Understanding Food Freedom.

Food Freedom.

Like the words “happy” and “strong” and “healthy” - this phrase can mean something different to EVERY single persont that states it or reads it.

I can honestly tell you, I never thought food freedom was possible for me - even like 6 years ago. Heck, even 4.

I have told this story MANY times - but the beach is my most favorite place in the world. Ever since I was a little girl my happiest memories were made here. My husband also LOVES the beach and it has always been our “thing” and our “place.”

A few years back, I skipped every weekend chance I had to go to the beach. I skipped these weekends not because I was working or had obligations. I skipped these times with family, friends and my significant other because I was so obsessed with my “routine” and lived in so much fear of “ruining it” that I couldnt FATHOM the thought of a weekend without my workouts, hours of them, my safe foods and my comforts of diet culture basically.

I look back and where as I am angry with myself for missing out on life. I do believe experience is our greatest teacher. And I do believe that having lived that life, I can relate more to YOU reading this.

Christy Harrison, author of “Anti-Diet” my most favorite book of life - doesn’t call diet culture the “life thief” for nothing. That is literally what it does.

Provides this sense of - ‘if I don’t do this, I fail’ and these feelings of ‘if I look this way, I win and will be happy’ - meanwhile if you have followed my story at all, when I was living in these times, I couldn’t have been less happy and the fact that I never even considered my health which was completely compromised, says it all.

Which again, brings me back to the point that happy and healthy - can mean so many different things to so many different people.

I need you to know that you are not a failure.

I need you to know that diet culture wants you to be a “lifetime” member.

I need you to know that although I love all my clients, if they never graduated, I would not be doing MY JOB.

AND I neeeeeed you to know, that food freedom is a real thing. It may show up in different ways for you, but it is SO real.

I can also think back to the foods I would never eat. Foods I used to think were so “bad” and I would just feel so bad about myself when I had them. I avoided places and outings with pizza specifically. And now - pregnant Jenna, could live off pizza.

I had different rules for when I was “allowed” my desserts which made me eat so much more of them when the time came, and enjoy them so much less in hindsight.

And now, fast forward an afternoon I*SKREAM bar is one of my favorite snacks, literally any time of the day I am all for these babies, I will explain more at the bottom of the post!

fave flavor:

currently is Java Crunch.

Anyways, as I dive deeper into my true Intuitive Eating journey, I have realized so much.

But mostly, what I know for a fact - when we are in it, when we are in the thick of the restriction, the obsessive behavior and so on - we CANNOT recognize these things. But, if you are reading this and you have a little feeling like you can relate to some of it. Stick with us here, it can change and you can take your life back.

SO, how do we define food freedom?!

Basically, every client defines food freedom on their own with us, but in general we have summed it up as follows:

At HSH Food Freedom is:

The ability to have unconditional permission to eat all foods but to choose the ones you want when you want them.

This means, some days you may choose all high nourishment foods and others may be a mixture.

No combo is a ‘bad’ one, but we will help you CONNECT to your choices and recognize how they make you feel, so that you can continue to CHOOSE the ones that make you feel your best ALWAYS – physically and mentally.

Those choices that do not feel the best to you become a learning experience, not a punishment, and those that do feel your best and most satisfied may become repeated more often.

The healing journey looks different for every single client we work with and will look different for every single human out there. The time it takes to consistently get to a place where this feels like the ‘norm’ is also different for everybody.

This journey means discovery of what you love, it means taking your life back from diet culture and tracking, it means learning to trust yourself around food and learning how to live again. 

And what it means most to me…is creating memories and moments that I know will only happen ONCE in my life.

This TikTok sums it up for me.

Jenna Werner, RD 🍓 (@happystronghealthy.rd) has created a short video on TikTok with music Coldplay - Paradise. | Your recovery may not be easy but always worth it 🤍 #dietitian #nutrition #recoveryispossible #recovery #foodfreedom #InMyAEJeans #LookalikeEdit | Your journey will not be short or even easy.

You have the power to change your trajectory. I really mean that. And it CAN start today.

Everyday gets a little better, promise.

LOVE YOU ALL.

XOXO,

Jenna

OK NOW, let’s talk about the new ice cream discovery I just shared! I*SKREAM bars - I have been eating one almost every day, no lie. They are absolutely delcious, individually wrapped - so you can stock up on more flavors, and is a female owned company with an owner who is so passionate about ice cream it is the most beautiful thing. These bars are made with so much love and pack so much flavor. They are sweetened with stevia and although they may be considered a lower sugar ice cream option, they do NOOOTTT sacrifice an ounce of flavor. Trust me on this, I know my ice creams LOL.

Try them and let me know what you think for yourself!

CODE: HAPPYSTRONGHEALTHY10 gets you 10% off!

Let me know which flavor you fall in love with first: SHOP HERE

*this post is created in partnership with iSkream.com

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Written by Jenna Werner

Hey there, I’m Jenna! I'm a Registered Dietitian, online nutrition coach and serious food lover. I'm ready to help you quit dieting forever and fall in love with the way food makes you feel.

Learn more about me and the HSH offerings here.