Are You Addicted to Sugar Because You Lack Sweetness in Your Life?

In a recent Instagram live session, @nourish.together and I delved deep into the realm of wellness culture, with a particular focus on diet culture. It was a charged conversation that brought to light some profound insights about our relationship with food and how it's intertwined with our self-worth and emotional well-being.

Thais pointed out that true nutrition is rooted in love. This got us thinking – why do we often equate our dietary choices with virtue or punishment? Why do we, especially as women, feel the need to adhere to unrealistic expectations set by diet culture?

As we explored these questions, one thing became abundantly clear: it's time to break free from the cycle of restriction and self-punishment. Instead, let's help ourselves and each other LOVE our way into better health.

Think about it – are you violent to yourself when it comes to food choices? Do you find yourself stuck in a loop of guilt and judgment every time you eat something that's not deemed "perfect" by societal standards?

TIP: Take an audit, in your journal, and write down some of the narratives of phrases that you speak to yourself under your breath. You may be surprised that your self-speak is a little more violent around food than you realized! Bringing these words to paper, and seeing them will give you the power to begin to catch yourself in those moments of self-loathing- and just the simple recognition of these phrases will begin to change the pattern.

Perhaps it's time to give your nutrition attention without judgment. Love, as it turns out, can be a powerful motivator for making healthier choices. When we approach food with love and kindness, it becomes less about restriction and more about nourishment.

Many of us have personal experiences of tying our worthiness of love to what we eat. It's a harmful narrative that diet culture perpetuates. But it's essential to ask yourself: Are you feeling yourself or punishing yourself with your food choices?

We often forget that our perception of health, especially as teenagers, can be greatly influenced by external factors. The idea that health equates to a gluten-free diet or any other specific dietary choice is a narrative we need to challenge.

So, what's your control, your variable, in this equation? It's likely that some of us don't even remember why we started avoiding gluten or other foods in the first place.

And then there's the impact on our children. How do our food choices affect their self-image? Are we inadvertently passing on the burden of diet culture to the next generation?

As we discussed addiction to sugar, one profound question emerged: "Are you addicted to sugar because you lack sweetness in your life?" This is real. This question cuts to the core of our emotional relationship with food.

Diet culture bombards us with hype and stress, making us feel inadequate if we don't conform to certain dietary norms. But what are we truly creating when we succumb to this pressure?

It's time to recognize and shift our perspective around food. What's out of balance in our relationship with nourishment? Can we change the narrative so that sugar doesn't fill a void but instead becomes a source of simple pleasure?

Diet culture has a powerful influence, not just on us but on our families too. How does it shape our beliefs, and how can we break free from its grip?

In the end, it's not about the food itself; it's about the emotions that precede our experience with the food. Let's explore how diet culture influences us and find ways to foster a healthier, more loving relationship with ourselves and our nutrition.

And I guess, let’s simply not get so wrapped up in it!

Let’s laugh together.

Let’s eat together.

Let’s grow together.

Love, Megan