It’s Monday and you’re back to work after attending a party and a friend’s birthday brunch over the weekend. Although you had a great time in the moment, you can’t stop telling your coworkers about how “bad” you were this weekend. Does this feel familiar? Chances are you’re thinking about all the cake you had, or the chips you couldn’t put down.

We hear similar things during Monday sessions in particular, and it’s something we constantly try to reframe. What we hear from our clients is them labeling what they consumed as either “good” or “bad”. One of our trainers likes to point out that a food isn’t “bad” unless it’s spoiled. We’re aware that the freshness of the food is not what the client is talking about—what’s actually being implied is that some foods are “good” and “bad” based on how healthy or unhealthy they are.

When we label foods as “good” or “bad,” we are assigning that food morality. The apple is “good” because it’s healthy, and the cookie is “bad” because it’s unhealthy.

We don’t believe in good or bad foods. While that may sound controversial, we believe these “bad” foods deserve a spot on your plate, and you deserve to enjoy them guilt-free. Food is an incredibly important part of our cultures and it facilitates connections with each other. We share our special recipes over the holidays, comfort each other with warm food during challenging times, and celebrate with baked goods.

The morality we give to food can be detrimental because it can rob us from connecting with one another, and it can rob us of comfort, satiation, and pleasure within our own bodies. What we believe in is filling our lives with healthful foods that nourish our minds and bodies. Sometimes that nourishment comes from snacking on carrots and humus during the workday, or a protein shake after a workout, and sometimes that nourishment comes from baking cookies with a loved one during the holidays. The balance between the nourishment of good and bad foods is one way we create a healthful, pleasurable, and an indulging life.

So, if a coworker, friend, or family member can’t seem to get past how “bad” they were over the weekend— instead of saying they can “get back on track” today, perhaps make a point to recognize how wonderful that experience sounded with their loved ones, or how delicious that cake sounded.

Lean more about nutrition coaching at Nu Fitness Oakland where we provide a safe space to work on our relationship and behaviors related to food.