“Oh, I’m just going to be bad, screw it!” “This is my cheat meal (day, week, etc.).” “I know this stuff will kill me, but I’m gonna eat it anyway!”

I know I shouldn’t be all hate-like and stuff — and usually I’m not — but I’ve gotta say: I hate this kind of language.

Why decide to eat some food you love and can’t/don’t want to kick to the curb and label it as cheating or bad or any other negative term? How does that help? If you’re going to eat it … eat it. And enjoy it since you’re going to eat it anyway. Call it indulgence, if you will. You have the right to indulge in some not-as-healthy food once in a while. It’s not a woefully horrid thing.

You’re not cheating on anything. The carrot isn’t sobbing its heart out in the fridge. And, no, I know your next thought: You’re not cheating on you either. Or your health. In a healthy lifestyle, there is room for indulgence. Or, there should be. Our lives often are made up of food. It’s a social, loved, exciting thing. I can’t see taking that away. As long as there is a tip toward the healthier side, it’s all good.

The problem is in the terminology. Eating food you love, yet naming it something stupid/insulting/degrading/beating-yourself-up like cheating adds a layer of harm. Now, what happens? You still eat that whatever. You feel bad about it. How did that help?

Here’s your useful, guiding sentence: If it didn’t help, stop doing it. Seriously. Words matter. Make a different choice.

Love yourself. Love your food. There’s room for wellness and having food you adore.