Yes, you’re wise — I see one reply in the linked article that you wisely ignored (someone saying to not eat grains at all)

I’m interested primarily in the psychological side of eating better (being a clinical psychologist, i guess that makes sense:>)

I just had a long email exchange with an excellent nutritionist who takes your approach. I think it’s great but then why do so many people fail at even the basics (as you point out in the linked article regarding fruits and vegetables)

I make a distinction

WHAT DO EAT: this is solved, as you say. If you ignore the “no grains-legumes-starchy-vegetable-eat tons of red meat” crowd, there’s pretty close to universal consensus on the scientific basics (ie mediterranean “approach” not diet)

HOW TO CARRY IT OUT: This is the psychological part and it’s WAY too rarely addressed. I think the best thing available is the combination of mindfulness and intuitive eating, but so far (I’ve seen dozens of articles and books AND videos) I think it’s quite simplistic. You still have people saying “If I ate intuitively I’d gain 100 pounds) which is a complete misunderstanding, but I don’t see the responses from the mindful intuitive people helpful.

Here’s the key (I’m in the midst of finishing up an online course on sleep, but it’s applicable to food, meditation, work, learning, relationships — everything)

ATTENTION

Our standard mode of attention in the modern world might be referred to as “control mode.” We objectify, detach from the feelings, habits, behaviors we are trying to change and then set out with James Clears’ “Atomic Habits” or some other 1–2–3 step by step approach — and we DO succeed, temporarily, but our desires and more primitive motivations rebel.

A radically different form of attention, immersed, experiential, embodied, intuitive, open, can be quite easily learned, but is rarely talked about. the late Dr. Les Fehmi helped people reduce or eliminate symptoms of depression, anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, coached Olympic athletes, helped resolve relationship and learning problems and much more — just teaching them to shift to this different mode of attention.

My sense is that Fehmi’s work, along with the newer “effortless mindfulness” approaches of Loch Kelly, and the brilliant work of Iain McGilchrist, could provide a powerful foundation for understanding AND applying mindful/intuitive eating (sleeping, exercise, money and time management, learning, etc etc.

Looking forward to reading more of your work. Feel free to use any of the above ideas for future posts. stop by at www.RememberToBe.Life if you like.