Nina Kaufmann

When you hear “intuitive eating” and see the usual social media content related to it, featuring donuts, croissants and similar delicious treats, you might think intuitive eating is simply eating whatever you want, whenever you want, with no regard whatsoever to well-being.
This is one of the most common intuitive eating myths and today, we will debunk it.
Intuitive eating is not a free-for-all but a structured, compassionate, evidence-based approach to food and health.

If you’ve ever felt confused about what intuitive eating really means, you’re not alone. Let me walk you through what it is, what it isn’t, and why it could change your life.

What Is Intuitive Eating?

Intuitive eating is best described as a mind-body integration of instinct, emotions and rational thought. It helps you reconnect with your body’s natural cues: hunger, fullness, satisfaction.
IE was created by wonderful dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, who outlined ten principles—like rejecting the diet mentality, honoring your hunger and fullness, and making peace with food. It’s about learning to trust your body again, because we were all born intuitive eaters.

For more detailed descriptions of intuitive eating, visit:

• Food Freedom Explained: Embrace Intuitive Eating and Live Your Best Life
• Reject Diet Culture: How To Start Your Intuitive Eating Journey
• Can You Lose Weight with Intuitive Eating? Here’s What You Need to Know
• 5 Signs You’re Ready to Stop Dieting and Embrace Intuitive Eating
• Can Intuitive Eating Improve Your Health? A Holistic Approach to Well-being
• Peace with Food: Intuitive Eating
• Healing Binge Eating Through Intuitive Eating

Where Did “Eat Whatever You Want” Come From?

One of the important parts of healing your relationship with food is giving yourself the unconditional permission to eat. Which is commonly mistaken for “binge eat all day long, eating least nutritious foods in the world.”
But here’s the thing: this is oversimplification of a rich, complex framework that intutive eating respresents. It also stems from people’s personal beliefs about food, and their own restrictions.

Why Intuitive Eating Isn’t Just “Eat Whatever You Want”

Allowing yourself to eat is an essential part of making peace with food—if you don’t give yourself the permission to eat, you’re dieting. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll “recklessly binge eat for the rest of your life until you explode” to quote one of my clients; as this is the most common fear my clients have, and we work through it gently and successfully.
Making peace with food is simply about removing fear and guilt from eating. It’s about letting go of the “good” vs. “bad” food mindset so that food loses its power to control you.

The truth is, when you practice intuitive eating, you listen to your body’s cues, one of which is fullness. Furthermore, other principle of intuitive eating is body respect—ignoring your body’s signals, eating more than feels good would disregard this important principle.
To take it deeper, gentle nutrition and rational thought are also essential parts of intuitive eating. This means making choices that honor your health and your taste buds, but without rigid rules or restrictions.

Think of it this way: you’re learning to nourish yourself in a way that feels good both physically and emotionally. And when you work with me, I help you navigate this journey so it doesn’t feel like it’s too much to handle.

When you look at the bigger picture, it becomes easier to notice that intuitive eating is not about abandoning health or throwing nutrition out the window.
Instead, it’s about building health through sustainable, balanced choices, while understanding that all foods you love can fit into your unique, healthy lifestyle.

If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. I’ve guided so many women through this journey—step by step, at their own pace. You don’t have to do it alone.
Learn more about Intuitive Eating Coaching and how it can change your life here.

The Research Backs It Up

Studies show that intuitive eating can improve both physical and mental health. There are over 100 studies consistently showing that intuitive eating is beneficial in many ways, like helping lower rates of disordered eating, improving body image, and greater self-esteem.
While restrictive diets and “lifestyles” often lead to binge eating and guilt cycle (and, funny enough, not to long term weight loss), intuitive eating helps you create a sustainable, positive relationship with food.

If diets have failed you—and let’s be real, they fail everyone—intuitive eating is the answer you’ve been searching for.

Real-Life Success Stories

One client came to me after 18 years of yo-yo dieting. She felt like there was something deeply wrong with her, constantly obsessing about food and weight loss, ever since she tried her first diet as a teenager. She was stuck in a binge-diet cycle, where she would spend a lot of time avoiding everything with sugar, carbs or high calories. Ultimately, this would backfire every single time, ending in her overeating the very foods she forbade herself to eat. She would end up, time after time, feeling like something was wrong with her, like she was a failure who just “doesn’t have enough willpower.”

Together, we practiced allowing all the foods in her eating world, especially the previously forbidden ones, with a personalized approach that was right for her.
Through intuitive eating, she learned to listen to her body and let go of food rules.
Now, she feels free—free to enjoy her favorite foods and free from guilt. Funny enough, after allowing herself to truly enjoy the sweets she previously binged on, she realized she doesn’t even like many of them. That’s one of the many benefits of intuitive eating—when you’re truly free to enjoy all the foods, you have the space to notice what you really like and what you ate just because it wasn’t allowed.

Another client realized she’d been eating out of stress for years. Together, we worked through her emotions, she realized what were her triggers and we practiced new ways to cope. At the same time, I urged her to actively work on the areas of her life that brought her most of the stress, and she did!
After a while, food became a source of nourishment, not stress. She was able to enjoy a slice or two of pizza, no guilt, no shame, no starting a new diet tomorrow. Just balance.

These transformations are possible for you, too. You just need the right support, and I’m here for you whenever you’re ready.

Ready to Heal Your Relationship with Food?

Intuitive eating doesn’t mean giving up on health. Not even close! It actually helps you reclaim health and wellness—on your terms, in ways that enhance your life and feel good!
You learn to trust yourself and enjoy food again without guilt or fear.

If you’re tired of the diet-binge-diet cycle and ready for real change, I’m here to help. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a healthier, more joyful relationship with food and your body. You’ll gain tools, insights, and support to make this journey your own, in a sustainable way that will last your whole life.

Don’t wait. This could be the moment that changes everything. Schedule your free discovery call today and take the first step toward food freedom.
I would be beyond honored to be a part of your healing journey!

Take the first step toward food freedom—my coaching packages start at only 97€. Click here to learn more!

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