How to Incorporate NUTRITION into INTUITIVE EATING & How to Not Just Crave "JUNK"!

[@hkess17]

you should totally do a podcast!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@anoukduboisbe]

I would love that! It would really help with the constant problem of trying to put my phone in my pocket in a way that doesn't stop the video while I'm cooking and running around the house etc 😂

[@llamaliza6886]

Yes please!

[@beckyjoy2]

but also the videos are already amazing and thanks for all you do 😅😍 🤩

[@hkess17]

@@beckyjoy2 true that!!

[@Chiara_-dg9yp]

Italian here 💁‍♀️ usually we eat pasta at every lunch ( pasta with veggies like pasta with broccoli is a staple of the Mediterranean diet) and we eat pizza once a week ( usually Friday night ). Oh and we eat a whole pizza per person! Well Italian traditional pizza is really Not like American pizza. We use whole wheat flour, fresh tomato sauce ( no sugar added!) and REAL mozzarella ( made with only milk, rennet and salt)

[@daniellerodgers6493]

Sounds delicious. 😋

[@jocypare6019]

that sounds good . not like the fake food here. ( that my name for fast food. full of empty calories)

[@Chiara_-dg9yp]

I lived in New York for two years and missed the food so bad ahah when I first arrived in the US I was shocked at the fact that it’s considered normal to get take out even several nights per week. I live in a small village in Italy and we don’t have any take out restaurants here. The only form of take out available to me is my grandma who lives next to me: On I busy day I ask her if she can cook something nice for me for dinner and when I come home from work I go and grab my “ grandma take out” 😅😂

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Sounds great!

[@TheMagdalenaBB]

Isn't it also a nice thin crust pizza? That is what I ate when I went to Italy. Yum.

[@SamElle]

thank you for talking about mental restriction!!! This was a concept I had to really understand in order to intuitive eat. I wasn't physically restricting but my mindset was still not there!!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I'm glad that was helpful!

[@user-iw9qk5oe3i]

Same here!!!

[@EdenGold]

I completely agree! Mental and Physical restriction can play a HUGE role in intuitive eating!! I just uploaded a video about restricting foods, where I cover mental and physical consequences of restricting, and I think you might really enjoy it! Would love to connect beautiful!

[@stefsmith895]

I love you Abbey but as an American living in France for the past 6 years, France is definitely not a shinning example of a country we should look to for balanced eating😅😅😅.Eating disorders among young women are rampant here, especially here in Paris, and there is the pressure to constantly look skinny/ underweight. I’ve never felt more self -conscious of my weight and body image than when I moved to France. Once you get out of Paris, attitudes towards weight and balanced eating generally seem to get better, but it’s still a huge problem here.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Oh no. Thank you for the intel

[@clarekocheri4571]

So glad you said this. I have spent time in several European countries and noticed that almost all young women from big cities (Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Athens) seem to ferociously restrict their food in order to maintain a small body size. As someone who had read and believed 'French Women Don't Get Fat' in my early twenties, I was taken aback to realize that they don't get fat because they hardly eat anything. Only now, looking back, do I realize that book also incorporated a lot of diet culture (encouraging liquid fasts to 'reset' your weight loss, avoiding snacks, etc.).

[@guvibration1182]

Same from Asia culture, I felt “bad” not be able to find a size for me when shopping clothes during my visit. Once I moved back, it is all fine....

[@fanny.barrier]

Paris is not all of France, it isn't representative of our country. It is the capital of fashion so of course people are badly influenced . But I think there are Eds everywhere of course

[@littleviolaine]

This is very important and not just Paris or big towns. I'm French (from a small town in the south) but I live in the UK and whenever I go home to see my family my eating habits and my confidence almost instantly get so much worse. There's a lot more pressure to look a certain way. Incidentally in the past few years I've gained quite a lot of weight (due to a chronic illness) and I keep getting comments like 'oh well you're becoming one of them aren't you' as if my identity as a French woman ultimately HAS to be tied in with being thin and me getting bigger means that i'm getting less French. This is something I'm battling with on the daily so i'm glad to see people discussing it here!

[@jatvirginmega]

This content is great, Abbey. It's so important to understand what is going on mentally and physically because society today really adds in so much complexity when it comes to how, what, when, why you eat your food! Intuitive eating sounds so simple, eat when you want/when you're hungry, and stop when you're full but when there are so many other variables coming in, how do you decipher when you are satiated? It takes so much practice!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for sharing. So glad it is helpful!

[@lexicalgap5191]

I've found taking pauses during meals to check in with myself and experimenting with portions (how they affect me over the day) really helped me become in tune with my fullness cues.

[@tulliamarie6137]

This is old, but I’m practicing this so I want to comment! I keep an eye on my thoughts while I’m eating and I wait until I start to think ‘I’m not hungry, but I could eat more!’ And then I know that the thought ‘that was great! I’m fullish but I could fit in a few bites of dessert!’ Is coming down the line! Then I stop when I get to that feeling!

