Disappointed in NEDA’s “Health Eating 101″

I should have taken the headline as a disclaimer (Healthy Eating 101), but coming from a great eating disorder blog, I have pretty high expectations.

The Eating Disordered Times republished the National Eating Disorders Association’s 10 Tips on promoting healthy relationship with food. These are the guidelines:

1. Eat when you are hungry. Stop eating when you are full.
2. There are no “good” or “bad” foods, so eat lots of different foods, including fruits, vegetables and even sweets sometimes.
3. Eat different types of snacks: sometimes raisins, sometimes cheese, sometimes a cookie, or sometimes carrot sticks or celery dipped in peanut butter.
4. If you are sad, mad or bored, find something to do other than eating.
5. People who exercise and stay active are healthier and better able to do what they want to do, no matter what they weigh.
6. Try to find a sport or activity that you like, then do it.
7. Good health, feeling good about yourself and having fun go hand in hand. Try different hobbies, such as drawing, playing music or making things.
8. Remind yourself that healthy bodies come in all sizes.
9. Some people believe that fat people are bad, sick and out of control, while thin people are good, healthy and in control. This is not true. And it is hurtful.
10. Do not tease people and don’t laugh at other people’s jokes about fat (or thin) people or short (or tall) people.

In the spirit of these guidelines, I would like to add a few of my own:

• Don’t eat too much. Or too little. Always just eat the correct amount.
• Eat blueberries. Some people say they’re a miracle food.
• Don’t read tabloids. Or watch TV. Or do anything else where people may mention food, weight, or calories.
• If you feel like you’re going to binge, don’t.
• Hang a poster of the food pyramid on your bedroom wall. All people with healthy food relationships have one.
• Never stress out, or get upset, or tired, or frustrated, or angry. Just be great all of the time. People in a good mood feel better than people who are in a bad mood.

… do you see my point? How is this list helpful? If I had to come up with some REAL suggestions…

1. Make a point to eat with your family / friends / coworkers — whoever — as often as possible. Eating by yourself isn’t a great idea.
2. Throw in some spontaneity. Eat ice cream for lunch one day, breakfast for dinner another day… Don’t let eating become rigid or mundane.
3. Get a dog. Okay, slight tangent, but I think everyone should have one. And walking the dog is good
4. Don’t get a scale.
5. You have to model the kind of eating that you’re trying to preach. You can’t encourage your kids to not stress over weight when you are crash-dieting yourself.
6. Don’t buy all diet food. Don’t buy all super-healthy foods. Your kids aren’t doing lo-carb! Let them eat goldfish crackers. And teddy grahams.

… and there you have it. Maybe my list isn’t “healthy eating 101,” but it’s at least useful

Tags: eating disorder, NEDA, health eating 101, healthy relationship with food, national eating disorders association, eating disorder recovery, food guidelines

Tags: eating disorder, NEDA, health eating 101, healthy relationship with food, national eating disorders association, food guidelines