How to Never Have a Cheat Day Again
Let’s never have a cheat day again! Because when has cheating ever been a good thing? Labelling meals as “cheat” induces feelings of guilt, which is not a healthy relationship with food.
What’s the point of having a healthy balanced lifestyle you’re not going to follow? If it makes you feel like you need ‘cheat days’ then that’s a good sign you’re on a diet.
I believe flexible eating is the best way to enjoy food and stick with your lifestyle long term.
A healthy relationship with food should not involve feeling stressed, anxious, or guilty, or stop you from socialising. If it does, perhaps it’s time to stop and consider how healthy your lifestyle really is in the long run.
Here are my top tips to remove this mentality:
- Don’t label meals as ‘cheat’: Instead of labelling it as “cheat”, I prefer calling it “mind food” because it acknowledges that you eat certain foods for you mind, and not for its nutritional value.
- Follow an 80/20 approach: I believe everyone should be flexible with their nutrition everyday, and allow for 80% nutritious foods and 20% mind foods.
- Know you can get right back on track: You’re never more than one choice away from getting back on track. One off track meal doesn’t have to turn into an off track week.
Your healthy balanced lifestyle should come from a place of moderation not restriction, and a place of freedom instead of fear.
If you ever feel the need to cheat/binge on your permanent eating habits, it may be time to have a less restrictive approach.
