I Thought I had to Earn the Right to Eat
/As I was standing in line at my favorite bakery following a Sunday morning run, the woman next to me exclaimed:
Well, you certainly deserve a pastry! You've earned it!
Years ago, when I was stuck in diet mentality, I would have completely agreed with her.
Back then, I believed in order to enjoy a scone, muffin or cinnamon roll, I had to earn the right to, usually by eating “clean” and exercising excessively.
It was only after consuming many bunches of greens and running many sweaty miles, that I’d give myself permission to sink my teeth into a buttery baked good without feeling guilty or ashamed. I had worked hard for it!
Earning the Right to Eat
Do you ever feel like you have to earn the right to eat something in particular or to eat at all? Do you question whether or not you deserve to?
It often looks something like this:
I had a big lunch at the restaurant so I shouldn’t eat much for dinner, even though I’m really hungry.
I’m going to diet for the next few weeks so I can eat whatever I want on vacation.
With a body like mine, I don’t deserve to eat what skinny people can get away with.
I had a really hard day today; I’m entitled to this ice cream!
I really overdid it on the Halloween candy, so no dessert for me this week.
Since I skipped my workout this morning, carbs are off-limits today.
I’m not allowed to eat certain foods until I lose weight.
I’m celebrating my birthday tonight so I need to burn some serious calories at the gym this morning.
An Oppressive Belief System
Our diet culture’s “earn it and burn it” mindset is damaging and dangerous.
It fuels diet mentality, drives disordered eating and, ultimately, negatively impacts your physical, mental, emotional and social health.
The idea that you have to earn the right to eat is an oppressive belief system created by diet culture. It causes you to obsess about what you shouldn’t eat and punish yourself for your "bad" choices rather than trust your inherent ability to nourish yourself.
You Deserve to Eat—No Matter What
There is nothing in the world that makes you unworthy of food.
Despite what diet culture wants you to believe, your eating does not have to be earned or paid for.
You have the right to consume whatever you want, whenever you want and however much you want.
You have the right to eat what looks good, tastes good and feels good in your body.
You deserve to eat without judgment, guilt or shame.
You deserve to eat without justifying, questioning, monitoring, moralizing, counting and compensating.
You deserve to eat with ease, freedom and gusto.
You deserve to eat no matter what.
It's your birthright.
Innate Capacity to Trust Your Body
Like all humans, you were born with the innate capacity to trust your body, your appetite, your instincts and your desires.
Diet culture disconnects you from this inner knowing. But you can reclaim it.
You can start by noticing when you question if you've earned the right to eat or if you deserve to eat. When that voice in your head pops up, hit the brakes and challenge your thinking.
Ask yourself: Where did this belief come from? Is it true? Is it based on my inner cues or external rules? Is it helpful or harmful? Is it driving a fraught, disordered relationship with food or a peaceful, trusting, pleasurable one?
This type of self-inquiry will help you free yourself from our oppressive diet culture and empower you to reclaim your ability to eat intuitively so you can spend your time, energy and headspace on more fulfilling, meaningful pursuits.