[@iampomegranates]

“North Americans tend to eat food very quickly, and usually try to multitask” Me: *frowns as I eat my breakfast while watching this video so I can get both done before work

[@Jleigh225]

Hahaha me too

[@Sincyn241]

Ditto, dinner. 😂

[@rachelgarcia1790]

Me, someone from North America: I mean, I know, but HEY! She didn't have to come for us this hard. 🤣

[@mauishopgirll]

For many, learning about nutrition is so intertwined with the effort to lose weight. It takes a shift in perspective to learn about foods and nutrition for the joy and appreciation of food. Nutrition learning can include notes on taste, culture and interesting preparation or menus. Thank you so much for your videos Abbey. I’m a lifetime WWer from my 30s (now in my 50s) and I’m not keen on counting for the rest of my life anymore. I appreciate you!

[@natalyakozlova2926]

This channel has been so uplifting for me. I’ve naturally been an intuitive eater but everything I’ve been thought told me to have rules and structure with my food. I’ve been doing everything you’ve been teaching and feel an enormous positive change in my relationship with food.

[@Me-zt6wl]

This series totally changed my life! Thank you Abbie! You don't know how badly I have battle with my weight since I was 12 (I'm 30😭). But this has been an eye opener for me, and I finally feel free! Thank you sooooo much!!

[@MarinaDelMar8]

Abbey, you shed light in world of mixed messages. Mental restriction is STRESSFUL and stress plays a huge huge huge role in our wellbeing. Viewing food as a pleasurable experience is key. There is also something to be said about practicing gratitude. Personally, I haven’t been working as much and therefore have had to cut back on my grocery spending. While I find myself feeling limited, I definitely notice the influence of a simple prayer when I am eating that “I am grateful for what I am able provide for myself.” It helps shift my mindset - from oh god I wish I could’ve afforded avocados this week as this meal would’ve been more nutritious to what I have in front of me is a glorious privilege and my body thanks me for making the time to make xyz. Our thoughts are important.

[@loreleistair8587]

i really needed this! i have been binging recently, even though ive been eating intuitively for months after dealing with orthorexia. i realized ive still been mentally restricting myself this whole time. thank you abbey 😭❤️

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I hope it was helpful!

[@EdenGold]

This is so true for so many people, and I'm so happy for you for being exposed to positive videos that can help you in moving forward healing your relationship with food. I hope you are feeling better every day, and I have so many resources for body image and healing your relationship with food on my page if you ever need any extra support love

[@loreleistair8587]

Eden Gold thank you sm b ❤️

[@kellyjojean9819]

I'm so glad I found your channel. Ive been bingewatching. I am totally at the same place in life regarding food. Adding variety has really helped me nutritionally and Im developing a healthy new relationship with food for the first time in my life.

[@jordynsophiamakeup]

“They don’t eat in front of the TV” me watching this as I eat a bagel with avocado.

[@MissPurpur]

As long as you enjoy and savor each bite I'm sure it's fine.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Yum!

[@EdenGold]

That honestly sounds delicious though!

[@alysa6642]

I really cannot explain how much this has changed my life.

[@thealiceftw]

THANK YOU! I needed exactly this for the paper i'm writing about "when healthy becomes unhealthy". This is so important stuff, that everyone should know

[@bellis7772]

I have a little happy tear in the corner of my eye right now. This philosophy around food has changed my life in such a profound way. I remember the first time I heard someone talk like this: it blew my mind! All of the diet talk which was so engrained in my way of thinking just went: "Say what???". It is actually kind of scary that it blew my mind to be kind towards myself and my body in regards to food, but like you say, Abbey, society teaches us otherwise. I am so greatful that this intuitive voice exists today and is growing. So it is a bit emotional for me to watch this last episode of the intuitive eating series. A full circle-feeling. I am grateful that you made it - I think you´ve communicated really well what is in the book.

[@EdenGold]

I am so, so happy for you! If you ever need a friend or support on this journey and far beyond, I would love to connect!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I'm so glad that it has been helpful for you!

[@joannabertenshaw6150]

THANK you for showing us the Intuitive Eating Bill of Rights. I always feel so pressured to eat so much at social events or dinner with friends, and I always feel terrible. That really helped!

[@katieharris2665]

You are so thorough, balanced, wise and interesting all wrapped into one kick-ass burrito of knowledge and I just want to say thank you for all the effort you go to, to make such excellent and high quality videos!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Wow, thank you!

[@hannahpick3615]

the first thing you said was so helpful. I was just about to eat a whole packet of chocolate bars, after just having one. your video came on and I said to myself 'I can have a bar tomorrow', and now I don't feel like I want another one. THANKS SO MUCH!!

[@PM-tk3se]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@chloebeaudreau1723]

omg thank you so this is so helpful. I've had an eating disorder this past year and your videos have been helping me significantly. The past few weeks I've been intuitively eating and just naturally I've been feeling and sleeping a lot better and I haven't gained any weight.

[@GossipGurlGurly]

Hey Abbey! Love this. I remember Natacha Oceane made a video about this topic, and she had a great explanation: keep healthy foods around the house, that way if you have a craving, you have the option between doritos OR carrots and celery OR heathy homemade granola bars. Then, if you DECIDE to eat the doritos, that's ok bc you're eating intuitively, but more often than not you'll opt for the healthy choice!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Exactly!

[@EdenGold]

I LOVE natacha oceane! This is great advice, and I am planning on making a play off of this video on my channel as well since it seems to be so helpful for others! Would love to hear your thoughts on some of the videos that I post that are of similar topics! Sending you love

[@zellalaing5439]

I'm a complete veg lover so finally getting to the point of true intuitive eating, eating all the veg I want but also understanding queues of wanting proteins and what type (red meat vs fish) has allowed me to balance out to a weight that doesn't change, I have no idea how much I weight but my clothes don't change in how they feel on me, hitting peak intuitive eating that gets me the nutrients my body wants has been amazing.

[@sarahg2721]

Thank you so much for this series Abbey, it has helped me more than I can say 🖤

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I'm so glad!

[@bendingbananas6540]

i live in nyc and honestly i really hate how deeply imbedded in our culture the constant rush to get work done is. It leaves very little room/space to actually enjoy meals when in school! I gotta eat breakfast fast in the morning which i barely get through since i gotta get to class. I have to rush through my lunch since i gotta get to class. There are no snack breaks in between since we have a strict rule of no eating in class. My least favorite part in all this aside from the fact that im hungry throughout the day is that ive crammed all my eating into a specific window of time during the day which is in the afternoon, afterschool. Not only do i sort of feel like crap pigging out so late during the day but i've also noticed I end up eating so much more than needed! I wish schools dedicated a bit more time for us to eat during lunch. Not necessarily so we can eat even more but mainly so that i can at least eat in peace dammit

[@QueenRabbits]

I just wanted to say thank you so much for these videos. A few months back I finally got into contact with a eating disorder counselor and nutritionist. Your videos made me realize that I should reach out and try to find someone to help with my ED. Thank you! 😊

[@juliealexandra2563]

That’s wonderful! Good luck 🧡

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@fridabone]

Just had cottage cheese scrambled eggs, avocado toast with cilantro lime slaw, and canteloupe for breakfast while watching this. I just feel like someone in this comment section will appreciate that lol

[@mariahamilton5325]

Thank you - thoroughly enjoyed this video! I am now incorporating this concept of intuitive eating. After doing this for the last week or so, I feel so much better and am actually not stressed out on what to eat and surprisingly, I’m eating pretty healthy. And, I don’t seem to have cravings like before. I just purchased you’re recommended book on “Intuitive Eating.” Thanks again, Abbey!

[@user-iw9qk5oe3i]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been struggling for so long to figure out a sustainable way of eating. Because of an autoimmune condition, I thought the only way to ever see any changes was to live my life saying, “I’m sorry, I’m gluten free, soy free, grain free, sugar free, bean and legume free, and oh yes, I can’t eat that cheese or dollop of sour cream either because I’m dairy free too.” I have been told to lose weight I need to only eat lean meats and limit my avocado, and never ever eat peanut butter or ice cream. And i felt like a bad person if I saw skittles in the store and wanted them. This created a really bad mental situation. I was anxious about food, jealous when I’d see someone add cream to their coffee, and sad about missing dessert. I’d often skip meals because I was so afraid everything I ate would just hurt me, and this led to unbalanced blood sugar, and binging. I would eat the bowl of ice cream so fast because then I couldn’t feel guilty about eating It. Or if I quickly at the candy, It was like It never happened. And I would obsess over food. (Phew...what a mess hahah) The past couple of months I’ve been working on doing all of the things you suggest. And It completely and totally works!! Although I’ve eaten a lot of ice cream, and lots of cheese, and even too much candy, gradually I’m seeing a shift in the things I actually want to eat. Turns out, my body knows when It needs more veggies and protein. I have three things of ice cream still in my freezer, and haven’t touched It for a couple of days- not because I’ve been restricting myself, but I just haven’t wanted It!😱 I’ve noticed the biggest help with my gut issues is by eating everything slow and concentrating on eating. It’s been so enjoyable! I feel like I’m finally on my way to feeling better about food mentally, and my body seems to be responding better as well. Thanks for putting out this quality content. It has helped my more than you’ll ever know. 💕💕💕

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for sharing your experience. So glad it is helpful!

[@asyakrengauz]

I just saw this and this answers so many of my questions! I love it! Thank you so much and go intuitive eating and food freedom!

[@lauraramosdelgado]

I LOVED THIS SERIES. I have been on a quest to eat intuitively for the past four months and one thing is clear for me: ITS NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMS BUT IS TOTALLY WORTH IT. I appreciate your knowledge and the time and effort you put in the videos you share with your audience.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I'm so glad!

