Happy Valentines Day!

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 Happy Valentines Day!

Also known as the day of chocolates and heart shaped candy abundance.




Food is deeply tied to culture and tradition: summer picnics, family recipes, comfort food for sick days, and even chocolate on Valentine's Day. Despite these ties, certain foods that are rooted in celebration are commonly categorized as “bad.” While this concept impacts many traditions, today I just want to talk about Valentines Day.


This holiday may be a conflicting time for many. After all, its supposed to be a day 

to celebrate love but many folks end up fixating on their sugar intake... Or, to the other extremes many people end up spending the day avoiding candy only to binge

on it come evening. This will leave you feeling bloated and maybe even with an upset stomach.


…


I'd like to start off with a quick story. When I was in undergrad, I took a healthcare marketing class. For one of the assignments I developed a campaign on nutrition and self-care for people on their periods. A portion of this involved a graphic that said “How to satisfy period cravings” over an image of chocolate. The professor told me to change this infographic because “a nutritionist would never recommend eating chocolate.” In all fairness, she was a marketing professor with no background in nutrition so I can understand where she was coming from. Regardless, this was such a jarring example of the stigmas and stereotypes around A) dietitians (or nutritionists, as she and many others have said), B) periods, and finally C) chocolate.


As a dietetics student who believes in intuitive eating and all that it encompasses - l am pro-chocolate. I am pro-listening to cravings. l am against promoting restrictive food practices as this often leads to poor relationships with food and for some people, binging.


Additionally, chocolate is not bad. It is not a food to be feared. In fact, many types of chocolate actually have great health benefits. Dark chocolate in particular has been seen to have positive effects on cholesterol, heart health, and even cognitive function. But even the types of chocolate that don't have these health benefits are still nothing to be feared or restricted. Potential health benefits aside, one day of celebrating your loved ones won't hurt you in the grand scheme of things.


Again, when we restrict foods we often develop poor relationships to these foods. Consuming any food in moderation is (usually) safe and healthy. Enjoy that chocolate today and enjoy this time with your loved ones. 


*This article is not medical advice. Please speak to your doctor or see a dietitian if you have concerns about what foods are safe for you to eat or concerns about disordered eating. 


SB

Comments

  1. PRFebruary 19, 2022 at 9:15 AM

    Sugar can really play an important role in some of our body's important functions, thank you for highlighting one of them! My favorite fun fact about dark chocolate is that it contains antioxidants that can help fight inflammation. I love this article by Johns Hopkins Medicine that highlights some other benefits! https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-benefits-of-having-a-healthy-relationship-with-chocolate
    -PR

    ReplyDelete

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