dr. David Wiss, all about ultra-processed foods. I stand by the content of the information and data shared last week, and I know David only speaks about information he can completely back up. However, I do want to reiterate the intent of the conversation. It was not to make more rules in your brain or tell you to be more restrictive. We were mostly talking about issues with policies and the general food industry, the research, and the biases in research. We highlighted where some information out there may actually be false.
We were trying to get you more curious about the research and to understand how crucial it is to question the sources of information, recognize the complexities of data and understand the individuality of the data.
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Starting off with a loaded question I keep asking myself (& you keep asking me):
Did we take intuitive eating too far?
This is a much larger conversation— not just about me or you. Seeing how this problem will not be solved by just myself or any individual was eye-opening. Which means that the answer is not to change the way you as an individual eat (IE cutting out all UPF.)
To reiterate, I very much agree with the idea of all foods fit model, food neutrality, and listening to your cravings. However, I think when we end at that, it feels like something is missing.
I have gotten so many questions about UPF and how it may impact one’s ability to eat intuitively. That’s only natural since all the research and data point to conclusions that contradict the IE and ED recovery community. So it’s confusing.
The episode with David really does validate what some of you may be feeling. David is paying attention to the fact that data about ultra-processed food does exist. BUT (and this is a huge but) think about it- Are you fist bumping me because it feels relieving that you can now eat “clean”? Because, in essence, it’s endorsing potential Orthorexic behavior? Because I’m not going to ever side with that. I’m not ever going to say to cut out ultra-processed foods. I am not saying to cut ANY foods out.
Here’s what I am questioning:
When we interpret eating intuitively to mean that we can eat every food in the same way and have the same result? When we talk about plain grilled chicken being just as palatable as the fast food fried and sauced chicken. Hmm.
Something that stands out to me from last week’s podcast episode highlights this question: David was talking about a specific situation with the diabetic patient (check this out at the 39:00 minute mark in episode 87). This stood out because that is exactly your fear. Will I ever stop eating Doritos? Is David saying that I won’t be able to stop eating the fried and sauced version of the chicken?
HERE’S YOUR ANSWER:
For both you and the person David spoke about, the takeaway is that you BOTH need to relearn to eat. Perhaps the relearning looks a bit different for each of you, but it’s still starting from scratch. For someone with a restrictive eating disorder, relearning means eating more regularly, eating more types of food (especially UPF), and challenging food rules. For the diabetic, perhaps it was relearning what food tastes like and relearning internal cues.
I always say this, and I’ll say it again, intuitive eating doesn’t start at honoring hunger and fullness and cravings. It starts with relearning to eat and then, and only then, reintroducing the rest.
What's the point of all this?
The whole point of learning intuitive eating is to have choice and to regain control. If you are restricting, you have no choice. Your fear is making the decision. I would not consider that an active choice being made.
To circle back to the original question, have we taken intuitive eating too far?
Hmm, I don't have an answer. It really depends on who we talk to.
With intuitive eating, you have to go through the principles with your dietician. You need to break apart every single one of those food rules before listening to last week's conversation.
You must eat enough and incorporate all different types of foods; you must learn your hunger fullness, start eating what you are craving, dive into the emotional side of your disorder, and challenge all the food rules in your mind. (this does not come right away in recovery— it takes time). If you are doing it this way, no, we have not taken intuitive eating too far.
We potentially are taking intuitive eating too far when we say specific foods have no different impact on the body, when we conflate that all foods fit, food neutrality, or removing judgment and morality from food choice and all foods are exactly the same, when we ignore biased research and the food industry's responsibility and when we focus only on fatphobia and not how the government has aided in making disordered eating a crisis. Then yes, maybe we’ve taken IE too far in this case.
But first, work with a dietitian before you make any conclusions.
To reiterate AGAIN, I believe in intuitive eating. I practice intuitive eating; I suggest intuitive eating. I encourage intuitive eating.
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Tweetable Quotes
“I very much agree with the idea of all foods fit model, food neutrality, and listening to your cravings.” -Rachelle Heinemann
“For someone with a restrictive eating disorder, relearning means eating more regularly, eating more types of food (especially UPF), and challenging food rules. “ -Rachelle Heinemann
”I always say this, and I’ll say it again, intuitive eating doesn’t start at honoring hunger and fullness and cravings. It starts at relearning to eat and then, and only then, reintroducing the rest.” -Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
Related Episodes:
87. Ultra Processed Food, Food Addiction and Eating Disorders with Dr. David Wiss
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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