The Intentional Eating Diet essentially markets itself as being the anti-diet. Instead of counting carbs or calories, and instead of relying on shakes or bars, this strategy takes an entirely different perspective. It claims to allow people to get back to a far more natural relationship with their food – one that has been broken for quite some time.
The Intentional Eating Diet has been described in a number of books, such as “Intentional Eating: An Easy, Mindful Approach to Dietary Wellness for Increased Vitality, Weight Control, Chronic Disease Management and Stress Reduction”. That said, there are many versions of this strategy, which is mainly based on trying to live, and eat, with purpose and with presence.
What is the Premise of the Intentional Eating Diet?
To start, intentional eating usually goes hand-in-hand with living intentionally as a broader lifestyle. It means that you will place your focus on what is most important and what feels right for you. This gives you the opportunity to pay closer attention to your own feelings, instincts, sensations and inner wisdom.
With that information, you make choices that will satisfy your needs without overdoing it or leaving you in need of something important. This lifestyle keeps you present, acknowledging where you are, feeling your emotions and being aware of who you are and what you both need and want.
How to Practice Intentional Eating
The idea behind intentional eating is to choose the right foods to satisfy your body’s needs for nutrition and satisfaction. It skips your tendency to fall for clever marketing tricks that advertise that something is good for you. Instead, it lets you choose your foods with purpose.
Over time with the Intentional Eating Diet, you are supposed to become increasingly aware of your body’s signals and how to use your own wisdom to eat for your personal health, regardless of labeling, the latest studies, and product claims.
How to Start Eating Intentionally
In essence, the Intentional Eating Diet requires you to regularly ask yourself two main questions. The first question is whether the food (or drink) you’re considering will provide nourishment to your body, mind and emotions. This needs to be an honestly answered question for each food you select (or all the ingredients in a recipe, if you’re considering a whole meal or snack).
The second question has to do with whether your food or drink takes nourishment away from the planet. If you are harming the world while nourishing your body, then you are not completely nourishing your body. Intentional eating requires you to take a broader perspective about your nutrition.
