Today is all about Intuitive Eating Principle 6 Discover the Satisfaction Factor! This is a fun and enjoyable principle for most people who are used to living in a culture full of diet messaging and in a headspace full of dieting rules and restrictions. It’s time to let that mindset go and get back to enjoying your food!
In case you missed it:
- What is Intuitive Eating?
- Intuitive Eating Principle 1: Reject the Diet Mentality
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 1
- Intuitive Eating Principle 2: Honor Your Hunger
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 2
- Intuitive Eating Principle 3: Make Peace with Food
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 3
- Intuitive Eating Principle 4: Challenge the Food Police
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 4
- Intuitive Eating Principle 5: Feel Your Fullness
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 5
Intuitive Eating Principle 6 Discover the Satisfaction Factor
The snapshot of Intuitive Eating Principle 6 is: “The Japanese have the wisdom to promote pleasure as one of their goals of healthy living. In our fury to be thin and healthy, we often overlook one of the most basic gifts of existence – the pleasure and satisfaction that can be found in the eating experience. When you eat what you really want, in an environment that is inviting, the pleasure you derive will be a powerful force in helping you feel satisfied and content.”
This principle is closely tied to Principle 5: Feel Your Fullness. In fact, in the latest 4th edition of the book, these two principles have switched place – putting the emphasis on satisfaction first!
We’ve begun talking about the difference between food being filling and satisfying in the last principle. This principle is all about satisfaction! Diet culture and the experience of dieting has taken away the pleasure and satisfaction that can come from eating foods we really enjoy.
To help guide satisfaction at meals, consider:
- What do I really want to eat?
- What food would hit the spot right now?
- What do you desire in terms of temperature, texture, flavors, aroma, and appearance of the food?
- How do you want to FEEL when you are finished eating?
What People Are Saying About Intuitive Eating
Here’s what some people in my Intuitive Eating Focus Group are saying about this principle:
“This principle of satisfaction makes so much sense! I used to eat a lot of lower-calorie foods and felt like I was never satisfied. Now that I’m allowing myself to eat what I’m craving, with a better understanding of balancing fats, protein, and carbohydrates, I truly feel satisfied and not just full. I’m starting to pay more attention to how certain foods make me feel physically and I’m noticing some foods I used to binge on really don’t taste nearly as great as I remember. For example, those lower-calorie ice creams filled with artificial sweetener are just not as appetizing as the real stuff. I’ll be honest though, some days I do fall back into old habits and eat past the point of feeling full when I am emotionally overwhelmed. The difference now is that I can forgive myself, move forward, and continue to remind myself that I don’t restrict myself anymore.”
“Earlier this year I studied abroad in Europe and definitely noticed the drastic difference in restaurant culture. Initially, I found the slow service annoying but eventually I grew to love it. It gave me more time to appreciate the company I was with and the restaurant environment. By the time the food came, I was able to actually enjoy it without feeling so distracted.”
INTUITIVE EATING VIRTUAL SMALL GROUP
If you have been following along on this Intuitive Eating journey with me or hearing about IE elsewhere and wanting to learn more, or you’ve been doing some learning on your own and are ready to have the support of others on the journey with you, I have the perfect resource for you:
An 8-week small group coaching experience to help you heal your relationship with food and your body, ditch dieting for good, get back to trusting yourself around food AND enjoying the foods you actually like!
Group will be held live via online video >> Thursdays at 6:00pm CST (recordings will be sent out if you are unable to attend live). The group runs every quarter. FULL DETAILS HERE.
REMINDER
This blog and Instagram series I am doing is not meant to be a replacement for reading the Intuitive Eating book or working through the Intuitive Eating Workbook. Rather it’s to provide an overview of the Intuitive Eating concept and principles to bring more awareness to the fact that there is an alternative to dieting and restricting.
As always, if you need additional guidance and support via individual nutrition coaching or counseling, please reach out or join the waitlist for my Intuitive Eating group.
