Our relationship with food has become more complex than it needs to be. There’s a plethora of diets out there and even more information about what you should eat. One day eggs are good for you and the next they’re not. It’s confusing!
What’s even more confusing is that each diet restricts different things. The restricted foods are usually deemed as “untouchables” (I’m thinking about my good friend bread - completely refined carbohydrates….I love you so much).
But what if you lived in a world where you give yourself permission to eat whatever you want? Chips and chocolate cake are no longer synonymous with guilt. It’s not “indulgent” or “sinful” to have rich desserts.
Stay with me here. What I’m about to propose next is pretty radical…
Also, WHAT IF allowing yourself to eat whatever you want can even deepen your spiritual practice? Like, Cheetos can help with your spiritual growth??
Hey, I’m happy to live in a world where I get to hangout with bread whenever I want and not feel bad for it. I probably won’t eat it everyday but even just having the option to feels liberating.
Cue in this amazing thing called Intuitive Eating. Apparently spiritual Cheetos can become a reality!
I’m so glad to have Rachel Tu on this episode because she teaches us how Intuitive Eating works and how to initiate it into our lives right away.
Rachel is a busy new mom, registered dietitian, yoga teacher and creator of Food, Flow, Thought. She has worked in community health care for over 5 years and is passionate in helping others find food freedom and heal their body image to help decrease the prevalence of eating disorders. She integrates yoga in her counseling through her training and research in trauma-informed yoga, Yoga Nidra and embodied yoga.
In this episode Rachel teaches us about what Intuitive Eating is and how it can help deepen our mindfulness, yoga and spiritual practice. The cool thing about Rachel is that Food, Flow, Thought is her side hustle. This woman is an inspiring example of how you can totally love your day job and also branch off to create something to express a different side of you without having to choose on over another. We get to hear her story of how she landed in a place where she’s so in love with everything that she does.
This one’s a great one! It can also make you feel super good about eating bread or chocolate cake so what are you waiting for? Grab the earbuds and listen in!
Topic Summary:
- How can you know that the work you’re doing is aligned to what you’re meant to do?
- Connection between mindfulness, yoga and intuitive eating
-What is intuitive eating and how can it help us live more joyfully
- Intuitive eating vs. mindful eating
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Key Nuggets:
How do you know this is what you’re meant to do?
Rachel loves the work that she does - day job and side hustle. How did she know that dietetics was for her? How can others check in to see if they’re aligned with their best path in life? She talks about using core values as a guidance system for navigating your life.
Intuitive Eating:
Give yourself permission to eat what you want. It’s not what you eat but the intention that you eat it with.
That carrot cake isn’t necessarily bad for you - but why are you eating it? For enjoyment or are you trying to seek comfort in it?
Rachel tells us how we can start doing intuitive eating right away.
Mindful Eating:
Slowing down and using all 5 senses can lead to you feeling more satisfaction with your meal.
One of Your Biggest Lessons So Far:
“I have to say it's to let go of perfection.
Growing up I felt this need to fit in to what is socially acceptable like get the best marks, get a good career, eat healthy, exercise, be fit, be happy, get rich, dress well, buy this, buy that, the list goes on ...
What I’ve learned is that this just leads to anxiety or judgments in comparing myself with others and ultimately leading to confusion of how I truly show up. Yoga gave me this space to explore imperfection and challenge my perfectionist need to master a pose. I’ve learned in yoga this ability to explore polar opposite thoughts and dualistic and be okay with both and that's why I love bringing it into my teachings.”
What is one nugget of wisdom that you would share with fellow seekers who are on this journey of growth and transformation?
“A nugget of wisdom ill share about my growth is understanding my purpose. As a child, I always pondered about my own purpose in life is or what I wanted to be when I grow up. I finally think my purpose is living within my values and helping others to do so whether it’s through body image healing or helping people eat with in their lifestyle.
It's about connecting to our values and its about finding a community that shares those values but also challenges them. Values never end and it can help drive our decisions in the life we want to live.
Life is not a goal , just like yoga is not about a pose. I think we are set to think that way, but if we can enjoy the journey we are more likely to feel more free from our to do list and be in the moment.”
Resources:
If you want to learn more, Rachel also does 5 Day Intuitive eating workshops. her most recent one is August 27th-31st, 2020.
Links:
If you have any questions for Rachel or want to learn more, connect with her through:
Website: www.foodflowthought.com
Instagram: @foodflowthought
