Just caught a Yoplait cheesecake commercial. Seen it? We observe a woman drooling over a beautiful cheesecake within the work fridge. Her mind's debating dialogue tries to rationalize having a small, medium, or large slice. With each slice she considers ways to absolve her sin:
eat it with celery
give in because she deserves it
run in place
There are millions of reasons why I stopped and rewound the commercial. The obvious comical undertones bring to light a very common eating choice experience. What is missing from the conversation? Instead of just thinking, I wish the woman considered how she was experiencing:
What does my body need right now?
Am I hungry?
What is drawing me to this food? Future physical satisfaction or a feeling of entitlement?
In the end, the torn woman compliments a coworker on her weight loss and she observes the coworker pick yogurt. Using her head, she thinks she could be worthy of peer envy too if she choose the diet food.
My Food Youtopia Principle: instead of arguing in your brain about a food choice including food cravings, stop. Go within. Check how you are experiencing your body. Ask it what it needs. Then trust it to lead you to health.
Looks like NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) execs already helped change the media's messages: meetings with Yoplait successfully led to the food maker removing the ads. More info here: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/in-the-news/news-release-detail.php?release=67&title=%91Kudos%20to%20Yoplait,%92%20Says%20National%20Eating%20Disorders%20Association
I am so glad they were able to as well. I feel so empowered that as a group they were able to prevent more disordered eating messages on TV. Now, onto the rest [looking at you, Special K].
How about those pesky 100 calorie packs? And... fake fat free foods, phony diet ice cream, and weight-loss drinks? I would love to rid the world of all the above :)
Julie Duffy Dillon, Registered Dietitian with a MS degree in counseling, is an anti-diet zealot armed to end the normalization of disordered eating.
Food experiences allow us to stay connected physically, mentally, and spiritually. Dieting disconnects us from our body's ability to promote wellness.
The Food and Youtopia blog's mission is simple: thought provoking writing to give you permission to enjoy eating again. Posts focus on experiences and opportunities to promote growth in your personal food relationship. Topics include women's issues, media, family concerns, body image, and movement.
I encourage you to check it out. I hope the posts promote an opportunity for you to join my anti-diet militia.
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5 comments:
Looks like NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) execs already helped change the media's messages: meetings with Yoplait successfully led to the food maker removing the ads. More info here: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/in-the-news/news-release-detail.php?release=67&title=%91Kudos%20to%20Yoplait,%92%20Says%20National%20Eating%20Disorders%20Association
arggggggggggggggggggggggggggh that is soooo ridiculously frusterating! So glad NEDA was able to enact change!
I am so glad they were able to as well. I feel so empowered that as a group they were able to prevent more disordered eating messages on TV. Now, onto the rest [looking at you, Special K].
How about those pesky 100 calorie packs? And... fake fat free foods, phony diet ice cream, and weight-loss drinks? I would love to rid the world of all the above :)
I couldn't agree more Joe! Real food is all we need.
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