How To Stop Feeling Pressured When Ordering Food (Even As An Intuitive Eater!)

Have YOU ever felt the pressure around ordering certain foods with friends?

Getting the “healthy” thing on the menu that people expect you to…

Or to impress someone…

Making a justifying comment like “good thing I worked out!”…

Ordering what the other person is getting to play it safe & avoid any possible judgment…

Believe me- I can relate to all of these scenarios.

But never in a million years did I think I would still feel the exhausting ordering pressure when I started healing my relationship with food.

I remember grabbing Mexican food with friends when I was about 2 years into my own Intuitive Eating process.

Instead of quickly calculating calories, worrying about ingredients, or how I might “work it off later", I experienced a brand new type of mental gymnastics.

I so badly wanted to show off that I really WAS easy-breezy around any kind of food!!!

So I ended up ordering a burrito (in the middle of the day too- take that!)…when I was really craving a taco salad.

Not only did I not enjoy my food, I remember feeling so distracted in the conversation because I was annoyed with myself for not getting what I really wanted.

The truth is, there have been so many times in my Intuitive Eating journey where I've ordered something I didn't really want just to prove a point.

The simple solution to feeling food pressure? EAT WHAT YOU WANT.

Everyone else is more concerned with what they're eating than what you are. And if they ARE interested in your ordering choices, it's got more to do with them than you.

But you and I both know it's not that simple. So if you rolled your eyes reading that, I'm with you.

The deeper issue here is self-worth.

This pattern of making choices based on how I wanted others to perceive me, showed up in so many areas of my life (far beyond food).

It's directly linked to people-pleasing + perfectionism tendencies. And it's a pro at eating away decisiveness, confidence, & authenticity.

Understanding + healing these self-worth patterns has 1000% created more freedom, ease, & enjoyment around food, but more importantly, it's created this for MYSELF as a person.

And being myself has allowed me to connect more deeply with the people in my life.

If this sounds deep and complex, it is. It's taken years of therapy, coaching, personal development podcasts, books, and articles. Tough conversations with loved ones. Periods of breakdowns and breakthroughs…but I've never felt happier, ALIVE, and more empowered to continue on my journey.

Here's to stepping into your power this week- whether it's ordering what you want off the menu, wearing the outfit that feels “too much”, saying exactly what's on your mind. I trust that you'll know in the moment.

P.S. If you want even more tools and resources for rebuilding self-trust, be sure to download my free Body Accpetance Starter Kit!