[@MissPurpur]

My instant reaction out loud when I saw this appear on my feed: "Wow, thank you girl!" :') you know just what I need.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad!

[@warmcozy]

This came up in my recommended and I’m saving it because so much truth.

[@jiamalle9013]

"You wanna eat leftover pizza for breakfast? Go for it!" Me eating my leftover pizza for breakfast while watching this video: 😃 I feel seen

[@ruddyannsierra482]

This video has so much helpful info. I got trapped in diet culture and even though I haven’t dived in completely into the intuitive eating series or read anything officially this one is definitely a great one and helpful. Thanks for all the good info and food inspiration. Food is meant to be enjoyable and not a chore, this definitely resonates with me a lot.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad it was helpful!

[@arwenives]

Dear Abbey, you changed my life. I love you. Bless you.

[@niamhkelly6018]

I honestly think this is the best nutrition advice I’ve ever found on KZbin. I don’t think I would have been ready to listen to it until recently. So excited to ditch diet culture/mentality 😄 Thank you Abbey!

[@emmelineellen]

I did Slimming World for about 18 months, lost 12kg but then began getting fed up at the level of restriction required. I found myself restricting and then binging at the weekends when I knew I had a few days left to try and "lose the weight" before my next weigh in. I eventually came to the conclusion that this was no way to live after watching some of your videos. I left Slimming World over the summer and started intuitive eating, and so far have maintained my weight rather than put any on. I have also found myself eating much healthier and varied meals as now I don't go into the supermarket and think "that's banned!!". For example for breakfast this morning I ate some Skyr yoghurt with muesli and added flaked almonds. That would have been impossible to eat on Slimming World as the high fat content of the almonds and sugar in the muesli and yoghurt would have put me over my "syns" for that entire day. I have been feeling much more satisfied with my meals and like I am not just eating the same things over and over again. Thanks for making these videos.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for sharing your experience. So glad they are helpful

[@kaitlynrunion4192]

I've gained 55 pounds since intuitive eating and was already considered overweight. I still like intuitive eating but some "rules" (I think of them as routines or traditions) are important for helping my body know when I'm hungry and what makes me feel good. A certain amount of rules are intuitive to me. I think of them as grandma rules. Like not to spoil my dinner, to eat my vegetables with every meal, but also to have a nice dessert every day. These things are helping me regulate my eating patterns in a way that actually works for my life.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Glad that's working for you

[@hilarymcnutt4235]

I discovered Intuitive Eating via these videos, and am working through the The Intuitive Eating Workbook. It’s absolutely AMAZING. The first weight to come off is the huge one off your shoulders! Freedom to choose and learning to trust myself is really changing my confidence at the same time. Bonus. I’m naturally choosing much more nutritious food, creating more interesting tasty meals, and drinking less wine because I just don’t want it the same. Asking myself ‘what do I really want to eat right now?’ is a game changer.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Glad that is working for you!

[@lesleydekuna6222]

Plezeeeeeee Abbey ! I’d like to second that . A look into Jennifer Jenkins diet regime would be helpful as an older woman myself .

[@scotthill2915]

Middle aged minx would be a great review as well

[@AbbeysKitchen]

On the list

[@Ali-kf5bd]

I got down to my goal weight through strict calorie and macro counting and now I feel myself becoming almost dysmorphic and obsessed with perfection to the point that it's hurting me mentally and making me binge whenever I do "cheat" even worse than I did when I was fat. It's at the point where at every holiday event I feel so full and sick I can't enjoy myself... so I'm trying to make the transition to intuitive eating... but it's SO scary. I just don't trust myself and I'm scared I'll just go right from having nice toned abs to becoming obese again or that I won't eat enough protein and my new muscles will just wither away. I am really trying hard to get a relationship with food that I don't have to feel scared or ashamed of.

[@melindaroop1346]

You arent alone...I have been there! I lost 90 pounds and became obsessed with perfection...then became a fighter and it got worse 😰. I left all of that behind after the birth of my youngest child. Now I eat very balanced and exercise at least 5 days a week and while I don't look as lean as I did back then...I enjoy my food and exercise more.

[@anitafoss1937]

True true, when I did the Dukan Diet, by day 3 I was completely craving a salad, I'd have eaten it dry just to get the basic lettuce, tomato and cucumber! Now, I totally enjoy my huge bowl of "My Salad". Some romaine lettuce, those delicious little yellow tomatoes, English Cucumber, now I add some hemp hearts, I still use my favorite Southwestern Chipotle Dressing, but I use 1/2 the serving size and then thicken it with plain Greek yogurt, love the tang the Greek yogurt adds and the protein. And, I sometimes eat some Oreos afterwards, just because I want to and it makes my day seem complete and it satisfies my rare sugar or chocolate cravings. Sometimes I just want peanut butter and celery. I don't care about calories, I do care about how well I'm balancing protein, carbs and fats, but I also must enjoy my meal as I'm paying for, prepping and preparing it. Thanks for the video. Again, I'm playing catch up but feel that you should get kudos for your hard work!

