Before You Read Another Article about “Superfoods,” Read This.

Most of us know as much as we need to about nutrition.
Most of us know as much as we need to about portion sizes.

If you’re frustrated with your eating or weight, it’s probably not because you “didn’t realize” that eating an entire pan of brownies wasn’t particularly healthy.*

Oh golly, I wish I’d known sooner that 4,000 calories of ice cream wasn’t healthy! You don’t say!

And yet, isn’t that what the entire diet industry (and much of the supposed “wellness” industry) is selling us? Aren’t they selling us the idea that we need to be educated about best foods to eat, or quantities of foods to eat… and then all of our frustrations will be solved?

Oh golly, I wish I’d known sooner that eating two super size bags of chips was unhealthy!

If you’re frustrated with your eating and you keep trying to “fix” the problem by addressing nutrition or portion sizes, you’re only dealing with the tip of the iceberg.

There are so, so, SO MANY things that influence your eating. Nutrition and portion sizes are only one tiny piece of a massive puzzle.

If you know absolutely nothing about nutrition, then fine, go ahead and learn something. But if you’ve been banging your head against the “nutrition and portion sizes” wall for months/years/decades, could it be time to try something different?

Could it be time, finally, to explore all of the other, deeper things that are probably influencing your eating?

Like the fact that you don’t want to be where you are, or don’t want to be doing what you’re doing, but can’t (or won’t let yourself) take a break?

Like the fact that when you’re around certain people (or alone), you find yourself eating waaaay too much?

Like the fact that you are terrified by or disgusted with fatness, and you either don’t like your body now, or are scared of what would happen if you did gain weight?

Bottom line: Your food issues mostly aren’t about food. Reading that article about “Carrie Underwood’s Post-Pregnancy Eating Plan” isn’t going to stop you from grabbing three cookies as you run from one meeting to another, or when you’re watching your kid and they’re screaming too loud and you’d kill for some silence and a good book but you settle for some chips instead.

Don’t act like you need more guidance about nutrition or portion sizes when that’s not what you need.

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*It’s worth noting, as well, that there’s no single definition of healthy. And worrying about health too much will likely make you crazy and be counter-productive.