Find Out What Foods Make You Feel Satisfied!
Some foods we reach for when we’re tired ☕ Some foods we reach for when we’re upset 🍩 Some foods we reach for because we have labelled them “good” 🍏
But have you ever stopped to think about what foods you enjoy? Having food satisfaction at every meal—you read that right!—can lead to fewer cravings and the desire to overeat.
Food satisfaction means two things: that you physically respond positively to the food (it makes you feel full, gives you energy) and you also have a psychological enjoyment of what you ate (it’s tasty, “hits the spot”).
You may be wondering: how do I find out what I really like to eat? Believe it or not, this is a very common question. We are constantly told what foods we should and shouldn’t eat. If you’ve been around the diet block, chances are you’ve cut out whole food groups like carbs or fat or sugar at one point or another. Getting rid of this diet conditioning may seem impossible, but it can be a fun experience! Here’s where to start:
Step One: Write down a list of things you like to eat, and don’t limit yourself!
You may find as you create this list that a voice pops up your head. You jot down popcorn with real butter and that inner critic tells you that food is too fat and indulgent. You then add yogurt and berries to the list and that voice congratulates you for a healthy choice.
Tell that voice to pipe down! This is the exact diet talk you want to challenge. It doesn’t matter if a food is considered good, bad, or somewhere in between, if you enjoy eating it—from the taste to the crunch to the smell—put it on the list.
Step Two: Get curious about how the foods on your list make you feel.
This is where we add the physical to the psychological. Meeting both of these needs results in even more satisfaction while eating. Let’s break it down:
Say, for example, you look forward to your daily latte, but you’ve started noticing it isn’t easy on your digestion. Try out different types of milk—like oat, almond, or soy—and see how your body reacts. In this case, it is a matter of finding the creaminess you enjoy in the latte while also supporting your physical health.
They key here is to not make this another diet “rule.” Just because you try almond milk lattes for a week doesn’t mean you have to stick with it (and if you hate the taste, definitely don’t keep it in your rotation). This process is about being curious to find the balance between what satisfies your enjoyment of the food and helps support your body. Knowledge is power!
💛 Your peace awaits.
