To break free from anxiety's tight grip on our lives, we need to cultivate a new type of awareness – a compassionate, gently, yet unwavering way of processing our reactions and surroundings that doesn't trigger an urge to head for the hills.  This awareness is called mindfulness.

-Susan Orsillo, PhD and Lizabeth Roemer, PhD, The Mindful Way Through Anxiety

We live in a world of fear and paranoia around food.  News stories and other media are constantly touting the dangers of food.  These stories are sensationalized and designed to grab your attention, thus making them more money.  Often they are based on blatant lies.  And yet so many people are walking around with anxiety about food because we've bought in to the hype.

The first step to break away is to become aware of what is happening.  Use a new lens to look at at the things you are seeing and hearing from the media, family, friends, coworkers, and other people in your life.  Notice the messages they are sending you about food.  Then notice your mental and physical response to these messages. Don't judge these things, just observe with curiosity. We are simply gathering data.

Anxiety tends to be about avoiding uncomfortable experiences.  So instead of avoiding when you are feeling discomfort around food, sit with it.  Observe the anxiety response as it rides its course.  You don't have to do anything to "fix" it or run away.  It will pass, I promise.  Your brain will then have the data that you can sit with the anxiety.  Over time food will become less scary as you realize that it's not going to harm your body. 

All foods fit into a healthy diet.  The trick is to eat them mindfully, as your body will tell you what types of food it wants and when it has had enough.  We just have to listen.  Let's rebuild trust.