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Do you daydream about your next cheat meal? Many people who diet or restrict their nutrition \u2014 whether that\u2019s through caloric intake, carbs, sugar, or any number of other specific constraints \u2014 live for the sweet glory of their cheat meals. And while this may be the right approach for some, it\u2019s not necessarily the best plan for everyone. In fact, your personality may be the determining factor in how successful or detrimental this philosophy is to your overall healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of us are able to be rigid and regimented with no adverse effects from this type of discipline; however, there are a fair number of individuals who cause themselves emotional stress and occasionally disordered eating with this way of thinking,\u201d says holistic nutritionist Nicole Ritieni, RN, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition who works at New York Center for Innovative Medicine<\/span>. \u201cThey begin to overanalyze each bite and lose the enjoyment that comes with food.\u201d<\/p>\n Most experts agree that there are several pros and cons to carefully consider when deciding if cheat meals are right for you:<\/p>\n It may benefit those with reward-driven personalities. <\/b>\u201cIf I know my client thrives on incentives and is in the proper head space when it comes to eating habits, we would create a cheat meal schedule for them to follow,\u201d says Arnit Kobryniec, a certified personal trainer in South Florida who has a master\u2019s degree in psychology, specializing in eating habits and behaviors. \u201cCheat meals are seen as a reward for a behavior. If someone is committed to their goal, cheat meals can give them something to work toward.\u201d<\/p>\n Creating awareness of reactions to foods. \u201c<\/b>When we think of cheat days, it often includes \u2018eating whatever we want,\u2019 even when we know we won\u2019t feel great afterwards,\u201d says Ritieni. \u201cI think the benefit of cheat days or meals can simply be recognizing what those specific foods are. It\u2019s important to become aware of how our body reacts to different things we choose to ingest. Abiding by cheat days in the past actually encouraged me to avoid them, and to eat foods that make me feel good without overdoing it.\u201d<\/p>\n One indulgence won\u2019t derail your efforts. <\/b>\u201cIndulging in foods that may be considered \u2018unhealthy\u2019 every now and then will not derail someone in their health journey,\u201d says Ritieni. <\/b>\u201cFood is meant to nourish us, not create stress and shame when we give ourselves unattainable guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n It may mess with your head. <\/b>\u201cOur goal is really to have a sustainable eating lifestyle,\u201d explains Kobryniec. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to always be yo-yoing. By saying \u2018cheat\u2019 meal, it means we are restricting ourselves from things that we enjoy. Rewarding ourselves with food leads to an unhealthy relationship with food. We end up teaching ourselves that if we do good at restricting ourselves, then we will be rewarded with an unhealthy meal.\u201d<\/p>\n It could accidentally turn into something bigger (like a binge).<\/b> \u201cIt\u2019s like tasting the forbidden fruit \u2014 you may want even more because you\u2019re told not to have it,\u201d says Kobryniec. \u201cAnd once that begins, we as humans are subconscious eaters. We aren\u2019t aware of how much we are taking in, especially when we know we can\u2019t have it again for another week.\u201d<\/p>\n You may end up regretting them. \u201c<\/b>Cheat days and meals can absolutely cause binges that may derail someone\u2019s goals,\u201d says Ritieni. \u201cIn turn, this makes people feel crappy physically and shame themselves emotionally. Eating healthy six days a week just to overload our bodies with a bunch of unhealthy foods requires many days to get back on track. It can cause someone to lose sight of eating to maintain health and happiness and instead focus on reward and punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019ve decided cheat meals are going to be part of your lifestyle or you\u2019re still experimenting to see if it\u2019s a fit, follow these best practices to increase your chances of success:<\/p>\n At the end of the day, Ritieni says everyone must find what works for them and be honest about whether it\u2019s serving their best interests.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we constantly overthink what foods we\u2019re eating, it can lead to disordered eating, higher stress levels, and poor health,\u201d she adds. \u201cTailoring someone\u2019s diet by creating sustainable health practices that meet their individual needs leads to true long-term health. Dietary standards that don\u2019t create feelings of having to take a break is a liberating decision.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBenefits of Cheat Meals<\/b><\/h2>\n
Cons of Cheat Meals<\/b><\/h2>\n
A Smarter Way to Cheat<\/b><\/h2>\n
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