We Need To Stop Feeling Guilty About Eating
From the guilt of giving in to hunger, to the full public disclaimer that precedes a mouthful of cake, we need to stop.

Many of us are exposed to the wretched guilt of eating, alongside the enjoyment of eating, from the early years of our existence. Perhaps you were one of the children chastised for scoffing down meals and snacks in quick succession. Maybe your families were an on-and-off dieters whose dinners were either remarkably small and unappetising or plates piled high with edible comfort. Or it might have been that you had a family member who couldn’t help but comment on your weight, whether it were up, down, or completely .
Modern attitudes to eating often come laced with fear, shame, and a deep-set guilt. Let’s talk about a few reasons why food shouldn’t be a source of negativity.
Food is more than fuel
We do not wear and style our clothes purely for the purpose of keeping ourselves covered. We do not have sex with each other for the sole means of making babies. So why should we only eat food to meet an exact measurement of calories and macro-nutrients?
Food is undoubtedly a source of great nourishment. The nutrients in the things we consume are what keep our bodies functioning. However, this does not mean to say it shouldn’t also be a source of great joy.
This is not to say that joy need only reside in the occasional treats we permit ourselves to eat. A chocolate-heavy dessert or salty handful of fries are both wonderful ways to delight your senses, but should not be seen as some kind of forbidden “cheat meal” only allowed once a week. It makes no sense to live in an endless cycle of punish-punish-punish-TREAT-punish.
Of course, I don’t advocate that you indulge yourself with everything in sight all day long, that method does work well with anything in life. However, the pleasure we take from food is something that isn’t spoken about enough anymore.
Food is our energy: calories, kilojoules, vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates and protein.
Food is the basis of our habits: weekend brunches, morning coffee runs, lunchtime catch-ups, afternoon snacks, dinner dates, baking with the kids.
Food is our family tradition: your grandma’s cakes, your dad’s curry, your sister’s hidden chocolate stash, your mum’s Sunday dinner.
Food is our culture: regional recipes, national dishes, religious feasts.
You don’t need to justify your every mouthful
Countless times I have witnessed people in offices defend themselves and their dietary choices before even picking up a slice of cake. Offering an apology for allowing themselves to succumb to the satanic temptation of a cookie. Or something like that.
This kind of behaviour stems from whatever we have learned about attitudes to eating, from family or friends. The problem with reiterating it so publicly, is that it reinforces this sort of “saint or sinner” mentality around food. It makes us question our own choices and preferences, instead of just enjoying our lives.
You’re not being “naughty” or being “fat” — you are simply a person enjoying some tasty food.
On another note, the simple fact is that other people simply, but politely, just don’t care about what you’re eating. They don’t want to know about your calorie count, your keto plan, or your low-carb bread. Life can be scary or miserable enough, especially in current circumstances, to even consider someone else’s diet issues. Similarly, when you do this, you could be unknowingly attacking someone else’s weight or dietary habits.
Take true joy in what you eat, whether it’s a juicy peach or a deep-fried Oreo. Finding satisfaction in your food, and allowing yourself to enjoy it, is the best way to work towards being your healthiest self anyway.
Food is not a “guilty pleasure”
Taking advantage of the two-for-one pizza deal on Tuesdays, or eating nothing but tinned pineapple rings with cheese slices for lunch. Many times in our daily lives we need something that makes us feel good. While a healthy balanced diet is undoubtedly the best way to long term vitality, there are times when nothing quite hits the pleasure centres like our favourite food.
There is absolutely no need to feel any kind of guilt from this, and there is nothing productive that comes from doing so. Decades of reinforced diet culture in the western world have taught us that we should constantly be in pursuit of shrinking ourselves and eating as little as possible. However, there is truly no joy to be had in the short human experience in living this way.
We are blessed with a strong sense of smell and receptive taste buds, not to mention our ability to cook meals (or order them electronically). This modernisation of our primary means of filling our bodies entitles us to this glorious treat of good taste. Do not feel shame if you don’t subsist on raw, unseasoned plants.
No (legal) pleasure should bring you guilt or negative feelings. You are not some kind of unique shameful example of a person that enjoys fast food. We all take joy in certain foods, from the fanciest dinner to the cheapest packaged cake, just as we should.
Ultimately, many of us have delicious food within easy reach in our day to day lives. Taking joy this glorious way of providing our bodies with energy is nothing to be ashamed of.
We need to stop feeling guilty about eating.