Consider all of the conversations you have with your peers, family, and co-workers about food and the way our bodies look. We often hear comments like “I’m not ordering that because it’s too unhealthy,” “I’m trying to lose weight for _____,” or “I wish I looked like them.” The way we talk about food and our bodies is important.

By: Elizabeth Low

We inevitably influence those around us as much as they affect us. Once we get to a place of neutrality or acceptance with ourselves, we will most likely want the same for others. Modeling a healthy relationship with food could cancel out all the negative noise for those close to us.

When we see people around us struggling with body acceptance and eating, it may be difficult to tell them to be more gentle with themselves. Here are some ways we can show the people we care about a healthy relationship with food and body image:

We can tell people how much we enjoy eating foods because of their taste and texture. For example, you could say you love eating cucumbers because they are crunchy and refreshing. Telling our peers we love foods for their flavor and texture helps normalize eating for pleasure.
We can refrain from telling others what they should eat or making negative comments about eating. Perhaps you have had a family member tell you what you can and can’t eat, and that can feel horrible. We shouldn’t treat foods as morally good or bad. Almost any food in moderation is not inherently “junk.” Unless you have a food allergy or the food has expired, it is not “toxic,” either.
We can accept compliments from others and tell people about the features of ourselves we like. There is room to celebrate ourselves in a society that tells us not to.
We can refrain from making self-deprecating jokes or talking about our bodies negatively in front of others. There is a time and place for jokes, but over time they have more of an impact on our and our peer’s beliefs and behavior than you may think. Anyone’s appearance is not a punchline. Also, when we discuss our bodies in excess with our peers, this has been associated with lower body dissatisfaction.

At the same time, we should not put pressure on ourselves to be beacons of positivity. We are all human and go through difficult periods surrounding our body or eating. It may be challenging to keep all of these things in mind when we converse with others, but it is worth spreading positive ways of thinking about food and our bodies. Putting some of these practices will most likely further help us with our body image and food journey. Acceptance is so liberating; wouldn’t we want that for the people we care about?

At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. In addition to our full-time Day Treatment Program and Weeknight Intensive Outpatient Program, we offer high-quality programming, nutrition counseling with a licensed dietitian, meal support, and various other groups and resources to help those seeking help for food concerns.

Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.

This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Elizabeth Low.

Elizabeth is currently finishing her sociology degree with a concentration in social interaction and a minor in psychology at San Jose State University. During her undergraduate studies she has volunteered and worked in childcare, and in the food industry. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Nutrition or Counseling. She hopes to actively counteract social messaging that is linked to disordered eating, overexercise, and body dissatisfaction. Her interests include cooking, childcare, education, research, and writing. She plans to help individuals have a healthy relationship with food and their body image through counseling in the future.

References

Giles, Paige. Peer Influence and Body Dissatisfaction Amongst College Sorority Women. 2013. University of Arkansas, Undergraduate honors thesis.

Sharp, Abbey. “Intuitive Eating: Food Waste and Challenging the Food Police.” Abbey’s Kitchen, https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/intuitive-eating-food-waste-challenge-the-food-police/. Accessed 5 November 2021.

Modeling A Healthy Relationship With Food & Body Image For Others

We can tell people how much we enjoy eating foods because of their taste and texture. For example, you could say you love eating cucumbers because they are crunchy and refreshing. Telling our peers we love foods for their flavor and texture helps normalize eating for pleasure.

We can accept compliments from others and tell people about the features of ourselves we like. There is room to celebrate ourselves in a society that tells us not to.

References