Remove the labels from food – including good/bad, healthy/unhealthy, junk, clean, etc.  When you were eating intuitively as a toddler you didn’t know anything about food, other than what tasted good.  Your toddler body also knew what it needed.  You ate extra fat when you needed it, same with carbs and protein.  When you were going through a growth spurt you ate more food.  When you were sick you ate less.  You had no need to label the food – until adults taught you to.  It’s time to strip away the labels and the judgment that accompanies them. 

Why is this so important?  Because the labels interfere with your ability to truly listen to your body.  If your thoughts are clouded by judgment about the goodness or badness of the food, you aren’t fully attuned to what your body is saying it wants. 

Also consider this: How do you typically feel after you have eaten an “unhealthy” or “bad” food?  Chances are you feel guilty, as if you’ve done something wrong.  For many people, the guilt propels them into eating more for comfort, or throwing their hands in the air and saying, “Screw it!  I already messed up so I might as well keep eating.” 

On the flip side, how do you typically feel after eating a “healthy” food or a“good” food?  You might feel “healthy” or “good” yourself, as a person.  You might give yourself a pat on the back.  You feel in control.  But are you satisfied?  Perhaps.  However, if these are the only foods you allow yourself to eat, you are going to eventually crave a “bad” food and will feel deprived if you don’t eat it.  This is a total set-up for binge eating.