_{Do you find yourself bingeing on ‘guilt’ free food?}

Food is often marketed as ‘guilt-free’ because it is low in calories, fat, or sugar. This highlights the way food companies use diet culture’s messages to sell their products. It’s important to remember that the bottom line for those companies is making money. Marketing often uses the latest wellness trends to promote products and make more sales.

The trouble with using ‘guilt-free’ slogans is that it reinforces the idea that we need to follow food rules and that some foods are inherently bad. Remember that following food rules and labelling food with moral judgements doesn’t promote healthy eating patterns. Instead, they introduce shame and guilt into our relationship with food and our bodies. This often triggers chaotic eating patterns.

Along with attaching moral judgement to food, ‘guilt-free’ labelling can lead people to overeating rather than responding to their appetite. Alternatively, you may eat it and still feel deprived because these types of substitute are less satisfying than the ‘real’ version.

The real definition of guilt-free food is simply food without judgement. If you’re wanting to eat without guilt, maybe it’s time to challenge your food rules and begin a journey of making peace with food. If you want help with this, please don’t hesitate to email me for support.