Do You Need To Earn Your Food?

How often do you feel the need to earn the food you desire?
We are taught that in order to be worthy of eating certain foods, or eating food at all, we should first burn calories, or we should punish ourselves by exercising afterward. There are so many ways in which this concept can undermine our progress if we’re working towards having a healthy and loving relationship with our food and body. 

​By exercising or moving our bodies as a form of punishment for eating certain foods, we are telling the body that exercise is a form of bodily punishment. Do you remember when you were a child, and what kind of movement you loved? Was it climbing trees, twirling, dancing, jumping, running, playing a sport? As we allow diet culture to permeate our thinking, we become more disconnected from what brings us true joy and also become further away from living this life to our fullest potential.  ​Take some time to reflect on what movement brought you joy as a child and find ways to integrate these back into your daily routine. 

When we feel the need to earn our food we are also telling our body that we are not worthy of simply eating the foods we desire or crave. 

​Our cravings- and food- become the enemy. Our body is not to be trusted because it craves “bad” food. Each one of your cravings is here to teach you something and many times our cravings serve to protect us as well. When you view your cravings as something to be punished, you are telling the body that you don’t trust it, and therefore you are unable to trust yourself. If you’re not able to trust yourself, how can you move forward with building a loving relationship with your body and food? 

​You must be able to change your views of your cravings in order to trust your body again. 

The next time you have a craving, take a moment and ask what it is there to teach you. Perhaps you are feeling rejected, or homesick, or lonely. When you recognize the wisdom in the craving, ask yourself how you can give yourself what you need in that moment. Perhaps it is by eating, and perhaps it is by calling a friend, taking a relaxing drive, or walking your dog. 

​As I mention often, our relationship with food is directly correlated with how we live life. 

​If you are feeling like you need to earn your food, what else do you feel you have to earn to be happy? 

Do you feel you have to earn the love of those around you, perhaps in the form of tasks performed or items purchased? Do you feel you have to work hard in order to be happy, instead of allowing yourself to be present and in the moment (more about letting joy flow in this blog post)? How does the concept of earning food correlate to other aspects of your life?

What is your language around food in relation to your body and exercise? If you’re unable to move your body for a certain amount of time, what feelings begin to creep in about food & your body? Does the concept of earning food ring true for you?
​As always, I love hearing your thoughts on this concept!