Diet Tips for Women that want to be "Good Feminists"

I’ve had more than a couple clients explain how, even though a part of them very much wants to work on their diet or eating, another part of them feels that caring about their body or diet might make them a “bad feminist.”

These women feel and fear that caring about their body, working on their diet, or their body composition would be superficial and entangled with the residue of the patriarchal male-gaze. They feel it would be better and more "feminist" to bring their energy to other important things like work, for example.

I very much agree that life is not meant to be narrowly focused on diet.

The Feminine & Diet

I want to offer the perspective that protecting and honoring the Feminine, slowing down to take care of the body can very well be a feminist practice. Is caring for the body not honoring women?

When caring for the body in a mature and Self-led way, body care does not become a performance for others. It's motivated by your own feeling Center.

Caring for your body as a personal value is a growth path. You have to really own this.

Diet Tips for Women that want to be "Good Feminists"

Focus on how you feel: Move away from the default impulse to judge what you eat and don't eat based on ideals in your mind. Focus on how you want to feel, and make decisions about food that support you in feeling that way.

Focus on what's important to you: Is a long, healthy life important to you? Is enjoying life's pleasures while you are alive? Is a certain degree of fitness important? How about healing? Is healing a high value? No one can define your values for you.

Make your direct experience primary; trust your experience: All is gained and nothing lost when you allow yourself to try different ways of eating and notice how it directly impacts you body, your appetite, and your mental health. This is a the path of direct experience. Try things out. Notice how it is for you. Have faith in your experience.

Working with clients in the field of Eating Psychology for over 16 years, I’ve found empowering yourself as a woman means getting into Right Relationship with your body, in a way that is personally meaningful to you!

Warmly,

Laura

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