Intuitive eating is a simple concept.  And incredibly difficult.

Although clients in my Health @ Every Size class learn the concepts early in the program, many of them continue to struggle, even years later, to listen to their body’s wisdom.  Why is it so challenging?  I think there are many reasons including:

•  Busier lifestyles (married couples have 22 hours/week less family time than they did in the 1970’s)
•  Isolation from extended family (who in the past would share the chores of planning, shopping & cooking)
•  More stress, depression and anxiety in our society
•  Availability of hyper-palatable foods (high in sugar, fat & salt) everywhere we go

My own family struggles with eating intuitively – my partner and I are busy with our careers, the house, our dogs and all of the activities of three teenage kids.  We are often on different schedules and have different tastes and expectations.  It is so easy (and tempting) to go through the drive-through on the way home, but we have decided we don’t want to consistently eat that way.
So, what can you do if you want to make intuitive eating easier – and fit into your lifestyle?  Here are some basic suggestions that have worked for others:

•  Simplify your life.  Re-evaluate your priorities and look for ways to slow down.
•  Watch less television.  Advertisements are very effective in getting us to buy and eat certain foods – and they disconnect us from our inner wisdom.
•  Take the time to plan and prepare meals and snacks.  Consider creating a list of foods and meals you like (enough for 2-4 weeks of simple meals) and create a corresponding grocery list. That way, what you can plan for a variety of options that may appeal to you and have them nearly ready when you want them.
•  Accept imperfection.  Intuitive eating is a practice that requires dedication and a willingness to accept that you are always becoming an intuitive eater.

I hope this list of suggestions will help you surmount the challenges of eating intuitively in today’s world.  I would love to hear if you have tried any of these tips – and how they have worked for you in your quest to become an intuitive eater!

Sara Armstrong is the owner of Zoi Wellness Consulting. In addition to wellness coaching, Sara specializes in health education seminars, diabetes prevention and management, Health for EVERY Body, and worksite wellness design. You can email Sara for a free wellness consultation at sara@zoiconsulting.com.