Question of the month #2: I'm all or nothing with food - help!

Chances are, if we’re taking an all-or-nothing approach to food, we are likely doing this in other parts of life as well. This isn’t just about food. It’s about LIFE and the intimate connection between the way you eat and the way you show up in the world.

As Geneen Roth so beautifully says, ‘Our relationship with food -- how, when, what and why we eat -- is a direct expression of our underlying feelings, thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. It has to do with stances we take that get reflected not only in our relationship with food, but in all our relationships. It just so happens that the relationship with food causes enough conflict, grief, shame and hurt that we're willing to look at it.’

Question of the month #1: I'm addicted to junk food. What do I do?

The belief that food is addictive is deeply entrenched in diet culture. And I get it, when I myself was stuck in the disordered eating trenches, I genuinely thought that I was addicted to “junk food” and especially sugar (hello Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!) and that the only way out was complete abstinence. It felt like I could not allow myself even a tiny bite, because the second my taste buds got the sweet hit of sugar, all good intentions and willpower went out the window.

Everywhere we look, sugar and other kinds of “junk foods” are demonised. We are even told that sugar is more addictive than cocaine — I’m sure you've heard of those studies? Unfortunately, what happens when we buy into this story is that we become afraid of consuming these foods, and consequently label them as forbidden foods that are to be avoided at all cost.

There’s a few things I want to say on this topic to help you reframe your "I'm a food addict” story. But before I do so, I’d like you to ponder on a few questions: