Food relationships are complex, nuanced, and can be difficult to define, as eating habits often develop from a combination of personal and sociocultural experiences, beliefs, and practices.
There’s no medical or universally agreed upon definition of a “healthy” relationship with food. But most mental health experts would agree that it usually involves making food choices that are largely influenced by hunger and preferences, says Lindsey Bodell, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in disordered eating and an assistant professor of psychology at Western University in London, Ontario.
“A healthy relationship with food can include eating a variety of foods, being flexible with food choices, not feeling shame or guilt for eating certain foods, and eating to fuel your body and for enjoyment,” Dr. Bodell explains.
It may also involve rejecting the concept of food morality — or categorizing food as “good” or “bad” — and rejecting the inclination to avoid foods that feel forbidden or shameful, Dr. Attia says.
These ideas generally suggest something very different from a healthy, flexible or balanced relationship with food, she notes. “They rarely reflect much about the nutritional value of foods,” she explains. “In actuality, there are no foods that should be categorized as ‘bad.’”