The other day I had a client of mine that ask me, ?What does having food freedom feel like??

I love this question because it's something that I used to think about a lot when I had disordered eating behaviours. I didn?t really know what food freedom meant or what it would even feel like?

I honestly thought that if I wanted to maintain this skinny body shape that I believed was ?accepted? by society, I would forever be restricting my food choices ... that I would forever be saying "no" to chocolate when really, I wanted to say "yes". I didn't know that this wasn't normal.

As I started to learn about what food freedom was, I truly believed that I would never personally experience food freedom because I couldn?t ?control? myself around food. However, I worked through this mental block, and, after years of work, I have achieved what most people call "food freedom".

Do I still have days where I have thoughts about restricting my eating? Yes, for sure. I am only human ? of course, I slip up from time to time. But, for the most part, I now have full control over food. And it truly is one of the most rewarding and freeing feelings.

What Is Food Freedom?

Food freedom is about letting go of the ?food rules? that have been controlling your eating habits for so long. Food freedom is also about learning to trust your body and understand the hunger and fullness cues that it is giving you. It's about removing certain biases and emotions not having negative emotions linked to what you are eating. Food freedom is when you give yourself complete permission to eat what you want, when you want it. No rules?

Now, of course, there are limitations to this. You can't non-stop eat sugary sweets and highly processed foods all day, every day and expect to live a healthy life. But achieving food freedom is about removing the fear around eating these kinds of foods, and understanding that in combination with a balanced diet, it's okay to eat these 'unhealthy' foods whenever you're craving them. It all comes back to self-imposed 'food rules'.

What Are Food Rules?

Food rules are set guidelines that control your eating habits (often without you even knowing it!). These food rules are often black or white and are shaped by society, your family, your friends and pop-culture. You are either 'good' and on track or 'bad' and off track. When you are 'off track', you feel guilty, shameful, frustrated and disappointed with yourself. These rules are often subconscious i.e., you don't actively set them.

Some examples of food rules are:

• Refusing to eat lunch if it isn't 'lunch time' (at whatever that time is for you e.g. 1 pm). 
• Not eating a particular food because it's been labelled as 'bad'. 
• Not eating after a certain time. 
• Limiting particular food groups (e.g. carbs).
• Only eating specific amounts of certain foods e.g., only having 3 slices of pizza, half a banana, 1 sausage etc.

These food rules can be harmful since you're often depriving yourself of something. This deprivation can lead to you becoming obsessed with that particular food (i.e., you can't stop thinking about it), which often leads to overeating and binge eating. They can also interfere with your body's natural signals, as well as stop you from being present with family and friends. 

What Food Freedom Is NOT

You might still be a little confused about what, exactly food freedom is. If that's the case, then it might be helpful to paint a picture of what I, as a qualified nutritionist, believe food freedom is NOT:

• Getting distracted from work because you are thinking about food.
• Feeling guilt, shame, or anxiety after eating a particular food e.g., chocolate.
• Restricting certain foods (e.g., cookies) and then binge eating them later.
• Restricting carbohydrates because you fear they will make you gain weight. 

If any of the above situations resonate with you, then you probably haven't achieved food freedom ... yet.

Because we are never taught about food freedom, most of the time we don't completely understand it until it is too late. Instead, we live in a world where we are taught that it is normal to always be hopping on and off diets ... to always be restricting our food intake in the hopes of changing our body shape. We are taught that if you change your body, you will be more accepted by society. Therefore, we are taught to limit certain foods, rather than view food in a positive light for all the good it does for us.

Therefore, food freedom is so important. It allows you to be the one in control of food rather than letting food control you. 

What Does Food Freedom Feel Like?

Food freedom feels like:

• Listening to your body?s hunger and fullness cues and honouring them. 
• Viewing food are more than just ?fuel?. Knowing that food is a large part of our culture and it can be enjoyed for reasons other than just ?fueling? you body, e.g. celebrations.
• Feeling in complete control around ALL foods.
• Never feeling like you have to restrict or limit any food groups.

When you have food freedom, you:

• Honour your health
• Respect your body
• Know that your self-worth is not a number on a scale

Food freedom is so much more than just eating all food groups. It is about working with your body, not against it. We are all so different, so you need to find what works with your individual body.

I know it's possible for you to achieve food freedom because I have personally transformed my relationship with food and seen countless others heal theirs. You can do it.