DIET
or comfort, rather than physical hunger, or when your eating is dictated by rigid dietary rules (in the absence of medical conditions requiring such restriction). By switching from the narrow focus
of simply ‘what’ to eat to a holistic approach which embodies the ‘how’, and by moving from mechanistic feeding to conscious nourishing, I feel we not only change our diets for the better; we also learn more about ourselves, our values, and our limiting beliefs. No healthy food guides, diet plans, or portion sizes are required, just an open mind and ready heart.
YOUR BODY IS WISE At its core, the non-diet approach reconnects you to the wisdom of your body. It presents you with the opportunity to reach and maintain a healthy body weight, and not just for a few days leading up to your ten-year high school reunion! The ability to develop a lifelong approach to healthy eating by encouraging positive attitudes, thoughts, and feelings towards food and eating is accessible to you. It is never too late to get off the yoyo dieting rollercoaster! We were born to be strong, happy,
energetic, and healthy. There is a weight that is most healthy and comfortable for each individual, and it may or may not be the same as the societal ‘ideal’. “There is more wisdom in
your body than in your deepest philosophies.” [Friedrich Nietzsche] The non-diet approach gently reminds
us of the innate ability of our bodies to attain and maintain a healthy weight. And it doesn’t require counting calories, fat grams, carbohydrate grams, or eating more egg whites in a day than your friends and colleagues care for. On a broader scale, the non-diet
approach fits in with many other practices we can use to rekindle our body's innate wisdom: yoga, meditation, mindful and intuitive eating, spending time connecting with the earth, learning about sustainable food systems or doing a permaculture design course. It’s about deepening our relationship to food and where it comes from, not further narrowing our scope to calories
22 JUNE 2017
and reducing foods down to their ability to burn fat or even to boost antioxidant levels. This process requires courage and a willingness to delve deeper into the unknown. The great thing about the non-diet
approach is that the deeper you scratch, the more diet and weight myths you will dispel, and the more clarity you will gain. This is the path of the warrior, and although it requires a little more imagination and openness than your typical 30-day low-carb diet, it’s a hell of a lot more fun! And the results are lasting.
WHERE TO START? I’d suggest finding an accredited practising dietitian or other health professional to introduce you to the non-diet approach. Together you can work towards eating intuitively and creating a healthy relationship with food. The non-diet approach does not mean
tossing healthy eating out the window! It's important to know about food choices that are great for long-term health. I love talking about eating for
disease prevention and improving energy levels. I’m crazy about garlic and ginger, vegetables, delicious herbs and spices, healthy homemade chocolate, and good fats like nuts and avocados. But the most important thing is to first establish a healthy relationship with food, and the non-diet approach can help you achieve that. n
A full list of resources and references can be found in the article online at
www.livingnow.com.au
Connect with other readers & comment on this article at
www.livingnow.com.au
Casey Conroy is an accredited practising dietitian, holistic nutritionist, yoga and AcroYoga teacher who loves kale sautéed in
butter and dark chocolate. She is the founder of Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing on the Gold Coast, and advocates a practical and light-hearted approach to nutrition and natural health.
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