It’s Okay to Eat Dessert

We had an awesome time at sweeties, a local ice cream shop, this week, trying out a dessert tasting menu curated by their chef!

Some of you might think it’s strange that a gym would hold an event at an ice cream shop.

But although everyone’s nutritional needs and limitations are different, in general, there is room in people’s lives for sweet treats. 

Not allowing yourself to ever eat food you enjoy leads to stress and guilt. It also makes it harder to eat healthily, because you’re more likely to crave the foods you restrict.

If you’d like more info on how to incorporate delicious foods that are traditionally considered “bad” into your diet, check out this article from Precision Nutrition, a leading nutrition organization.

According to PN, there are three reasons why you can include “junk food” in your diet:

1. You’ll likely eat it anyway,

2. It won’t stop you from progressing toward your health goals as long as you mostly eat nutrient-dense, minimally-processed foods; and

3. Reasonable amounts of junk food can boost social and emotional health. For example, eating desserts with your Rozzie Fitness friends at sweeties charges your social battery!

Precision Nutrition offers five steps for making sure this type of food does more good than harm:

1. Decide whether the benefits are worth the tradeoffs.

2. Notice and name any negativity.

3. Set up guardrails.

4. Enjoy it.

5. When you mess up, move on.

Check the article for more info on each of these steps.

Again, everyone is different, and your approach to dessert should depend on your own health needs and circumstances.

But any approach to eating that reduces stress and guilt is at least worth considering.