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Daily Eats, Intuitive Eating

When Intuitive Eating Isn’t Mindful

May 1, 2019 By Robyn 18 Comments

I haven’t posted a daily food recap in a really long time. This is my current version of intuitive eating: eating faster than normal to make sure I get the nutrition I need and making swift food decisions. Does it sound remotely good? Yes. Will this fill me up for the time being so I can get on with my day? Yes. Can I eat this with one hand? Yes. I am very grateful for a flexible relationship with food in this season of life where eating is rarely mindful + calm and instead, more practical and efficient.

If you’re in eating disorder recovery or struggling with your relationship with food, I hope this post encourages you to continue on your journey towards an uncomplicated relationship with food. I haven’t always had a flexible, stress free relationship with food so know you can get there one day too. Now, more than ever, I am thankful for intuitive eating and body acceptance.

Snack | 5:30 or 6am until 8:45am when Nick leaves for work is when I work – see clients, write, etc – so taking time to sit down for a leisurely breakfast is not the priority. I usually don’t get around to breakfast until an hour or two after waking up. But I get hungry within 30 minutes of waking, so I snack on handfuls or cereal or granola while I drink a cup (or two) of coffee and get my work for the day done.

Breakfast | I’ve been on an oatmeal kick for A LONG TIME. Months. The thought of hot oatmeal made me gag in pregnancy and I rarely craved it pre-pregnancy. But now being postpartum and breastfeeding, all I crave is oatmeal in the morning. I’ve found that interesting considering oatmeal is recommended as a food to support a healthy milk supply. Although there is zero literature on oatmeal boosting milk supply, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence. Eating oatmeal has minimal, if any, “risk” which is why it’s recommended by a lot of lactation consultants even though there’s no evidence to support the claim that oatmeal boosts milk supply.

So about this oatmeal. I’ve eaten it probably 5x a week for the past five months and I’m nowhere sick of it yet. To make mornings really easy on us, I make a batch of overnight steel cut oats. I like my oats thicker so I’ve found this recipe to make a thicker batch than other versions I’ve tried. Put 1 cup of steel cut oats in a sauce pan along with 3 cups of non dairy milk, 2 tbsp chia seeds and a pinch of salt. Bring the pot to a boil, then turn off the heat and let it sit there overnight. I use a non diary milk because the thought of dairy milk unrefrigerated overnight makes me nervous. Also, I’m dealing with an infant dairy allergy so non dairy milk it is. Then in the morning I just microwave a bowl of the oats and top with a few big spoonfuls of peanut butter and a handful of chocolate chips. A lot of pb seems to be the key to keeping me full for a few hours vs just 1 or 2 hours.

Snack | Mid morning I ate a few handfuls of plantain chips that I bought on sale lasts week. They are sweet and salty and very good.

Lunch | Most Sundays, but not all, I spend about an hour cooking lunch and dinner and baking some sort of snack for the week. We eat the same thing for 3-4 days in a row. That isn’t exciting, but it’s practical. This week, since it’s cold and rainy in Boston, I made Pinch of Yum’s spicy peanut soup and added 2 cans of chickpeas for a cheap source of protein and used full fat coconut milk instead of light because I’ll take all the fat and energy I can get. Plus, I like the richer taste of full fat vs light coconut milk.

I was still hungry after the soup + apple so ate a couple of these magic bars I made on Sunday. Again, I used full fat coconut milk vs light, do whatever you prefer, and for the graham cracker crust I pulsed a box of Annie’s graham bunnies in my blender. Previously, I had been buying a magic bar that was dairy free at a bakery around the corner from us once or twice a week, but that was adding up to be an expensive habit so I searched for a non diary recipe. Ever since Cal was diagnosed with a diary allergy a few months ago, having baked goods a few times a day has allowed me to feel satisfied with food. I posted about this experience on Instagram here if you’re interested in my thoughts on intuitive eating + food allergies.

Snack | I shoveled several handfuls of Mary’s Gone crackers + hummus into my mouth late afternoon. I made a hugeeee batch of hummus on Sunday when cooking dinner + lunch. And I probably should have just used 1 can of chickpeas, because now we’re eating hummus as often as possible so this batch doesn’t go bad before we eat it all.

Dinner | This week we’re eating unstuffed cabbage rolls over brown rice using this simple recipe. This has been in our meal rotation for months and months because it’s so easy and comforting.

Snack | Annddd dessert before bed of coconut milk ice cream + boxed brownies. I ate this + another small scoop of ice cream and brownie. Brownies have been my saving grace with a diary allergy because they use oil vs butter and most boxed mixes are dairy free. Cheers to that!

I hope you’re having a great week – share your favorite eats and thoughts in the comments!


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Filed Under: Daily Eats, Intuitive Eating

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Comments

  1. Jenny says

    May 1, 2019 at 6:52 am

    I really appreciate this post, and wanted to share that hummus freezes surprisingly well and defrosts easily and quickly! Thanks, as always, for your insight and inspiration.

    Reply
    • Hannah MacLeod says

      May 2, 2019 at 5:19 pm

      I also wanted to share about freezing hummus!

      Reply
  2. Ally says

    May 1, 2019 at 10:53 am

    I want to try your oatmeal recipe!
    I have been an intuitive eater for about 3 years now, but have been struggling with food ideas lately…
    Love these posts and the guidance you give… + the freedom to snack!

