Developing a Plan of Eating

Developing a healthy plan of eating is our first task. While no plan of eating will be successful without diligent Step work, using a plan of eating as a Tool allows us to deal with food in a calm, rational, and balanced way. This is the beginning of learning to eat according to our physical requirements rather than our emotional cravings.

Reviewing Our Eating Patterns

As we individualize our plan of eating, we review eating patterns in order to learn which foods and/or eating behaviors create cravings. Discussing our eating history with a sponsor and health care professional gives us objectivity and insight. When we seek help in developing a plan of eating, we practice the willingness to review our behaviors in a way we would not be able to do on our own. We have learned that a suggestion made by a sponsor or health care professional should not be automatically rejected just because it makes us feel uncomfortable.

As we reach a healthy body weight or as our bodies change, we sometimes need to modify our choices. We might consider whether we need to change the portions or the kinds of foods we eat. No matter what our body size, age, or gender, in addition to refraining from compulsive eating behaviors, we still need to commit to a nourishing plan of eating.

If we are not making reasonable progress toward a healthy body weight, we need to examine our plan of eating and question whether we are being honest with ourselves about our food. A healthy body weight is not necessarily what is fashionable or what we think we’d like to be. What is healthy for us is a matter we discuss with our health care professionals and share with our sponsors.