Food Moralization

Food moralization is the act of categorizing food as “good” or “bad”. Using these labels encourages the cycle of eating foods that are deserved for doing certain activities or making lifestyle changes. Moralizing food is often a learned behavior whether it be from family or friends, or from society through media. Many food blogs and/or social media accounts promote avoiding certain foods for the sake of having “healthier” options. This mentality is damaging because moralizing food creates opportunity for restriction, poor body image, and can eventually result in disordered eating or an eating disorder. An environment where food moralization is heavily used, individuals may feel shameful or embarrassed by the food choices they make. 

At Nourishing NH, our Dietitians work with clients to change their mindset when it comes to eating and to help them accept a variety of foods.

If you are struggling with food moralization or other negative thoughts about food, please reach out to our team via our contact page.