Food Shaming: Changing How We Talk About Food
What is food shaming?
The act of food shaming is to judge someone’s food choices and comment on them, making them feel ashamed of said choices.
It’s similar to body shaming which is the act of humiliating someone by making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or size, but with regards to food choices or eating habits.
Food shaming doesn’t always come from an intentionally hurtful place. In fact, friends and family members may often feel they are helping you out by reminding you that the donut you’re about to eat will go straight to your hips. In reality, it’s not the intention behind these comments that matters, it’s the impact that they make.
Examples of Food Shaming
“You’re going to eat ALL of that?”
“Don’t you know how many carbs that has?” (Or in place of carbs, it could be calories, grams of sugar, grams of fat, etc.)
“Really? That’s all you’re going to eat? You really should have more.”
“I thought you were on a diet?”
“A moment on the lips, forever on the hips!”
“Wow, someone’s hungry today!” or “You’re eating AGAIN?”
“Oh my gosh, I could NEVER eat that.”
Our Relationship with Food
Food is important, but we also need to juggle lifestyles, health goals, and mental health.
There are so many factors that influence our food choices, and you cannot see those factors by just glancing at a plate. Food is an important part of our lives, and it can have so many meanings to different people. It can mean health, love, sense of community, or pleasure, but for others, especially people with diabetes, it might cause feelings of anxiety and fear.
Rethink the Role of Food and Your Health
Instead of thinking of food as “good” or “bad,” or judging people (or yourself) by the way you eat, picture food and eating as being neutral and adopt a non-judgmental way of thinking. The food you put on your plate, is just food that will provide energy and nutrients to fuel your body.
Unlearning what we have been exposed to takes time but being aware of those negative thoughts is a start.
Instead of thinking of food as “good” or “bad,” picture food and eating as being neutral.