How does it work?

Mindful Eating & Intuitive Eating

You are here: / Mindful Eating & Intuitive Eating

Mindful Eating & Intuitive Eating

Jun 12, 2023

A Non-Diet Approach to Help With Weight Loss and Weight Management.

In our fast-paced and diet-focused Western culture, reconnecting with our natural eating instincts and developing a healthier relationship with food has become increasingly important. Two approaches that have gained attention in recent years are Mindful Eating and Intuitive Eating. While these terms are often used interchangeably, it’s essential to understand the distinctions between them. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between mindful eating and intuitive eating and their potential benefits for individuals seeking a positive and empowered approach to their dietary choices.

“You can control what you eat. We can educate, encourage and monitor your progress as you change to a healthier diet. A healthier you. A more confident you.” says Monique Etkind, CEO and co-creator of the ME for Me digital app. The personalised app includes healthy meal plans and recipes including a great range of healthy breakfast recipes to get the day off to healthy and nutritious start.

Mindful Eating

Making well-informed nutritious food choices.

Mindful Eating involves developing an awareness of psychological and physiological eating cues and making conscious food choices. It emphasises being fully present and engaged during the eating process, paying attention to taste, texture, and emotions associated with eating. Mindful Eating encourages individuals to cultivate a non-judgmental attitude toward food and their eating experiences. It may incorporate meditation practices to enhance awareness and mindfulness during meals (Warren et al., 2017). Food coaching and food education is a core element of the ME for Me online digital app. 

Intuitive Eating

Listening to your body’s nutritional needs and not the desire for a ‘quick food fix’.

Monique Etkind, founder of ME for Me    “I have always been a firm believer that how a person loses weight needs to be complementary to how they will maintain it. That is why people need to be educated on what they should be eating to optimise their nutrition and receive the necessary support to achieve their weight loss goals. There has to be a behaviour change in their everyday eating to ensure long-term success. Healthy dietary changes have few risks in terms of side effects. However, with anything rewarding in life, the positive weight responses will take more time and effort so requires patience, which is often the reason why people deflect from this method.”

Modern diet programs

Obsessed with the ‘pursuit of thinness’ which, paradoxically, can result in weight gain.

The modern Western diet has distanced us from our innate ability to eat intuitively. Studies have shown that a significant portion of our energy intake comes from highly processed, nutrient-poor foods, particularly among teenagers (Peeters, 2018). Additionally, the societal emphasis on calorie counting and the pursuit of thinness has contributed to poor body esteem, disordered eating patterns, and paradoxically, weight gain (Smith & Hawks, 2006). Relying on calorie counting apps, for example, has been associated with dysfunctional eating patterns (Messer et al., 2021).

Benefits of Mindful/Intuitive Eating

Supported in the ME for Me digital app for weight control and long term management.

Both mindful and intuitive eating offer an alternative to traditional dieting approaches. These non-dieting, weight-neutral approaches promote positive attitudes toward food and can lead to healthier dietary choices. Research has shown that intuitive eating is associated with reduced body mass index (BMI), lower triglyceride levels, and decreased cardiovascular risk, along with improved self-esteem and body image (Smith & Hawks, 2006). Transitioning to a weight-neutral, social, and pleasurable approach to eating can help individuals rediscover the cultural significance of food and foster healthy weight management (Higgins & Gray, 1999).  The ME for Me app includes customised food plans created to suit your lifestyle and personal tastes.

“ Getting healthy, staying healthy and feeling about your weight is a struggle, at some time, for nearly everyone. ME for Me was created by somebody who understands the struggle and is here to help.”

Monique Etkind, your online Nutritionist and an Accredited practising Dietitian (APD).

Mindful Eating and Intuitive Eating offer individuals an opportunity to reestablish a healthy and empowering relationship with food.

While Mindful eating incorporates the meditation aspect, Intuitive Eating focuses on internal cues and instincts. Both approaches promote positive attitudes, reduce food anxiety, and encourage listening to one’s body’s hunger and satiety signals. By embracing Mindful or Intuitive Eating, individuals can make healthier dietary choices, improve their overall well-being, and cultivate a more positive body image. Ultimately, these approaches shift the focus from external rules and restrictions to internal wisdom, leading to a sustainable and balanced approach to nourishment.

Everybody is unique. Every body is unique

ME for Me is a unique weight loss and weight management online resource.

Your personalised nutrition advisor and lifestyle coach. Available 24 hours a day. Download the app today for healthier tomorrows.

References used in the blog (in addition to the practical experience of Monique Etkind, ME for Me Dietitian):

  • Higgins, J. A., & Gray, J. A. (1999). Just how much do intuitive eaters eat? A closer look at the intake of intuitive eaters compared to restrictive dieters. Appetite, 32(2), 258-265.
  • Messer, M. M., Redman, L. M., & Mehta, C. M. (2021). Dys

Share:

Related Articles

7 Days free Trial

*When you sign up
Start Today

COMPANY

HELP

Popular Posts

What is Holistic Nutrition
April 09, 2024
Dietitian vs. Nutritionist in Australia: Understanding the Distinctions
Mar 01, 2024
© Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved
Start Your 7 Day Free Trial Today