One-to-One Nutrition Consultations
Do you resonate with any of these thoughts?
“I’ve tried many diets but none of it works…
My weight has been yo-yo-ing.”
“I broke the diet rules. I failed again!
What is wrong with me? Sigh, I’m just going to have the whole packet of cookies (then feels worst and guilty after)."
”I am not sure what I should be eating.
Everyone is saying something different. I’m confused!
Actually, what is healthy eating?”
"I can never… have chocolate in the house.
I just can’t control myself.
I have a love-hate relationship with food.”
”I can’t have any carb foods,
My body can’t seem to process any sugar. It makes me fat just looking at it.”
Dieting: the norm
We live in a society where we place an unhealthy emphasis on thinness, discriminate body sizes and promote food preoccupation and body dissatisfaction. It is likely that either you or someone you know is or has been on a diet. Dieting seems to be the norm and our culture has made it seem necessary. But actually, what is dieting?
Dieting is defined as: “severely restricting calories, eliminating whole categories of food, skipping meals or snacks, taking diet pills or other weight loss supplements, and doing anything else to lose weight that does not give you the fuel and nutrients you need and that you would not want to do or be able to do for the rest of your life” - Carolyn Costin. These may sound rather extreme compared to your idea of dieting. Nonetheless, it is important to distinguish that any diet or eating pattern which compromises your relationship with food and body, your mental wellbeing, overall physical health and social life - is considered unhealthy and a form of dieting.
Where it gets confusing is when enthusiasts, health professionals, doctors and experts seem to be providing polarising opinions about what ‘diet type’ would ‘fix’ our global health issues. Unfortunately, I have to admit as a dietitian, I have been part of the problem - unconsciously promoting such dieting and thin (or lean) mindsets. Through various avenues, we have been ‘trained’ to think of food solely has a means to control weight and health, dismissing its true value in our lives.
The move to: conscious or intuitive eating
We know that food is more than fuel. It is part of culture, creativity and life. If so, then how do we balance this philosophy with the desire to prevent chronic conditions or to lose weight for healthy reasons?
Traditionally, a dietitian’s approach would be to ‘prescribe diet plans’ and teach nutrition skills to make ‘healthier choices’ over one or two sessions. However, this approach may not be facilitating sustainable and helpful changes. For some of us in society, who are more susceptible to disordered eating and body dissatisfaction, it may do more harm than good.
Instead, a better approach or shift is to focus on improving health (instead of changing weight or size), developing an overall balanced and healthier lifestyle, and becoming a conscious eater.
My Approach
Working together with you
Making food and nutrition changes can be challenging and frustrating, especially when you are not achieving your desired goals or end up not feeling any better about yourself. When it comes to food and nutrition, there really is no cookie-cutter approach.
My approach is not about addressing what is right and wrong. Instead, I focus on helping you improve your nutritional status and eating patterns in line with your health priorities.
We focus on what to eat (instead of what not to eat)
Help you explore your relationship with food, body and exercise, and
Guide you in developing knowledge and awareness to become a conscious eater.
In other words, it is a flexible non-diet approach, focusing on intuitive eating, your preferences and what is right for you. Reaching a weight goal by changing your diet will never be a primary goal. We explore underlying obstacles to wellness, as well as ways to make nutritional changes and develop a healthy food relationship - both easier and natural over time.
If you have lost touch with food and nutrition, is looking for a sustainable intuitive approach, and want to find peace with your body and food, get in touch today.