3 Tips to Practice Self-Compassionate Eating
As you know - My goal is to help teachers like you prevent burnout so you can have a long, healthy career in education, and this month we are specifically talking about how you can lower stress with nutrition.
Last week we talked about things you can add to your plate to lower the stress response in the body. However, it doesn’t matter what’s on your plate if your attitude towards food is what’s stressing you out.
And, unfortunately, with thousands of diets out there, all with dozens of different (and often contradictory) rules to follow, it can be easy to have well-intentioned goals to eat more healthfully turn to a stressed out, self-critical mindset.
Restrictive diets have been shown to lead to feelings of deprivation, unhealthy attitudes toward food, and increased feelings of shame - and that’s just to name a few! Talk about stressful.
That’s why today I want to share three of my favorite tips, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for you to consider to help you eat with deeper self-compassion.
3 Wellness Ideas to Eat with Self-Compassion
I.
Allow space for all foods. If you’ve read about or tried a diet, you’ve probably noticed this odd thing the health industry does where they give foods moral value. Sugar is “bad”, and kale and quinoa are “good”. Sure, some foods have more vitamins than others, and we do need foods with a balance of different vitamins and minerals to feel our best. But all foods serve the purpose of giving our bodies energy - full stop. We would never tell a family member that they were “good” or “bad” on a certain day for things that they ate. Self-compassionate eating means allowing space for all foods in our diets, with no arbitrary moral attachment tacked onto them.
II.
Stay fueled. A common struggle among my teacher clients is making time to stop and eat during the school day. You need a lot of energy to teach, and food is the fuel that gets you through the day. We would never tell a student to just push through and work through lunch, so why do it to yourself? We would not drive a car running on fumes, so why let your body run on empty? Self-compassionate eating means taking conscious time to stop during the day to make sure you are adequately fueled for whatever is next.
III.
Allow yourself joyful foods. Food isn’t just fuel - it’s also a reminder of positive memories; it can connect you to your culture; when shared, it can help you socially engage with loved ones. Heck, it can also add joy just because that’s your favorite food, gosh darn it. We would never deprive a friend their favorite treat at big events, so why do it to yourself? Self-compassionate eating means allowing yourself the foods that make life more pleasurable.
2 Quotes from Others
I.
“Good nutrition isn’t rigid, restrictive or complicated.” - Robyn Nohling
II.
“Self-compassion is nurturing yourself with all the compassion and love you would shower on someone you cherish.” - Debra Reble
1 Question For You
What is one food you love to eat just for the pure joy of it, and can you plan enjoying that food into your week this week?
If you enjoyed that, please share this post with other teachers who may benefit!
Until next week,
Emily Hemmingson
Health Coach for Teachers
Creator of The Teacher Wellness Center Membership Community
Join our Community this Summer!
THE TEACHER WELLNESS CENTER MEMBERSHIP is accepting new members PLUS a summer bonus! (CLOSES ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14th)
STAY CONNECTED WITH OUR TEACHER 3-2-1 NEWSLETTER
Thank you for taking a moment to join me, and for giving yourself a moment to consider your needs this school week. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email Teacher 3-2-1 newsletter. Each week, I share 3 of my teacher wellness tips, 2 quotes from others, and 1 wellness question to think about. Thousands of teachers are already subscribed. Enter your email below to join the community!