[@evieupton3375]

I really appreciated running across this video. I’ll have to find your others that are similar. I’m facing the probability of WLS. I decided to look into intuitive eating to help solve my emotional issues with food, and possibly or hopefully avoid the surgery. The way you explained things is super helpful as I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed.

[@catwithonei]

Thank you Abbey, I love your content! I would love to see a video on intuitive eating for people with type-2 diabetes.

[@BigSplitEnergy]

I'm interested to know your take on this Abby: if the body really "knows" what it needs why is obesity (a condition that is accompanied by so many detrimental effects on the body) so prevalent?

[@luiysia]

unfortunately intuitive eating is an individually held philosophy that can't, on its own, address many of the structural problems around food that exist. for instance, IE talks about eliminating the scarcity mentality and embracing abundance and variety, but people who lack access to a healthy variety of food and/or the space and time to store and prepare it (food insecurity), cannot do that in a meaningful way. this explains why obesity is so closely linked to axes of oppression such as race and class (at least, speaking from an american perspective). people who are food insecure are the most at risk for being targeted by companies that sell cheap, shelf-stable, calorie-dense foods because that's what they need.

[@Lieksels63]

If you watch the video you get a lot of it answered

[@BigSplitEnergy]

@@Lieksels63 I watched the video and didn't hear her address it.

[@danhhoang5947]

Because your mind and body are separate? I think if you have this mentality of eat junk, then you reject what your body actually needs and then your body accommodates. I think so anyway. It makes sense in my head

[@BigSplitEnergy]

@@danhhoang5947 your brain and body are far from separate. The body is controlled by signals from the brain and visa versa. I wanted to have a discussion because I am pretty sure if I just ate "what my body wanted" it would be all pizza and curly fries and no fruits and veggies lol

[@daniellerodgers6493]

Oh nice, I’ve been looking forward to this one. 🙂

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Hope it is helpful!

[@user-zh6gv2mh9l]

You changed my life for the better! Thank you ❤

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for sharing! I'm so glad

[@mariathielen7581]

I'm actually relieved to watch your videos! For a while, while being introduced to intuitive eating, I kind of through nutrition out the window or put it on a hold so I could focus on recovering from diet-like thoughts. I'm now pretty sure recovered, and I really want to focus on gentle nutrition. I think I am craving more nutrients, just not sure how to incorporate that into my diet because I know very little about nutrition. Your videos have been very helpful! Thank you!

[@Sierra-cl9xr]

Came here to comment that Abbey putting forth that avocado to me in the thumbnail is the cutest picture and I feel so loved and nutritious

[@AbbeysKitchen]

😊❤️

[@taylorb4014]

I love the idea of gentle nutrition. It’s so easy to become obsessed with nutrition tips. This feels right 👏

[@KitKat-xn5mk]

Greetings from France 🇫🇷 Yes, it is so truth! We are enjoying each moment of eating without feeling guilty. I’m at this moment at my lunch break which is from 12.00 to 2.00 PM :)

[@AbbeysKitchen]

That's great!

[@mariae.cantarelli8595]

Thank you so much for the information! You really helped me through my journey 🥰

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for sharing! I'm so glad

[@vabl894]

I'm still watching so you may address this. But I love the principles behind intuitive eating but I find it very difficult to believe that we can restore our intuition around food (without some level of structure) in our current food environment....highly processed and palatable foods in excess everywhere, for low cost (at least in higher income countries- USA, Canada, Australia etc). And for kids, even without restriction in their homes, many do not actually stop eating when they're full or meet their nutrition needs. We do have really unhealthy and obese children. I know the word "obese" is frowned upon in many schools of thoughts but Im not sure what else to call it. And kids are targeted and manipulated by fast food sharks in terms of advertising, so that has to change some of their psychology and decision making.... making it hard for their intuition to guide them. A side note- I don't think diets help or are effective, the research shows this clearly. But yea, I just find parts of IE difficult to buy into. And its hard to marry IE with your nutrition advice in your videos....because some of that advice isn't people's intuition.

[@VictoriaHealing]

Yes I agree and am curious what others have to say about this. Someone else in the comments asked something similar about if the body really knows what it needs since obesity is so prevalent. I know there are a lot of thoughts on that last part, but I think it plays into this because I feel like our body, tastebuds, and minds have been hijacked by these companies and the hyper palatable "foods" (Can you really call something that is all chemicals food?)

[@luiysia]

unfortunately intuitive eating is an individual philosophy that can't, on its own, address many of the structural problems around food that exist. for instance, IE talks about eliminating the scarcity mentality and embracing abundance and variety, but people who lack access to a healthy variety of food and/or the space and time to prepare it, cannot do that in a meaningful way. additionally yes older children who have begun to be affected by manipulative marketing and diet messaging should be gently guided to foods and hopefully you can incorporate fast food into their diet landscape in a healthy way.

