Finding Wellness in Eating Well
- charlottebeattie09
- Jan 27
- 3 min read
Written by Charlotte Beattie
DISCLAIMER- this article was written in the style of BBC Good Food for a university assignment, it has not been published in their official magazine.
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of disordered eating
‘I had found wellness, and I was not well’.
-Ruby Tandoh
In the past here at BBC Good Food, we have discussed fad diets and promoted lifestyles that should not be considered ‘healthy’. We apologise for our gullibility and, as a team, we are working to report on wellness and nutrition in a more inclusive and uplifting manner.
In an article from 2016, British baker, author and columnist- Ruby Tandoh- wrote about her experiences with wellness and the negative impact of fad diets. " I had found wellness, and I was not well". She describes her experiences with disordered eating at a time when the media was feeding her a façade of ‘wellness’ and ‘health’ which, when combined, can encourage a negative relationship with food.
In order to create a positive relationship between mind and body, we need to appreciate that food gives us the energy to move day in and day out and to experience life to the fullest. Without enough food or with overindulgence in food- our bodies can feel tired and unable to take us through life in the way we would desire which leaves us sad or frustrated or can create a disconnect between mind and body.
Food keeps us living and our bodies enable us to live. We all lead different lives in different bodies but the similarity we all share is that we need food to survive.
Foods that are healthy and good for your mental health:
Chocolate, we NEED chocolate for happiness, to increase heart health, balance the immune system, improve brain function, and reduce stress! Check out our recipes- chocolate milkshake, next-level chocolate babka.
Vegetables, they contain important minerals, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Check out our recipes- aubergine curry with lamb cutlets, roasted carrot, rocket and lentil salad.
Cake, cake can boost your energy levels and allow you to experience tasty flavours and fulfil cravings. Check out our recipes- fresh blueberry muffins, banana bread,
Lentils and grains, a good source of protein whilst being rich in iron and folate. Check out our recipes- lentil Bolognese, lentil soup, khichdi.
Bread and other carbohydrates, we NEED carbs for energy! Check out our recipes- easy white bread, peshwari naan
This list may come as a surprise however, our team of nutritionists have researched and found that the best way to reverse the mindset of fad diets is to understand the ability to listen to your body through intuitive eating.
What is Intuitive Eating?
The basic premise of intuitive eating is the ability to tune into your bodies needs and wants when listening out for hunger cues and satisfaction. This prevents restriction and overindulgence and creates a healthy ability to understand your own body which will differ from other people. Intuitive eating is something personal to you and can’t be shared in society like a fad diet, intuitive eating is authentic and scientifically proven to benefit your physical and mental health.
An assessment undergone by the National Library of Medicine revealed that intuitive eating improves mental health and decreases disordered eating behaviours. Without dieting, we can be more in tune with our hunger cues since we aren’t interrupting our usual eating cycles with restraint.
Where can you learn more about the reality of wellness and eating through intuitive eating and a change in mindset?
Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating, Christy Harrison
Just Eat It: How intuitive eating can help you get your shit together around food, Laura Thomas
Landwhale: On Turning Insults Into Nicknames, Why Body Image Is Hard, and How Diets Can Kiss My Ass, Jes Baker
Happy Fat: Taking Up Space in a World That Wants to Shrink You, Sofie Hagen
Body Kindness: Transform Your Health from the Inside Out—and Never Say Diet Again, Rebecca Scritchfield
Articles on BBCGoodFood.com concerning food and nutrition shouldn’t be read in replacement for professional medical advice. If you are struggling with your mental health and your relationship with food, then please contact your local doctor or therapist. Or you can access help via these helplines offered by Beat Eating Disorders:
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