American diet crisis: Famous fitness instructor and mother promotes 'rule-free' nutrition strategy

Intuitive eating is a nutrition trend that aims to avoid the rigidity of conventional dieting.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, intuitive eating is not a diet plan but an approach to eating based on one's internal needs.

Regardless of the type, calorie count, or time of day, a person's food choices will vary based on their physical or emotional needs.

According to Harvard, intuitive eating has been employed as a weight-loss approach and a remedy for disordered eating.

In an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital, Megan Roup, a celebrity fitness trainer in Los Angeles and the founder of The Sculpt Society fitness app, discussed how she has embraced intuitive eating.

Roup, although not a nutritionist, has incorporated her sustainable physical training approach into her overall lifestyle, including her home life with her two kids.

"She stated that she follows an approach of listening to her body and eating intuitively. This means she does not impose any food restrictions on herself. Instead, she pays attention to her hunger cues, eating when she feels hungry and stopping when she is full."

Roup stated that she chooses foods that give her a sense of well-being or energy.

In her early 20s, Roup confessed that she followed every fad diet without considering her body's nutritional requirements.

"Strict food guidelines can make it harder for us to listen to what our body actually needs and wants," she said.

Roup doesn't restrict her kids' eating habits like she does her own.

She, a busy mom, stated that she prefers quick and easy recipes, such as overnight oats for breakfast that contain organic ingredients like almond milk, nuts, and berries.

Roup also shared a smoothie recipe that her kids love, which combines almond milk, strawberries, blueberries, half a banana, a scoop of almond butter, chia seeds, and spinach.

Roup observed that her 3-year-old child enjoys participating in the cooking process by throwing ingredients into the smoothie blender.

"It's beneficial for her to witness the nutritious ingredients we add to the smoothie," she stated.

Pairing fitness and nutrition

Roup advises against adhering to strict fitness rules and adopting a "all-or-nothing mentality."

Roup advised her clients to abandon the notion that they need to exercise for hours daily in their own training sessions.

The fitness expert repeated one of her favorite sayings: "By committing less, you can appear more consistently."

Roup stated that he preferred his clients to attend for 10 minutes daily and maintain consistency throughout the week.

"Establish a daily habit that you can sustain, just like with food."

She observed that there is no rule book for fitness and food, as they don't have a one-size-fits-all approach.

A nutritionist’s perspective

In a conversation with Planet Chronicle Digital, registered dietitian and nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein discussed the intuitive eating lifestyle.

Muhlstein, a Los Angeles-based nutritionist, argued that intuitive eating can be "unrealistic and impractical for most people, especially children."

"Intuitive eating advocates suggest that if you crave cookies, eat cookies; if you want fries, eat fries; and if dessert before dinner sounds appealing, go for it," she said.

She cautioned that in a society where highly processed and addictive foods are abundant, satisfying every craving can result in unhealthy consequences.

According to Muhlstein, the more processed foods you consume, the more you crave them.

"Many people will resort to consuming highly processed foods if they lack practical guidance on eating healthily, such as filling half their plate with vegetables and prioritizing protein and fiber-rich foods," she stated.

Setting an example

Roup suggests that intuitive eating can aid children in developing healthy relationships with food.

"If you model negative behavior, such as speaking negatively about yourself, food, and emphasizing certain foods, they will learn to do the same."

Roup advised that parents should set an example by staying active and prioritizing their health, as well as demonstrating a "joyful practice" of preparing and eating food that makes them feel good.

Muhlstein cautioned that permitting kids to consume "anything they desire" can pose the same risks as allowing them to view "anything they desire" or stay up "whenever they desire."

The nutritionist, as a mother of three, highlighted the significance of incorporating healthy foods into children's diets.

It is imperative to teach children to appreciate and relish healthy, nutritious foods as pediatric obesity and diabetes rates continue to soar, she emphasized to Planet Chronicle Digital.

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"Ensuring that kids consume plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein is crucial because food tastes better when you're hungry."

According to research, children who consume more fruits and vegetables and less sugar tend to perform better academically and experience enhanced mental health and well-being, as stated by Muhlstein.

"Nutrition is a critical aspect of parenting," she added.

"It is crucial to offer constructive advice and motivate healthy behaviors with love to prevent future generations from experiencing more harm."