[@ComplicatedSimplicite]

I had a similar and yet different approach to this. I have been intuitive eating for some time now and gained weight as well but am now losing it back and feeling a lot better and happier, however I use to eat intuitive all the time and I ate garbage mostly and felt like crap. That is what got me into health to begin with and I was not going to go back to that. So I approached it with only eating actual real foods free of artificial ingredients. Many people might say that’s restriction but I wasn’t doing it to loose weight or because I feared it. I know it’s not going to kill me I use to live on these foods. I did it because I don’t want to feel bad and these foods literally kill my energy and make me feel horrible. And I don’t say I can’t have these foods I just never want them and I don’t view them as food. I am not dogmatic about it like if I am at a party and they have cake made with artificially colored icing. If I want a slice I will have one but it’s rare. Another thing I did was keep my home stocked with a lot of fresh foods. I have my indulgences as well but I keep those on a higher shelf to encourage my children to make healthier choices. This approach may not work for everyone if you are suffering with a sever eating disorder but it’s effective for me! I hope this helps😊

[@marg200039]

A Sauntering Life I honestly think that’s the way to go. Intuitive eating only really works (in maintaining a health body) when we allow unrestricted access to WHOLE foods. Of course processed foods are delicious and shouldn’t be viewed as completely off limits for a healthy mind, BUT I think approaching processed foods with a clear idea of the nutrition behind it is appropriate. That way it can inform your decision making since you should be practicing gentle nutrition as a principle of intuitive eating, but also allowing yourself a cookie because you want to enjoy it.

[@vabl894]

@@marg200039 Something else I was thinking about is so many people who seem to do well with intuitive eating have lots of nutrition knowledge anyway (not everyone I know). But either they are a nutritionist, dietician, spent years dieting, counting calories, counting macros, etc...so they have some nutrition knowledge behind them. I guess that's where the gentle nutrition part comes in with IE (for people who need the nutrition education) but maybe it should come sooner in the process. Also, so many health problems impact hormones like leptin and ghrelin....so listening to hunger and fullness cues becomes quite tricky🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Also, people with anxiety, depression and trauma will likely have some issue tuning into their body's cues, and learning to do this could take years. Ive seen people saying to others basically you aren't doing IE correctly or it would work. Whereas that's just as shaming as blaming a person for their failed diet. Im studying nutrition now and have worked as a therapist for 13 years and the fact is IE isn't a good approach for lots of people. But also a great approach for others! Thanks for sharing your experiences 🙂 x

[@alisa.maks26]

re eating food that's always "free of something" that made it taste good to begin with - this reminded me of one of smittenkitchen's blog posts, where she said that she doesn't pride or promote her recipes based on them lacking things in general, which is such a great way to look at food (unless you have intolerances/allergies etc).

[@AbbeysKitchen]

That's great!

[@jessicaramirez-yx1nk]

i'm so grateful i found your videos they have helped me A TON in my recovery process and now i can proudly say, i'm getting my hunger cues back and i have anything i crave ☺️ thank you so so much abbey

[@sofiaalterio6157]

I was waiting for this! Abbey thank u so much for your content. Today my dad made an exelent chiken rice and i was feeling bad because it is not the most balance meal. But the i heard your voice in my head saying that I should pair it with some veggies and make it more nutriente dence. Now days i´m always thinking on how I can get the most nutritious meal and not a perfect and "clean" meal. You truly change my perspective of eating.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for sharing! I'm so glad it is helpful

[@jessicaa3641]

I have working with an intuitive eating dietician for a few months and my hormones are finally balanced and back to "normal" for the first time in two years!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad!!

[@LindaSavoryPizzo]

Excellent video...lots of practical info on Intuitive Eating!

[@rebeccalouise9836]

Yes 🙌🏻 so glad you did this video!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

😊👍

[@samanthaquant7411]

When it comes to most things I’ve cut out of my diet I agree, I hate it and it doesn’t last long. The one thing I cut out that DID make me happier was dairy! Because it was making me actually sick.

[@chiledawgg]

Yesssss this is what I’ve been waiting for! ❤️

[@AbbeysKitchen]

😊❤️

[@RobinInTheCut]

I can't thank you enough for this series of informative videos.. It was well put together and covered ever point I needed more information about. You are a wonderful speaker and a great nutritionist! Thank you!! :)

[@jbop3046]

That was incredibly helpful. I’ve been trying to do intuitive eating for a while now, but I could never figure out how to do the nutrition part. I realized while watching your videos that I am giving myself permission to eat junk food, but I have been holding on to my diet mentality when it comes to vegetables. For example, steaming my vegetables (yuck) instead of roasting them with olive oil, salt, and pepper (yum) because I was afraid of the olive oil and salt. I really like vegetables, but I need them to be seasoned appropriately. Thank you!

