When Healthy Eating Posts Do More Harm Than Good

In today's age of social media, we're bombarded with influencers, celebrities, and so-called 'experts' sharing the details of their daily food intake. We're told to eat like them if we want to look like them, be as healthy as them, or achieve wellness as they have. While I’m always interested in food inspiration and recipe ideas, this narrative can be problematic for everyone, especially for young people growing up with the pervasive influence of social media or particularly if you struggle with your relationship with food and your body.

On Tik Tok, the hashtag #whatieatinaday continues to amass millions of views, with influencers showcasing "healthy" foods in highly curated videos. Gwyneth Paltrow has sparked widespread conversations around her 'wellness' habits in the past, often showcasing her regimented diet on social media and through her brand Goop, where she has discussed the virtues of intermittent fasting and restrictive meal routines. However, this year she has softened some of her views, sharing that she’s moved away from strict dieting and is embracing a more balanced approach to eating - but sadly for many, the damage has already  been done.

Kylie Jenner and other members of the Kardashian family also share their food diaries, often endorsing their own particular meal plans. This content, viewed by millions, may seem harmless but can convey a message that “clean” eating is ideal, which is unlikely to be balanced or sustainable. ​

These influencers illustrate how diet-focused content can foster unrealistic expectations, especially given that we lack insight into their personal relationship with food and their body. What is labelled as "healthy" may reflect a skewed perspective, shaped by their own restrictive habits or misconceptions about nutrition. Unfortunately, this content risks promoting ideals that may not align with a balanced, individualised approach to well-being.

What works for one person certainly doesn't work for all. We are all unique individuals with our own health history, biochemistry, and genetics. Each body has different requirements when it comes to food intake, nutrients, and calories. Everyone has their own food history and relationship with their body.

SO what could it mean for those constantly absorbing these messages?

Social media platforms have become ubiquitous in our lives, and with them, the prevalence of 'Everything I Eat in a Day' and healthy eating posts have soared. These are considerably influential and affect our perceptions of food, body image, and well-being.

Myths and Misconceptions:

Social media creates an environment where we are exposed to curated, picture-perfect representations of others' lives, often with a focus on diet and exercise. This curated content can be misleading and detrimental, especially if you are already struggling with eating disorders or disordered eating. Many myths have become deeply held beliefs about food, portion sizes, and calorie intake.

Creates Anxiety, Guilt, and Shame:

If you face the daily challenges of managing their relationship with food, these posts can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame. This content has the potential to trigger past trauma or reinforce negative thought patterns.

Low Self-esteem:

These posts often lead to questioning your own choices and self-worth, making you feel inadequate in comparison. This can spiral into a vicious cycle of low self-esteem and self-doubt. It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing your eating habits, body, and lifestyle to those portrayed in these posts.

Unfortunately Many 'What I Eat in a Day' posts promote restrictive diets, which can be extremely harmful and contribute to disordered eating and eating disorders.

What Can You Do About It?

If you want to continue using social media, consider looking at the content you encounter with a critical eye. Think about who is posting this content and what they are trying to promote. If these things are triggering or driving unhelpful thinking about your eating and body, then block and unfollow them.

You can also work on creating a more helpful feed by following accounts from creators of all body sizes, ages, races, and genders who promote body neutrality, acceptance, and a non-diet approach or talk about eating disorder recovery.

Please look after yourself by approaching this content with caution and prioritise your own unique needs and well-being. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to food, and your relationship with your body is a personal journey that should not be dictated by online trends.

If you need help with focusing on what foods feel good in your body and what your body needs, you can download my Breaking the Cycle Toolkit for FREE,  which includes key steps designed to help you reconnect with your appetite cues and begin taking small, practical steps toward food freedom.

 Want to take a deeper dive? Explore my best-selling book 📕 The Binge Freedom Method: Your Four Pillar Plan to Beat Emotional Eating for Good, where I share strategies, tools and insights to help you understand your patterns and take back control of your eating habits.