What is Food Freedom?
What does your Food Freedom look like?
Food freedom was a term that I came across early in my Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching career, that made me realise I had personally achieved my Food Freedom as a result of my recovery journey, and that I had been living in Food Freedom over the past 12+ years. Everyone’s Food Freedom looks slightly different, but overall, it refers to a state of having a healthy, flexible, and balanced relationship with food. It involves feeling at ease around food and eating, without being controlled by rigid rules, guilt, or anxiety about food choices. Being flexible around food is a key focus in our sessions at Food Freedom Coach, because I understand from my work experience in Mental Health as a Registered Social Worker, that being too rigid and inflexible with rules in ANY area of your life usually does not lead to good outcomes or a high quality of life.
Early on in our sessions, I will ask you what YOUR FREEDOM looks like. Here are the key aspects of what Food Freedom might look like for you.
Eating without Fear or Guilt
Food Freedom means being able to enjoy a variety of foods without feeling guilty or anxious about your choices. There's a sense of freedom from the restrictions or judgments that are often associated with certain foods or food groups.
Listening to your Body
Food freedom involves tuning into your body's hunger and fullness cues, eating when hungry, and stopping when comfortably satisfied. It’s is about trusting your body's signals and honouring its needs.
Flexibility and Balance
It's the ability to maintain a balanced approach to eating, which includes both nourishing, every day foods that makes you feel good and satisfied, and other occasional foods that you might have when going out with friends, at a wedding, or while on holiday. There's no strict adherence to specific diets or food rules, allowing for flexibility and enjoyment in eating.
Mindful and Intuitive Eating
Food freedom often aligns with principles of mindful and intuitive eating. It involves being present during meals, savouring food, and making choices based on what your body needs and desires in the moment. See my blog “What is Intuitive Eating?” for an insightful explanation of what intuitive eating is.
Emotional Well-being
I found that when I had bulimia, it affected ALL areas of my life, particularly my thought life, and consequently my emotional well-being. It’s hard to put into words just how unwell I was and how it affected my mental health. Achieving food freedom will bring you new sense of self and emotional clarity.
Body Acceptance
Food freedom involves accepting and appreciating your body at its natural shape and size, rather than focusing on achieving a specific weight or appearance through strict dietary measures.
Food freedom is a personal journey, and it looks different for everyone. For some, it might involve overcoming past disordered eating patterns or breaking free from restrictive diets. For others, it could mean finding a balanced and joyful approach to eating that supports overall health and well-being without unnecessary restrictions or stress around food choices. Ultimately, it's about fostering a positive and healthy relationship with food, allowing for both physical and emotional nourishment.
