R.I.P. “Guilt-Free” Food

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn celebrate the end of the reign of the “guilt-free” food, the “cheat” meal, the “clean” eating. Enough. Finito. The end.

The language we use to talk about food is so important, and affects not only what we eat but how we feel about the food we eat. I’ve been asked so many times what my ideal “cheat meal” or “guilty pleasure” is, and my answer is always the same: I don’t have one.

If you buy a brownie that advertises itself as “guilt-free”, does this mean other brownies are full of guilt, and, by default, you are therefore also guilty? In the same way if you don’t “eat clean” does that make you a dirty person?

This notion of attaching a moral compass to the food we eat is beyond ridiculous and potentially dangerous. Implying you should feel guilty for eating certain foods or that certain foods are unclean does not promote a healthy relationship with food, and can even fuel the fires for an eating disorder.

“Food doesn’t have a moral aspect. Only the people eating it do” – Jay Rayner

No matter what you eat, you are not unclean, dirty, guilty, or cheating. You are amazing, and eating these foods doesn’t make you a better or worse person than anyone else. Let’s make a pact here right now. Enough with the guilt-tripping and unnecessary moralisation of food and eating. Let’s just enjoy food for what it is: fuel for life and happiness!