    Reply
  3. Kori says

    May 1, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    What a positively delicious day of food! Thank you for sharing the “why” behind some choices and how food choices will differ as we go through various stages of life.

    Reply
  4. Amanda says

    May 1, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    As a nursing mama I’m totally in love with oatmeal right now too! I’m back to work and have been doing overnight oats with tons of chia and adding banana and almond butter in the morning. So delicious!

    Reply
  5. Andrea says

    May 1, 2019 at 2:41 pm

    That peanut soup sounds great! I have to try it!
    http://expeditiontoeuphoria.com

    Reply
  6. Hilary says

    May 1, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    Yes to the freezing hummus suggestion! I find it doesn’t keep the same consistency, but I defrost and use it on sandwiches. Two Peas and Their Pod has an amazing sandwich with hummus, avocado, and roasted red peppers that we used it for!

    Reply
  7. miel borghgraef says

    May 1, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    great recipes.
    a lot of new recipes i didn’t discover yet.
    I recently bought a recipebook with a lot of healthy dishes.
    It helped me to lose 10kg of weight. bit.ly/2GH4Bma
    hopefully it helps you guys as much as it did for me!

    Reply
  8. SBD says

    May 1, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I have a 6 month old with a dairy allergy and boxed brownie plus coconut milk ice cream is my daily evening snack!

    Reply
  9. Janie says

    May 1, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    Hi! I love these posts! Okay…so I have an internal dilemma. How does one get over the comparison game when it comes to lifestyle-eating choices? For example, no matter if I’m stuffed to the brim, I HAVE to have something for dessert each night. I seriously look forward to it each day, sort of as a part of my wind-down ritual. However, my sister across town probably only has dessert a couple times a week. I feel like her choice for a sweet treat is much more intuitive in that way. I know I’m making this waaaay to complicated by overthinking it– I just don’t know how to get over it.

    Reply
  10. Ella says

    May 2, 2019 at 10:18 pm

    These are absolute favourite kind of posts! Thank you so much lovely.

    I am going through a period of immense stress where I really feel like I’m just surviving (nursing my mum as she goes through intense chemo, my partner just lost his job, I just had surgery for UC and am still recovering) So food has been a bit on auto pilot and not mindful. I’ve also lost my appetite so much so that I’ve unintentionally lost weight, it’s just been so tough to eat with everything going on food feels like an afterthought and not very pleasurable… which is really hard. Hoping this will pass, and just trying to actually fuel myself enough.

    I haven’t commented before but I just wanted to thank you for this blog, and providing a place of grace in a diet centred world. Please keep posting when you can, it is so appreciated🌻

    Sending so much love to you and your beautiful little family xoxo

    Reply
  11. emily vardy says

    May 3, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    totally share yuor love for oatmeal…the really sugary sweet instant packs are kind of my go-to comfort food!

    Reply
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    May 4, 2019 at 11:27 pm

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    May 6, 2019 at 2:47 am

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  14. Wilaijit Piyasuwannaporn says

    May 19, 2019 at 4:39 am

    Thank you for your blog.I want to share it . I want to try your oatmeal recipe ! That’s soy milk adding peanut corn pumpkin sounds great in the morning . http://bit.ly/2JuMxQ3

    Reply
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    May 28, 2019 at 3:02 am

    Great article! This help me a lot.. don’t miss this product too.. it’s helpful and proven! bit.ly/2K8pYQH

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  16. Margarita Valenzuela Alvarez says

    June 3, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    It’s Time To Take The 28-Day Keto Challenge! https://n9.cl/see/g6o0

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A non-diet dietitian and nurse practitioner helping women find peace with food, accept their natural body size and heal from hormonal issues and period problems.

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I have yet to experience postpartum myself, but I've had many clients and readers that have been through that season of life. Or perhaps you are currently living through the postpartum period. Every woman's body is different, therefore every woman's experience after giving birth will be different. What works for one woman, might not work for the next. While one woman might go through postpartum and adjust to newborn life quiet seamlessly, another woman might find it much more difficult. She might need the support of medication, therapy, extra help and many other things. One way is not better than the other - they are simply two different ways of navigating the postpartum period. I hope this post helps you better care for yourself, whatever that means for you. There's no right or wrong way to care for yourself as a mom or your new baby.

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A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years o A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years of getting to spend so much time with my kids: aka another way I’m discovering some pockets of peace so my heart & mind & soul don’t crumble under the reality of dependent & emotionally dysregulated tiny humans.  About once a week we go somewhere for baked goods. We drive or walk, buy something buttery & then find a beautiful, relatively quiet outdoor spot where the boys can romp and I can sit and think my thoughts while I watch them play. This past week we were found ourselves at the Wool Factory where the boys threw rocks & whatever else off the bridge while I ate 90% of this almond 🥐 from @coucourachou that will blow your mind. Boys ate the other 10% bc they were busy playing and didn’t ask for more quickly enough 😜  I’m finding *for me* playgrounds have a time & place but they aren’t where I enjoy motherhood & my two toddlers the most. Baked goods & a pretty outdoor spot without high drops my 15 month old could launch himself off of…I’m here for it.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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