As a dietitian and someone who teaches intuitive eating and body trust, I try my best to foster those same values in my daughter. I want her to grow up knowing that her body’s cues are valid, that she doesn’t have to justify her hunger or fullness, and that she can trust herself to know what she needs.
But last week, when she was sick, I caught myself saying something I swore I wouldn’t:
"Please eat all of your strawberries and yogurt."
On more than one occasion, I encouraged her to finish what was in front of her because I wanted to make sure she had some nourishment while she wasn’t feeling well. It came from a place of love and concern, but my daughter—bless her honesty and clarity—immediately let me know how she felt about it.
"Mom, I don’t like it when you tell me I have to eat something. I stop when my belly is full."
Oof. That stopped me in my tracks.
She was right. 100% right.
I took a deep breath and said, "You know, sweet pea, you're so right. I shouldn’t have said that to you. I trust you to listen to and trust your body. I won’t do it again."
Even though I teach this stuff, even though I live this practice in my own relationship with food, I still find myself slipping into old narratives. The ones that tell us to finish our plates, to eat all of our fruits and vegetables first, to make sure we’re getting enough of everything. The ones that feel like care and responsibility but can so easily cross into pressure and control.
And, as is so often the case, it took the simplicity and honesty of a child to remind me of what I already know deep down:
We are born knowing how to listen to our bodies.
Diet culture, well-meaning family members, and societal expectations gradually chip away at that trust. But watching my daughter navigate food with ease reminds me that the ability to listen without judgment is something we all had at one point.
She has "taste" hunger just like all of us—sometimes she eats a piece of candy because it looks good. Some days, none of the “healthy” foods I offer her sound appealing. Other days, all she wants are red peppers and apples. She listens to her body without shame, without questioning whether it’s “right” or “wrong.”
And that’s the kind of trust I want to help my clients rediscover for themselves.
If you’ve ever struggled with knowing what your body truly needs, if you’ve felt disconnected from your hunger and fullness cues, or if food feels more like a battleground than a source of nourishment, you’re not alone.
I’d love to help you on your journey back to trusting your body. Download my free Hunger Compass to start exploring your hunger cues, or book an intro call if you’re ready to work together.
Because that deep knowing? That ability to trust your body? It’s still in you. It always has been.
About the Author:
Rachel Caine, MS, RDN, LDN, is a registered dietitian based out of Watertown, MA, who specializes in trauma-informed nutrition care, intuitive eating, and building body trust and neutrality. Through her insurance-based private practice, Rachel helps clients reconnect with their physical selves and develop a more intuitive and compassionate relationship with food.
Comments