[@Ajschroeder7]

As someone with pre-diabetes and ibs, I actually have found myself feeling guilty for not always eating “intuitively.” I’ve spent so much of my life trying to do right and intuitive eating seems to be the new “good.” So, I’m trying to stay away from labels for myself. Thankful, I have been able to come to piece with the fact that I can do what works best for managing my ibs, preventing my pre-d from progressing, and maintain some food flexibility/enjoyment regardless of what the latest nutrition trend is.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for sharing. Glad that is working for you

[@ManningInterpreter]

Loved this! All really great reminders, and often times the things that stop me from making healthy choices. Hope you and the whole family are staying safe! ❤️

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful

[@Haley_Wozniak]

Thanks for this. So many of the big voices in the intuitive eating sphere heavily emphasize eat just what sounds good and don't talk about gentle nutrition at all. It's a shame that it's now controversial to talk about basic nutrition without being labeled as diet culture or fatphobic.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

For sure. Glad it was helpful

[@EdenGold]

The best approach is finding a balance between the two!!

[@bendingbananas6540]

idk if this is just a personal preference or something ive developed after years of food and diet culture obsesssion but ive actually grown to really like some of the "healthy" food! im specifically talking about plant based vegan food! When the general public hear vegan they tend to think about people eating nothing but grass and plants. I mean, they're not wrong. But they don't seem to realize the great variety of plants they're missing out on! Anyways, point is, im still a food junky but there are some healthy foods out there i genuinely enjoy feasting on!

[@sorayaw.3959]

great video! could you maybe review linda sun what i eat in a week videos?

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Coming soon!

[@TeaLaRee]

I just want balance (don't we all?). I don't want to look skinny or hot. I want to BE healthy and feel home in my own body. Give my body what it needs, not some ridiculous or limiting way to eat. I like your approach.

[@Shadow-tv2ff]

When I'm alone I don't even feel like cooking and I don't even have breakfast and have a big lunch at 5-7 pm then I regret it because I feel so bloated. When I'm with family and I'm cooking it makes me less anxious and I don't eat as much as when I'm eating by myself. I even try cooking healthy foods.

[@geekjenah3324]

Thank you for this information! It’s been so helpful during my recovery 🙏🏻

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad!

[@tygoosehorn]

Your videos are helping me so much. Thank you x’s a million

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad!

[@annabees]

French here : We love our food

[@KittenCasserole]

Thank you so much for this series. I learned so much and really enjoyed it ❤️

[@hanmorgan4638]

can you make a video on your experience on birth control and weight gain? I find that birth control effects your hunger signals, how will intuitve eating correctly work? Birth control causes a spike in hunger and makes u ravenous which makes you not want to be intuitive.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@nataliaa.1094]

There's also people that lose weight on birth control (like myself ). I literally had to force myself to eat and lost about 15kg.

[@hanmorgan4638]

Natalia A. Yes I understand, but for many it can do the opposite! The mini pill actually puts weight on even if you eat less.

[@nataliaa.1094]

@@hanmorgan4638 Hormones have different effects on different women. I'm sure most women gain weight. Honestly - I wouldn't take birth control again because it also messes with my mental health. The topic in itsself is interesting.

[@rebekahatkinson7979]

I've loved this intuitive eating series. I would love more. Like steps to get started.

[@archetypalmuse]

Let me tell you something: The idea of actually allowing myself to eat whatever I want when I want, either physically or just mentally adopting that sort of thought process is... Scary!! And it's probably scary for a lot of us too. I hear you out Abbey, and I definitely struggle with my cognition around food. Maybe. Just maybe. This relates to my need of perfectionism and being in control. And so the idea of letting go of my "food rules" is concurrent with my idea of letting go of control in my general life and that's.... Terrifying! I also noticed that most of my "binges", or moments when I get most out of control with food (crave "junk", eat a lot of it) are in moments when my life and daily routine spin out of control for reasons I can't control (example: covid). This is definitely something to explore further with my psychologist, but it's wild just how psychological our relationship to food can be!

[@archetypalmuse]

Oh and just to add to the concept of intuitive eating: Erich Fromm called conscious awareness both the blessing and the curse of humans. We are animals that have evolved a frontal lobe and as such our rational brains have taken over much of our animal intuition, for the better and the worse. I think when it comes to food, it's for the worse.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@jessicamadrigal9247]

Not so long ago I ate a cinnamon bun and it actually gave me hives. Eating fast food ( especially little Caesar’s pizza) makes me feel mentally and physically sick. I often wonder if I have fear foods or not since I don’t fear of gaining weight ( because eating ONE cupcake won’t make you gain weight) but rather fear of feeling sick again. However, I still feel emotionally neutral when eating and sometimes I never get full when eating despite eating so much. I need help and watching your videos are helping so much!

