Mindful Eating and Body Positivity
Case Study: Mindful Eating and Body Positivity
Client Background
Sarah, a 38-year-old office professional, sought nutrition counselling to better manage her overeating patterns and improve her relationship with food and her body. She reported frequent eating while distracted (working at her desk, scrolling on her phone, sitting in front of the TV) and often finishing meals quickly without noticing satiety cues or being able to fully appreciate and enjoy the flavours of the meal.
Sarah wanted to make changes to the way she approached food without needing to follow food rules or strict dieting plans which had previously led her down a path of yoyo dieting and dissatisfaction with herself.
Dietitian Assessment and Intervention
Sarah’s main goals were to reduce episodes of overeating, feel more in tune with her body’s nutrition needs, be able to approach food without guilt and feel positive about her body. She attended a series of 7 dietitian sessions. Over the course of these consultations, I guided Sarah to understand:
- Awareness of internal hunger and satiety cues
- Emotional vs. physical hunger
- Eating with intention and attention
- How to apply mindfulness to meal planning; grocery shopping and meal preparation
We worked together to identify her cues for emotional and non-hungry eating, and unhelpful food beliefs while building self-compassion around eating experiences
Outcomes
Sarah reflected on her journey, discovering she no longer feared food or her own appetite and had reduced episodes of overeating.
Sarah developed the practice of:
- Identifying emotional and non-hungry eating triggers
- Differentiating between and acknowledging physical and emotional hunger
- Slowing her eating pace which increased meal satisfaction
- Releasing guilt associated with food choices
- Creating sustainable mindful eating habits integrated into daily life
Now, she eats with intention and attention.
By focusing on awareness, curiosity, and non-judgment, clients can reconnect with internal cues and make more balanced, compassionate food choices that support long-term well-being.