Health professionals have the power to either plant the seed of change, or to reinforce diet culture, with the language they use around food

Have you ever caught yourself saying something about food and then low-key regretted it straight away? Maybe you said that chips were your “guilty pleasure”, or that you’d “earned” that slice of cake. I have been in situations where I’ve heard these things said and it’s taken me a moment to realize that it was me who said it! These phrases are often so ingrained in us, that we rarely stop to think about them.

But when you’ve got the red flags of disordered eating on your mind (and you absolutely will if you download my free cheat sheet of them here), you start noticing these things not only with your clients, but with yourself, too. And the truth is, when it comes to working with disordered eating (even if it’s only a very small part of what you do), you can’t say one thing and do another. You simply have to live the principles.

And the first place to start is with your language. Words hold weight – especially when they come from a trusted health professional. The language you use can either encourage a healthy relationship with food… or it can unintentionally fuel guilt, shame, and disordered behaviours.

I’m not saying you have to completely overhaul the way you talk overnight. But simply becoming aware of how we frame food and taking a couple simple steps towards using neutral food language can make all the difference for our clients, our loved ones, and ourselves.

So let’s look at three ways you can shift towards a more neutral stance on food.

1. Swap good and bad talk for descriptive terms

Instead of labeling foods as “good” or “bad”, simply call them what they are. A cookie is a cookie, not a “cheat food.” A salad is a salad, not a “clean meal.” Ice cream is ice cream, not a “guilty pleasure”. And a chocolate bar is a fun food, not “empty calories”.

By removing the judgment from the equation, we allow clients (and ourselves) to enjoy a variety of foods without guilt.

2. Focus on addition, not restriction

People tend to develop an all-or-nothing mindset around food when they hear about what they shouldn’t eat. You probably don’t say overtly critical things like, “You need to eat less sugar”, but little phrases like, “Everything in moderation” and “Balance is key” can still be interpreted by your clients as “Cut down on that, you pig!”

That sounds over-the-top but I’m afraid it’s true. The good news is that there’s an easy way around it: focus on adding foods in, instead of taking them away. “You need to eat less sugar” becomes “It would be good to make sure you have a source of protein and some fibre to help balance blood sugars and keep you satisfied”.

When they’re focused on what to include, instead of what to exclude, the rest will just happen naturally.

3. Listen out for red flags with your clients

How your clients speak about food and exercise can reveal a lot about their struggles. If you hear things like:

• “I can’t keep it in the house or I eat it all!”
• “I’ve been really good lately but I ruined it on the weekend and was really naughty.”
• “If I could just lose 10 kilos I think I’d be so much happier.”

These could be signs that they’re struggling. And while one comment on it’s own may not be too bad, when you see a pattern about how they are talking to themselves, alarm bells should be going off. The Red Flags of Disordered Eating cheat sheet will help you out here.

Just remember, for your own sanity, that no one is immune to the odd slip up. The goal here isn’t to feel guilty for everything you’ve ever said, or to beat yourself up if you fumble your words. It’s just to start the journey. Health professionals hold a uniquely powerful position when it comes to helping clients heal from disordered eating. Simply hearing more neutral language from a trusted source of wisdom can help clients move away from shame and fear around food.

The Red Flags of Disordered Eating cheat sheet lays out several language-based red flags you’ll want to be aware of with your clients and yourself. It’s a one-pager that serves as the ultimate reminder about watching your language – download it here.