By: Paige Valentik, MPS, RD, LDN

When brainstorming article topics each week, one that often comes to mind is how to encourage someone to make lasting nutrition habit changes. The issue is, I would need to know more about someone before knowing how to help them. With that being said, a good place to start would be to identify some reasons why we have a fear of commitment. Fear of committing to making healthy nutrition choices more often than not.

I’m going to give you the “SparkNotes Version” of this topic because if I didn’t, the article would be way too long and no one would actually read it. This is a topic that encompasses various psychological, social, and physiological factors. For those of you that don’t know what I mean, SparkNotes was a website I used in high school to give me an abbreviated version of the book I was supposed to read (sorry mom). 

Chapter 1: Fear of Losing Favorite Foods

• Emotional attachment to certain foods
• Fear of deprivation and restriction
• How to overcome: incorporate favorite foods into a balanced diet

Chapter 2: Fear of Failure

• Past experiences of unsuccessful dieting attempts
• Negative self-perception and fear of judgment
• How to overcome: set realistic goals and celebrate small victories

Chapter 3: Fear of Change

• Comfort in familiarity and routine
• Anxiety about the unknown and uncertainty
• How to overcome: make gradual steps towards change and build confidence

Chapter 4: Fear of Social Situations

• Social pressure and influence on food choices
• Fear of standing out or being judged
• How to overcome: create strategies for navigating social events while maintaining goals

Chapter 5: Fear of Complexity

• Overwhelmed from conflicting nutrition information
• Fear of not understanding dietary guidelines or recommendations
• How to overcome: work with a Registered Dietitian to simplify and individualize nutrition advice and focus on basic principles

Chapter 6: Fear of Long-Term Commitment

• Concerns about sustainability and maintaining changes over time
• Fear of relapse into old habits
• How to overcome: develop a long-term mindset and focus on lifestyle changes rather than short-term fixes

In a lot of ways it’s easier to eat poorly. We love the instant gratification we get from eating something we are craving or enjoy. Living a long, healthy life isn’t the same kind of instant gratification. Unfortunately, too many of us wait for a health crisis to change. Don’t wait. Identify reasons you may be fearful of commitment, change your mindset and start making small, meaningful changes before it’s too late.

If there’s a “chapter” listed above the resonates with you, reach out to me and we can have a conversation about it. Or better yet, add a comment because I guarantee there’s a lot of other people probably going through similar struggles.