Is it Okay to Eat Dessert for Dinner?
Posted by Evelyn Tribole MS RD at 8/13/2009 3:45 PM 
Categories: Intuitive Eating
Tags: Intuitive Eating dessert make peace with food
Categories: Intuitive Eating
Tags: Intuitive Eating dessert make peace with food
Q. First off, I have read and re-read Intuitive Eating 3 times! I was chronic dieter for roughly 10 yrs, so your book continues to help me on my road to freedom. I was wondering if it is acceptable to eat dessert for dinner, if that is what I truly want? Such as a brownie sundae...I'm not talking every day, but as a once in a while thing. Thanks in advance for your help!
A. The journey of Intuitive Eating is about creating a healthy relationship with food mind and body—where you truly become attuned to your inner self. Ultimately, you become the expert of you! Only you know: your experiences, feelings, thoughts and how your body feels (these are all examples of inner attunement).
Dieting is often a choice to eat based on external expectations of others, which can include family, friends and culture. Often, a client will say to me, “I don’t even know how to eat anymore.” This is a common consequence when you lack inner attunement—it’s a big disconnect between your mind and body, where you don’t even trust yourself.
I find that when people feel guilty about their eating—they are so overwhelmed by the guilt, they really don’t experience how that particular food or meal feels physically in his or her body. It is another form of disconnect. That's why Making Peace with Food (Principle 3 of Intuitive Eating) is an important part of the healing process.
So yes, it is acceptable to eat dessert for dinner, especially when healing your relationship with food. (Keep in mind that one food, one meal, or one day of eating, does not make or break your health).
To make the most of this experience, I suggest eating without distraction so you can stay attuned to your dessert experience. Also, here are some questions you might want to explore in the process (take care to ask these questions from a place of neutral curiosity, no judgment).
A. The journey of Intuitive Eating is about creating a healthy relationship with food mind and body—where you truly become attuned to your inner self. Ultimately, you become the expert of you! Only you know: your experiences, feelings, thoughts and how your body feels (these are all examples of inner attunement).
Dieting is often a choice to eat based on external expectations of others, which can include family, friends and culture. Often, a client will say to me, “I don’t even know how to eat anymore.” This is a common consequence when you lack inner attunement—it’s a big disconnect between your mind and body, where you don’t even trust yourself.
I find that when people feel guilty about their eating—they are so overwhelmed by the guilt, they really don’t experience how that particular food or meal feels physically in his or her body. It is another form of disconnect. That's why Making Peace with Food (Principle 3 of Intuitive Eating) is an important part of the healing process.
So yes, it is acceptable to eat dessert for dinner, especially when healing your relationship with food. (Keep in mind that one food, one meal, or one day of eating, does not make or break your health).
To make the most of this experience, I suggest eating without distraction so you can stay attuned to your dessert experience. Also, here are some questions you might want to explore in the process (take care to ask these questions from a place of neutral curiosity, no judgment).
Does this dessert meet your expectations?When you finish eating, explore these questions:
Do you like the way it tastes?
Is the taste similar or different from the last bite? (Keep checking in with each bite).
How is the texture?
Was this dessert-meal is truly satisfying?Enjoy!
How do you feel physically right now—-Pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral?
Did anything surprise you about this experience?
Did it sustain you?
Given the same set of circumstances, would you choose to eat this way again?
So I tried it, and surprisingly, it wasn't all its cracked up to be- eating dessert for dinner. I kind of felt unpleasant after, and not satisfied...I feel as though my body wants more protein first, and can't handle just sugar as a meal...I have been struggling w/ over-restricting for years- do like my sweets but always make sure I compensate for them by exercise or cutting calories elsewhere...But I have realized that eating dessert for dinner is overrated for me- would much rather eat dinner and then if I want dessert, to have it. Also, I think b/c I was alone when I did this, that also makes me feel guilty. I enjoy dessert much more when in the company of others, and not as as secret thing.... But the bottom line for me is that I don't really like having dessert as a meal (which I didn't think would come out of this) and I feel much more comfortable eating dessert with others! Thanks for your tips!
Reply to this