Intuitive eating is an evidence-based approach that encourages eating in response to hunger, fullness, and satisfaction cues rather than following restrictive food rules. It supports a peaceful relationship with food and body by promoting self-trust and rejecting dieting behaviours.

Research shows that intuitive eating is associated with better long-term mental and physical wellbeing, including lower levels of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and depressive symptoms, as well as improved self-esteem and overall psychological health over time.

No. Intuitive Eating is an approach that specifically moves away from dieting. It does not involve meal plans, calorie counting, or food restrictions. Instead, it focuses on supporting long-term wellbeing by helping individuals listen to and trust their body’s internal cues.

Research suggests that people who eat more intuitively (as measured with the Intuitive Eating scale) tend to experience greater weight stability over time and show favourable health indicators, including markers related to cardiovascular health. Rather than a weight-centric approach to health, intuitive eating supports sustainable behaviours that benefit both physical and mental health.

Weight changes vary from person to person. Some people gain weight, some lose weight, and others stay the same when they eat more intuitively. Intuitive eating prioritises health, satisfaction, peace with food, and body trust - not weight control.

Research shows that people who eat more intuitively tend to experience greater weight stability over time compared with those who rely on rigid food control, and they are less likely to engage in unhealthy weight control behaviours such as binge eating. Higher intuitive eating scores have also been linked with greater body satisfaction and lower levels of disordered eating behaviours in community studies.

Yes. Many people find intuitive eating helpful for reducing binge eating and emotional eating over time. By removing restriction and addressing emotional and physical needs, food often holds less power over us. Interestingly, in some instances our preferences can change and what we considered satisfying in the past no longer retains the same value. Higher intuitive eating scores have been linked with greater body satisfaction and lower levels of disordered eating behaviours in community studies.

Nutrition and movement are part of intuitive eating, but without rigid rules or weight-focused goals. Food choices are guided by nourishment, satisfaction, and how foods make you feel, rather than restriction. Movement is approached as a way to support energy, strength, and overall wellbeing, focusing on enjoyment and sustainability rather than calorie burning.

Mindful eating focuses on how you eat bringing awareness to the eating experience, such as taste, hunger, fullness, and emotions in the moment. It is a valuable skill that helps increase presence and reduce autopilot eating.

Intuitive eating is an eating framework which in some ways aligns with mindful eating, however it’s important It addresses the wider relationship with food and body by exploring food rules, diet culture, body image, and trust in internal cues over time. Intuitive eating is a framework for long-term change, not just a practice used at mealtimes.

Intuitive eating also aligns closely with Health At Every Size® (HAES®). Both approaches prioritise health-promoting behaviours, body respect, and wellbeing without focusing on weight as a measure of health. Together, they support sustainable habits, improved mental health, and compassionate care that recognises health can exist across a range of body sizes.

Intuitive eating can be adapted to support various health conditions. It focuses on gentle nutrition and collaboration with your body rather than restriction, and individual support is often helpful in these cases. However, we only work with individuals who have eating disorders or complex health conditions as part of a wider care team, alongside appropriate dietetic, medical, and mental health support. If we believe your needs fall outside our scope of practice, we will be clear about this after the initial screening process and recommend seeking support from an appropriate professional to help ensure you receive the care that is right for you.

For babies and toddlers, intuitive eating means encouraging and responding to their natural hunger and fullness cues rather than feeding by strict rules. Responsive feeding supports their ability to self-regulate intake and helps them learn positive eating behaviours from a young age. Research shows that infants and young children are capable of adjusting their intake based on internal signals of hunger and satiety, and that sensitive caregiver responses to these cues promote the development of self-regulation around eating.

Yes, intuitive eating is safe and appropriate for children. In fact, its principles are naturally present from infancy. Babies are born with the ability to recognise hunger and fullness, and intuitive eating supports protecting and nurturing this ability as children grow. From the introduction of solids onward, intuitive eating can be practised in age-appropriate ways, with caregivers providing structure, balance, and gentle guidance rather than control or restriction.

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Intuitive Eating is one of many approaches to health.

More specifically, it is a non-weight-centric approach that aligns with several established frameworks, including HAES® (Health at Every Size®), Self-Determination Theory, Responsive Feeding, and Motivational Interviewing, among others.

If you are deciding whether intuitive eating is right for you, below are some areas we can support you with:

• A complicated or strained relationship with food and/or your body

• A history of repetitive dieting and weight cycling

• Frequent preoccupation with food and weight that interferes with daily life

• Trying multiple approaches that haven’t felt sustainable and wanting greater peace with eating and your body

• Finding social eating situations challenging, such as feeling pressure to order the “healthiest” option or stay within a specific calorie limit

• Holding rigid or distorted beliefs about food, eating, or body image

If you’re uncertain whether this is the right way for you, feel free to book a free discovery call or email us directly at sara@nourishedwithintuition.com