Food Guilt: Why We Feel It and How to Combat It

Food guilt is a feeling that you and I and probably most others have experienced. It’s a sense of shame and regret that often comes with eating something “unhealthy.” You may suddenly feel overcome with intrusive thoughts surrounding your choice. Unfortunately, it’s a feeling that often comes as an instinct.

So why do we experience food guilt? A big reason is because of what we were taught at a young age about food. When we’re young, we learn that there are only two categories of food that are either labeled as “good” and “bad.” This allows many to develop an unhealthy relationship with food from a young age.

How we feel about food also largely stems from what we learn in school. In health class, you learn about the “food pyramid” and how cookies are something that is a treat and broccoli is what you should eat every day. While learning about nutrition is certainly important, the way students learn about it doesn’t promote a healthy lifestyle. 

When you feel guilt, it's because you think you did something wrong. We’ve been led to believe that when you eat chips or ice cream, especially late at night, you’ve done something wrong. This is a complete misconception. Food is not the enemy. Food is the fuel we need to support our bodies and energy levels, and it should be viewed as such.

So how can you combat this unfair cycle of food guilt? 

Try asking yourself why you feel guilty for eating something. Is it because you believe the food is unhealthy? Or do you feel like once you start, you won’t be able to stop? Identify where your thoughts are coming from, and be reasonable with yourself. Once you’ve figured out why you feel so bad about eating certain foods, we urge you to change your perspective. 

Instead of beating yourself up, consider how you feel after eating something. Practice listening to your body’s cues and eating intuitively as a result. This will lead to healthier long-term results and a more stable relationship with food.

At the end of the day, food is food. We need to shake the belief that certain foods are strictly good or bad. Eat what you want! If you’re in the mood for a salad, great! If you’re in the mood for a bag of chips, great! If you start to see food as something that makes your life better rather than worse, you will be much happier. Of course, all of this is easier said than done, but getting in the right mindset is always a start. I encourage you to read these principles of intuitive eating to get a better idea of where to start!