30 Chapter 2: Basic Nutrition Healthy Eating Patterns A healthy eating pattern is one that includes a variety of foods in order to provide the necessary energy and essential nutrients we need. As a general rule of thumb, strive to have all three macronutrients (i.e., carbohydrates, protein, fat) represented at each meal. A healthy eating pattern is also one that can be maintained over the course of a lifetime. Our bodies are very different, and all have different calorie needs (even differing from day to day). God made us all unique and therefore calorie needs cannot be represented by a generalized number. Additionally, one pattern of eating may be sustainable for some individuals, but not others. For some individuals, it may be necessary to refrain from using calorie counters / calculator and diet trackers in order to maintain a healthy relationship with food and their body. It is also important to remember that food holds no moral value (i.e., food is neither good nor bad). Food is consumed for a variety of reasons (e.g., preference, cultural / social norms, accessibility, mood) and all of them are valid. With that in mind, it is important not to demonize or avoid certain foods. While we should be mindful of nourishing our bodies well, we should also be careful not to place boundaries on what we eat. For example, it would be ultimately counterproductive and unrealistic to only consume “healthy” foods in the pursuit of health. A healthy eating pattern should not be difficult to implement and follow. God has equipped each of us with an innate ability to assess our hunger and fullness. As a result, we should listen to and honor these hunger and fullness cues. However, unhealthy eating patterns can disrupt this ability thereby allowing this God-given ability to fade over time. Eating Disorders / Disordered Eating While nurturing our bodies through sound nutrition and exercise is wise practice, we must recognize there is a fine line between a healthy relationship with food and exercise and a disordered one. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some individuals to innocently embark upon a weight loss journey and end up with an eating disorder. Disordered eating can lead to serious health complications like malnourishment and altered levels of various bodily hormones. A listing of various types of eating and psychological disorders is provided in Table 2.16 (Fink & Mikesky, 2021). Table 2.16. Various Types of Eating and Psychological Disorders Associated with Body Image Eating Disorder Description Anorexia Nervosa A clinical condition characterized by extreme fear of becoming obese, a distorted body image, and avoidance of food. Bulimia Nervosa A clinical condition characterized by repeated and uncontrolled food binging in which a large number of calories are consumed followed by an immediate purge (e.g., vomiting or use of laxatives / diuretics). Binge Eating Disorder A clinical condition characterized by the inability to control what or how much food is being consumed.
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