My mission statement

Why I don’t believe in serving sizes and calorie counting

Nutrition facts are printed on every packaged food you buy. They inform about serving sizes, calories and many other details. I always read them with interest but I refuse to add similar information to my recipes. Although my publisher strongly suggested it, I have put my foot down and said no, no and no.

I believe that we should listen to our bodies instead of counting calories and measuring the food on our plates. In today’s world we tend to suppress our instincts and feelings. We tackle most problems with our minds. But there is so much more to life than logical thinking.

Our bodies own an inborn wisdom. They communicate with our mind through subtle hints. When it comes to food, these are cravings and appetites. They know when something in our diet is amiss and tell you so.

If you stick to a diet or eating plan, these subtle hints usually don’t play a role. A diet may be well balanced and meet the needs of your body according to scientific knowledge. However, that does not mean your body submits to these standards. I believe that is the reason why diets fail so many times.

I believe, the way to stay fit and slim cannot be found in books or on the Internet. We have to take matters into our own hands and trust ourselves, especially our appetites and cravings.

Of course I don’t mean to abuse food as emotional band-aid. There is nothing wrong with indulging in a bit of chocolate or ice cream. Stuffing yourself, however, is sick. I have struggled with eating disorders for a big part of my life. If you belong to the many persons with an eating disorder, get professional help.

Another reason why I refuse nutrition facts in form of serving sizes and calorie amounts is of a more practical nature. I don’t feel like measuring food in cups to know how much exactly I am ingesting. Nor do I want to impart to the members of my family this highly restrictive approach.

I serve the food at our dinner table and everybody takes as much he or she wants. If they really like a meal, they are welcome to second and third helpings. Maybe sometimes we overeat a little, but who cares?

I believe measuring your food and adhering to serving sizes takes the fun out of eating. Our meals should be a source of joy and pleasure also, not only the intake or correct amounts of food. In our daily world we use our brains so much, the meal times should be dedicated to sensations and emotional well being.

That does not mean I promote ignorance – far from it. I believe we need to know as much as possible about nutrients in the food. That’s why I have added so much information about the value of ingredients. When we eat a diet with a lot of vegetables and fruits, we should be well nourished – no need to overanalyse our meals. When our bodies need something extra, they will tell us through cravings and appetites.