Fostering joy of eating for yourself and your nutrition students

[jamiepopeauthor]

Does healthy eating sometimes feel more like prescription than pleasure?   When you consider some of the longest living populations around the world where healthy diet plays a central role (see Spotlight G in Nutrition for a Changing World), you don’t find them counting calories, jumping on the latest fad diet, or worrying about how each bite might add to their health risk or waist line.   Their food, social, and cultural environment are such that healthful food choices and behaviors are the norm – which isn’t necessarily the case in most of the US or other westernized nations.   We are often faced with making lifestyle choices that are contrary to our environments and difficult to sustain.   We are influenced by the behaviors, preferences, and beliefs of those in our lives (for example, studies demonstrate that people are more active when their peer group is active – social norms) and by our food environment (what we have available to us and how convenient/accessible it might be – not saying have a purist kitchen cupboard and frig, but making more healthful, nutrient dense options more visible and less healthful items more out of sight – or choosing restaurants with enjoyable and healthy offerings).   If you don’t enjoy what you are eating and feel deprived of foods you enjoy in attempts to eat “healthy” then something isn’t working and won’t work long.   JOY of eating is so important – don’t lose sight of that in pursuit of commendable health and dietary goals.  I appreciated that in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Position Paper on nutrition in children (Spotlight E) where they included "Foster an enjoyment of eating" as one of the four nutrition goals for a healthy diet (along with meets nutrient needs, maintains a healthy weight, and prevents chronic disease).  Share the joy of eating and the role food plays in our lives along with nutrition facts and recommendations with your students.   I liked this article on Vitamin “P” for pleasure that provides links to studies and some good advice! https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/get-your-vitamin-p-why-pleasure-matters-when-it-comes-to-what-y...