Knowing When to “Indulge” (And Not Feel Guilty About It)
Let’s get real— “guilt” is never a word that should be associated with eating, but far too often is. If you’re experiencing guilt after eating, that may be a sign of something much more negative happening internally (i.e, your internal monologue is focused on “punishing” your body rather than nourishing it), and that can be cause for alarm.
However, I must admit— I’ve struggled with it, too. I’ve often eating something I thought I “shouldn’t have” (which is bogus, really), and felt guilty and even a bit shameful afterward. So, how do we fight those negative thoughts? How do we eat what we want (while maintaining good health), and accept that we’re allowed to nourish and celebrate our bodies while occasionally “indulging” in some foods just because they taste awesome and we want to? Let’s discuss—
Guilt-free eating always, and indulgence as part of the pie
When you eat, you are nourishing your body and giving it the fuel it needs to get through the day. Even lying in bed or resting your body requires calories to keep things running smoothly, which means you must eat to live. Additionally, eating can be a joyful experience that fills you with pleasure— and, IMO, it should be.
Eating good food releases copious amounts of dopamine in your brain, which means the feel-good chemicals get going when you’re feeling well-fed and satisfied (and especially if you enjoyed the food you ate). That said, there’s no reason to feel guilty for eating good food. Overeating can be unhealthy (if you eat until your stomach hurts, for example), but eating good food in normal amounts even if it’s “indulgent” is a-okay, and should be celebrated, not guilt-inducing.
Calories aside, if I am in New Orleans and want to enjoy a nice, steaming bowl of cheesy shrimp and grits, I’m going to do it, and I’m not going to feel guilty about it. Not for the high-calorie dish, because I genuinely enjoy it, and not for the glass of wine I might pair it with all the while. In moderation, it’s okay to indulge, even if the food you eat has been bogusly branded as “unhealthy” by the masses.
Shrimp and grits in New Orleans— the best.
Like I said, overeating to the point of discomfort or missing out on key nutrients can be detrimental to your health. However, eating good food simply because you enjoy the taste and the experience (because well prepared food is delicious!) is okay, and is a reason for (and even symptom of) celebration, in my humble opinion. In Appalachia, we celebrate happy times with good food— Christmas dinner full of honey-smoked hams, Thanksgiving day full of my mamaw’s hearty mac-and-cheese, etc. etc. etc. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Life isn’t meant to be lived in guilt and shame, and food is a source of joy and celebration in every culture. So— enjoy it, and don’t guilt yourself for it. Period.
Xoxo, MM.