Let’s Talk About Cheat Meals
The cheat meal. The holy grail of any diet. It is often used as a reward or something you can look forward to enjoying. By definition, it’s a meal that doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value and likely contains an excess of calories. It’s something you love and crave but isn’t “on track” with your diet. Despite the fact the cheat meal probably isn’t great macro-wise, the true effects of a cheat meal are often more mental and physical.
The big issue with cheat meals is that cheating automatically resonates as something that is bad. In elementary school, we are told to put our folders up to prevent others from looking at our papers. Or were the folders to prevent us from looking at their papers? The temptation to cheat is always there, especially when it comes to dieting. We are told to suppress our cravings because these cravings are bad and will throw us off the path to our body goals.
Cheat meals reinforce the idea that some foods are bad vs. good. It tells us that giving in to our cravings represents a loss of control. When you only give yourself one opportunity to “go wild” and eat whatever you want, there’s a chance you’ll go way overboard. Cheat meals can lead to a downward spiral of overindulging.
Want to erase the guilt that comes with a cheat meal? Then it’s time to redefine how you think about food indulgences. Registered dietitian nutritionist, Kaleigh McMordie, told Better NBC, “I think the best food to conquer a craving is the food you are craving.” It’s okay to accept and lean into the foods you want! Instead of going all-out with a cheat meal, figure out how you can incorporate indulgences into your everyday diet. Ask yourself, “How can I make my favorite treat healthier?” Is there a simple ingredient swap you can make? Pay attention to portions. Nutrition expert Kate Lemere of The Four Percent advises that 15-20% of your daily calories should come from dessert or junk. The big takeaway here? It’s absolutely okay for your diet to contain dessert and junk food!
Diets shouldn’t deprive you of the food you enjoy. While a slice of pizza may not have a ton of nutritional value, if pizza is something you love, it has a different kind of value. The Habyt reinforces this notion by teaching their clients how to incorporate the foods they love, while still hitting their macro goals consistently. The more restrictive you are with your food intake the more likely you are to binge on food. At The Habyt, there is no list of “bad” foods or even a strict meal plan. The goal is to ultimately learn to eat food with freedom and flexibility without those negative emotions attached. Let go of the guilt associated with cheating on your diet. Weight loss and fitness goals won’t mean much if you end up with negative feelings associated with certain foods. Forget what you learned in elementary school and accept that cheating happens. We promise you won’t get in trouble.
To learn more about our program options, book a FREE CONSULT CALL with us!