Why I do not like labeling food as “bad” or “good”

It is becoming very common to see people writing or posting about “good food” and “bad food” or “clean food” and “unclean food.” I am sure you may have even reposted or saved some cute food chart about clean or unclean food (I am sure I have). The graphics and simplicity of them make it easy to pass on information about healthy options, and to retain it as we are making decisions throughout the day, but the labeling may be hindering you in process of becoming healthier.

In your journey to becoming healthier, you will not and you do not need to resist every single urge you have. Whether it is for a holiday or just a Tuesday there is no reason to feel like a failure or call yourself bad because you did not make the healthiest food choices. Yes, I advocate learning and trying to figure out a strategy that makes it easier to make healthy choices, but you are not bad or a failure by any measure. I have heard friends and clients alike talk about being “bad” because they ate dessert or went out to eat. I fall into the same trap but, honestly when you really think about it one meal with the most unhealthy choices you can think of (excluding allergies) is not going to derail your health.  It is a process and a lifestyle, and guess what that lifestyle will most likely include some desserts every once in a while.

I do want and encourage people to make healthy choices and be mindful about what they eat. But, labeling and excluding can lead you down the wrong path. This labeling can make you feel bad about yourself if you veer off. Sometimes people veer off to the point where they feel like “bad food” is what is deserved. I have seen it snowball, and there you are heading downhill stuck, trapped feeling bad about yourself and find yourself eating these foods that you have deemed “bad.” How much of an impact does that food even have? I want you to really think about and reflect on this bible verse:

“For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body."
-Mark 7:19

Your food choices do not define you, the food leaves you, but the things you say and do have more of an impact on you. Those negative thoughts, those mental strongholds are hindering you. You are not a failure you are a work in progress. You will eat food that you realize retrospectively was not the best choice, but have some compassion for yourself and realize it does not define you. Attacking and micromanaging behaviors will only get you so far for so long,  research shows that a balanced approach really is best and the most sustainable way to lose weight.

<3Jessica
#GIGAC