[@hannahallain]

I went to a work lunch yesterday and got a dish that had salmon, broccoli and cheese grits 😋😋 And I was just as excited to eat the broccoli as the cheese grits! It was a perfectly satisfying meal 👌

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Love it!!

[@guvibration1182]

Finally, somebody hits straight to the point! 👍

[@AbbeysKitchen]

😊👍

[@lexibarnes7920]

Would you mind doing a video about the relationship between dairy and cancer? Or debunking it?

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@blanchemilne7786]

Empowering! Love this, Abbey. Thank you!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad!

[@queenlolo1384]

To be honest, I think intuitive eating is about the healthiest thing you can do. My logic is, if you body craves something, it's because it's missing something. I actually thought back to this video when my mom dipped fried pork skins in guacamole. It seems piggish on paper, but it does mean that her body is missing out on fats and/or anything else in that combination. When I don't get enough fat, I usually crave chocolate covered almonds, salmon with parmesan cheese, or a Chipotle burrito bowl with carnitas (pork) and guacamole. Or that time when I was on the ketogenic diet for a few months. After I got off of that, I scarfed down a bowl of oatmeal, and I've never liked oatmeal. After I started regularly incorporating grain (and more carbs) into my diet, oatmeal was back to being nasty for me. That unique period where oatmeal was Godtier, was a result of the lack of grain and carbs in my diet. Other times when I'll randomly crave some cabbage or greens, or when my mom would crave a good salad (lack of green vegetables). The overeating thing with intuition means your body is lacking that much more nutrients. Like, when you really pig out and overeat fried pork skins dipped in guacamole, that means you really haven't been eating any fatty foods whatsoever. I'm always team "listen to your body" when it comes to food.

[@beckyjoy2]

Abbey, thank you so much for creating this thoughtful, thorough, easy to digest video series. For me, it was just the push I needed to get more comfortable with the nuances of intuitive eating and pick up the book to learn more. Your approach to it all is much more balanced than I what I've heard in the past and I just think it will be so valuable for so many people! What if any other books and resources do you recommend as next steps after the Intuitive eating book?

[@maurawill51]

I hope you know how wonderful and helpful you are! Thank you! 💕

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad it is helpful!

[@katrinaholt9415]

The newest edition (4th edition) of Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch just came out a few days ago for anyone interested in reading after watching this series! Seems like it has a slightly larger social justice focus (especially weight stigma) which is awesome!!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kunamosity]

Number 3 @ 32.13 made me cry. Great video 🥰

[@bodyofart-annemijnrijk198]

I love this channel and I love this series! But as a European, living in the Netherlands I have to say that people, especially women in big European capitals are very much focussed on loosing weight and restrictive diets. Being a certain size is a real pressure here.. It might be different outside the major cities, but we're for sure not a good example of intuitive eating..

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for letting me know

[@HNO5683]

So been looking forward to this one!! Thanks for the great info!!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

So glad! Hope it is helpful

[@Liya.oek777]

I just want to say THANK YOU!

[@jessegenao3290]

Hi Abbey! I really love your videos on intuitive eating. I feel like my problem is that I think of food like a chore. Not that eating it is a chore, but having to buy it, remember to use it so it doesn't go bad, and prepare dishes. So I end up just eating the same couple of things that are easy to eat, without having much variety in my diet at all. One of my problems is always buying vegetables, salad or smoothie ingredients, and being too lazy to put the ingredients together and they end up rotting in my fridge. How do you get variety in your diet when it feels like you have no motivation to put the work in to make your diet more varied?

[@sabrinac4092]

This is a good and helpful video! I don't like cooking though. 🙁 So I end up going back to something quick and not always the most healthy.

[@mathildeberg3469]

Hey Abby ! Thanks for this great video. Just wanted to mention, being a French woman, that you idealize French food culture. ED are sadly very present and more and more people are struggling with food. I'd say that nowadays diet culture is sadly world spread and globalize :/

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thank you for letting me know

[@summinella]

These videos make me want to eat 😂 I love your content so much, dieting culture is often very harmful. Thank you for this series ❤️

[@abbykerrigan5936]

I don't have these thoughts and I still binge. I have done everything I can to normalize my relationship with food and I still can't stop binging.

[@EdenGold]

I have some videos that I've just uploaded within the past couple of weeks that you might find helpful in taking steps moving forward

[@ellenoregaard5766]

Would you ever make a video about how you style your hair? I am obsessed and struggle with loving my hair not being long.

[@stewardofthehome]

This was SO helpful to me. Thank you for your balanced advice

[@katscratch5389]

Flaxseed and chai seeds are also a great way to get omega 3! Easy to throw in yogurt or smoothies

[@Katie.Engberg]

Thanks for this series Abbey!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

😊❤️

[@elisadelpino5159]

This video comes completely in sync with my process with my diet right now, I am working in understanding that I'm not restricting, I am giving my body the right food in healthy amounts. Do I binge and snack unhealthy junk? Obviously, but less frequently than before.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Glad that's working for you!