Both intuitive and structured eating styles are compatible with a Health At Every Size® approach. But which is right for you? Take this quick quiz to find out:
- Are you able to reliably identify mild hunger?
- Do you have a flexible enough schedule to eat when you are hungry?
If you answered ‘yes’ to both questions, intuitive eating may be right for you.
If you answered ‘no’ to one or both questions, start with structured eating.
Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating in a nutshell is: Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re full. This style is supported by dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.
Advantages:
- Helps you tune in your body’s signals
- Food tastes best when you are hungry
Structured Eating
Structured eating is having meals and snacks at scheduled times. This approach is supported by Ellyn Satter, as part of her Eating Competence model.
You can be somewhat flexible with your eating schedule, and move mealtimes by an hour or so if needed. But Satter recommends avoiding eating in-between meal and snack times. When you sit down at your regular meals/snacks, tune into your body’s signals and eat as much or as little as you are hungry for.
Advantages:
- Builds regular eating habits
- Easier to coordinate with others
With both eating styles, being prepared is a good idea. Have a variety of nourishing food options available, so you can eat what is satisfying to you in the moment.
Ultimately, you do not have to choose one eating style or the other (in my opinion). You can make both styles work for you depending on the situation. For example, I generally consider myself to be an intuitive eater. However, I sometimes have structured meals with others. At those times, I eat as much as I feel hungry for, and then wait until I feel hungry again to have my next meal. In this way, you can have the best of both worlds.
Want to learn more? Read Ellyn Satter’s thoughts on various eating models.
