No Such Thing as Good or Bad Foods
Labelling foods as 'good' or 'bad,' or 'healthy' versus 'unhealthy' places a dangerous burden on those predisposed to eating disorders. When we talk about ‘healthy’ food, by default all other foods become categorised as ‘unhealthy’. When we categorise food this way, we inadvertently also create a moral hierarchy where eating certain foods is linked to being good or bad. In reality, food has no moral value; it is simply fuel and pleasure.
Context determines nutritional needs: for example, a cyclist may consume half a kilogram of sugar during a race to sustain performance, making sugar 'functional' and necessary. Health is not determined by a single meal, but by a complex interaction between metabolism, physical activity, variety, and, crucially, psychological well-being. Using moral labels like 'junk' or 'healthy' can trigger intense shame, increasing the pressure to restrict or engage in compensatory behaviors when we eat those 'unhealthy' foods.
The 'tip of the month' is to strip away these labels entirely. Eating a salad does not make you a 'good' person, as eating a burger does not make you 'bad'.
By removing these judgments, we are allowing for a more stable, happy and neutral relationship with nourishment.
