Welcome Autumn! There are so many things that I love about the fall- the cool weather, cozy blankets & sweaters, football, warms drinks, lots of soup, and of course, seasonal foods! Some of my favorites are pumpkin bread and apple crisp (minus the side of guilt!). This is an excellent example of intuitive eating; eating foods you love, and that nourish you, without guilt or shame.

You're certainly not alone if the sight of pumpkin spice everything fills you with equal amounts of excitement and fear. The excitement of fall flavors and tastes can be quickly diminished by food police rules about carbs, fat, and sugar. Desserts and candy are at the top, or near the top, of the “forbidden” foods list for many people. Forbidding seasonal foods that you love leads to a sense of deprivation and an urgency to eat them in large volumes. This is a "scarcity" mindset. When we believe that we won't have access to something in the future, our natural reaction is to get as much of it as we can right now. If you've dieted, you may recognize this as "last supper" eating, or eating all your "forbidden" foods the day before starting a new diet.

Making peace with seasonal foods involves a mindset shift toward intuitive eating. What if instead of depriving yourself of seasonal foods that you love, you gave yourself permission to have these foods because they are in season right now? It's natural this time of year to crave warm foods, spices, casseroles, and starchier foods because of the cooler weather and the way these foods feel in our bodies. I don't know about you, but I'm much less likely to crave chili when it's 95 degrees in July or popsicles in January!! Although mini candy bars are available all year long, there's something special and fun about having them on Halloween. Lean into it!

The alternative to the "scarcity" mindset is leaning in to seasonality with an abundance mindset. Here are a few of my favorite tips for making peace with seasonal foods:

Photo by Heidi Kaden (@infiniteexplorer) via Unsplash

Tip #1- Eat what you truly love- What seasonal foods and flavors do you love, and what are the reasons you love them so much? Are there special memories of people, places, or events attached to them? Is it the flavor, texture, aroma, and/or temperature that are appealing to you? Eating what you truly love is the most satisfying experience. If you don't love what you're eating or it doesn't taste as good as you imagined, give yourself permission not to eat it and find something else that you do love!
Tip #2- Lean into your feelings- It's okay to experience emotions about seasonal foods, or any food for that matter! Food is not just a combination of macronutrients and micronutrients; it's about family, connection, tradition, memories, and so much more. Get curious about your feelings without judgment.
Tip #3- Practice self-compassion when you feel overly full or uncomfortable- Part of being a human who eats is that sometimes we feel overly full or unwell after a meal or snack. It's a normal part of being an eater! It's okay not to feel well or wish we had eaten slightly less of a favorite food. We can practice speaking to ourselves kindly in these moments. Our feelings will pass, we will experience hunger again in the future, and we can learn from these moments. It's all okay!!

Much of the allure is often in the "forbidden" nature of the food. If we can have our seasonal favorites when we truly want them, the desire eat them with urgency will lessen (or dissipate). This month, I encourage you to eat seasonal foods that you truly love.

Making Peace with Seasonal Foods- Intuitive Eating