Something I really want to make absolutely clear, because I see how often this topic gets misunderstood. I have never struggled with an eating disorder, and I have never followed any strict, pre-planned, controlled diet. Everything I share about food comes from my own experience, my own preferences, and the way my body naturally feels and functions best. I’ve always eaten intuitively, long before I even knew this term existed. Small portions but frequent meals were simply something my body responded well to. It never felt forced or restrictive, just natural and comfortable.

I was also lucky not to enjoy heavy, overly fatty food, so avoiding it has never felt like a rule or something I had to control. But I absolutely have a weakness for sweets, and I’ve never tried to deny that part of myself. For me it’s about balance, not perfection, and definitely not about guilt.

What matters most to me is promoting a healthy, calm, and respectful relationship with food. That’s what I try to model for my kids as well. I’m very conscious about the fact that food is never used as a reward or punishment in our house. I don’t want my children to associate food with emotional approval or disapproval. I want them to understand it as nourishment, pleasure, and something they can trust themselves with. I want them to grow up knowing that their bodies deserve kindness, not rules and pressure.

I truly believe that strict diets rarely lead people to the results they want. Maybe short-term, but never in a sustainable, healthy way. Restriction only builds tension, and tension always leads to guilt eventually. But when you understand what you eat, when you learn what ingredients make you feel good, when you pay attention to energy levels, digestion, cravings, sleep — that’s when food becomes a tool, not an enemy. Intuitive eating isn’t about eating whatever you want at any moment; it’s about learning to listen and trust yourself.

Knowledge, awareness, self-observation — these are the things that create balance. And when you live in balance, there’s no guilt. You simply choose what feels right, and that’s enough.

Amen.