Facing Food Fears
by: Lisa Licavoli, RD, CCN
www.HealthyBodyImage.com
The fear of food is one area that must be conquered in order to experience full recovery from an eating disorder. Fattening foods, those with a high percentage of fat calories, are typically high on the avoidance list of those suffering from an eating disorder, but the fear of specific foods is an individual matter. One of my clients eats butter but would never consider ice cream. Another client frantically counts fat grams but consumes hundreds of sugar calories daily. Different foods physically and/or emotionally trigger people depending on their genetics, hormones, experiences and how they perceive the food. When food has been used almost exclusively as a coping mechanism, it is terrifying to give up. But, regaining power over food boosts confidence and self-esteem. The goal for a person suffering from an eating disorder is to normalize their relationship with food by letting go of the power they give it.
Part of the work I do with my clients that restrict is to help them eat some of the foods they have been avoiding. We call these foods challenge foods. Eating a challenge food is a very emotional experience. The false beliefs about the lurking dangers of food must be challenged and thinking must be restructured to bring about recovery. As a Registered Dietitian, my job is to help dissipate the overwhelming emotions and irrational thoughts that are released by 'indulging' in a challenge food. I constantly reassure clients that they will not gain ten pounds by eating one cookie. However, if eating one cookie leads to eating ten, when we put aside that food and try another one. I want my clients to be successful with their food challenges so we start slowly with one of their least triggering foods. Once a person has eaten a challenge food and survived (as they always do) they go on to systematically add other challenge foods.
An objection that clients typically bring up is "why do I have to eat foods that are bad for me?" They don't. I believe in the concept of clean eating. However, it's a trick question because there is no such thing as perfect eating. Is a piece of birthday cake on your birthday bad for you? What about a big piece every night? Is candy bad for you? What about an ounce of dark chocolate? There are a lot of gray areas surrounding healthy eating. For example, the social aspect of eating must be factored into the equation. People who do not eat with friends, family and co-workers do not have the connection that eating with others brings.
Recovery from an eating disorder involves the flexibility to eat a variety of foods with others with less rigidity and without feelings of guilty or anxiety. There is hope. People do recovery from eating disorders and even go on to enjoy food and eating!
