6 ways to make eating a real pleasure.

Food should be about balance and flavor, not about the stressful and stressful task of counting calories.

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Today, obesity and unhealthy food have surrounded us with messages about "clean eating" and images associating food with weight loss. This isn't necessarily wrong, but to some extent, it has turned eating into a burden and no longer one of the four pleasures of life.

Here are six ways to build a healthy relationship with food, as shared by Netdoctor, a leading UK health news website:

1. Stop labeling food.

"To build a healthy relationship with food, start by not categorizing food by labels like 'good' - 'bad,' 'allowed,' or 'forbidden.' When we set limits on what we shouldn't eat, we feel like failures and incompetent when we consume them. This is a flawed way of viewing food and will lead to negative associations with eating habits, body image, and self-confidence," explains Susan Short, spokesperson for the British Nutrition Association.

Make sure no foods are labeled and allow yourself to eat freely. This will help you avoid overeating due to the "compensatory eating" mentality after abstaining from a particular food for too long.

Stop labeling food. Photo: Getty Images

2. Be cautious with social media.

These days, we don't have to go searching for dietary advice – it's everywhere, thanks to social media. Thousands of articles guiding us on how to or what to eat to maintain health and achieve a beautiful body appear every day.

Although the intentions behind these articles are good, they still have a negative side. Many people are obsessed with this information and often feel guilty or ashamed if they don't follow a particular healthy diet.

"If any social media account makes you feel guilty about your eating habits or your body not being perfect, it's time to unfollow it. Social media is meant to connect people, not to make us feel bad. So if that happens, you should pause and give yourself a break," says Caitlin Rabel, a practicing dietitian.

3. Set more realistic goals.

Setting unrealistic and abrupt goals like "I will completely eliminate sugar from my diet" can easily lead to feelings of failure and disillusionment. Instead, you should set smaller, more achievable goals, such as "I will stop adding sugar to my tea." Aim for changes you can sustain for life, not just for a short period.

"Use positive language when talking about food and view having a healthy, balanced diet as a lifestyle. We can eat all kinds of food. Some are eaten daily, some less frequently, and it's important to maintain a balance," says Susan Short.

4. Focus while eating.

Eating slowly, savoring each bite, and paying attention to feelings of fullness can improve your positive relationship with food, helping you better align with your body's needs.

"Really sit down and enjoy your meal. Stop everything else and allow yourself to savor the flavors of the food. Focus on the emotions the food evokes in you instead of worrying about how many calories it contains," advises nutritionist Caitlin Rabel.

There's no need to worry too much about how many calories you're consuming. Photo: Getty Images

5. Define the concept of "healthy" for yourself.

When it comes to nutrition and dieting, there's no single method that's perfect for everyone. Nutrition expert Amanda Kruse says that foods that make you happy may not necessarily be suitable for someone else's health and lifestyle.

"As a nutritionist, being able to explain the concept of 'healthy living' differently to each person has been a huge reward. For example, I love yoga, enjoy roasted chicken and vegetables, drink black coffee, love cooking, and eat ice cream. My friend likes running, eating pasta, drinking tea, watching cooking shows, and dark chocolate. We are both young people with balanced diets and maintain activity levels that suit our needs. We both live healthy lives. Neither of us could have imagined one day living the other's lifestyle, and that's perfectly normal!" - shared expert Amanda Kruse.

6. Do not use food to relieve stress or emotions.

Always ask yourself why you're hungry: How long has it been since your last meal? Have you drunk water? Are you tired or stressed? The list of questions could go on and on. And let's admit that many times we turn to food just for a moment of distraction from the negative emotions building up inside us.

"Identifying your emotions not only helps you know what you need to do, but it also prevents you from eating a huge bag of chips just because a work deadline is looming. Everyone has different stress coping mechanisms, which could be running, meditation, yoga, or meeting friends. Find what works for you. Take time to do things you enjoy to minimize the emotions that make you think about food. This prolonged state will affect your relationship with food," says expert Amanda Kruse.

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