Cara Harbstreet, MS, RDN, LDN
Cara Harbstreet MS, RDN, LDN is a nationally-recognized food and nutrition expert, author, and our lead Partner and Advisor at Way. Based in Kansas City, KS, Cara is passionate about helping people rediscover joy in eating deeply nourishing meals without restriction or fear, and enjoys candid conversations about the food system, nutrition, and cooking. She has been featured or quoted in Bustle, Forbes, Well+Good, Women’s Health, US News, and many more. Check out her work and learn more here.
Feel Good When You Eat, All The Time
Intuitive Eating meets Cognitive Behavioral Science and Mindfulness, making it simple to understand the thoughts, emotions, and feelings behind your relationship with food.
Want to learn more about Way?
Sign up today!
An excerpt from Cara Harbstreet’s writing…
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you’re constantly chasing the newest diet trend or weight loss plan, only to end up back where you started or worse? You’re not alone. Many people have been conditioned to view food through a restrictive lens and have been led to believe that their worth is tied to their physical appearance. But, what if there was another way to approach food and our bodies?
Recently, intuitive eating has been gaining attention. It’s a practice that encourages us to listen to our bodies, honoring hunger and fullness cues without judgment. While the Way app derives from intuitive eating principles, it uniquely blends these with behavior science and mindfulness. In this article, we’ll explore how Way differs from and aligns with intuitive eating, and how it can foster a peaceful relationship with food.
Intuitive Eating: A Brief Overview
Let’s start with a brief overview of intuitive eating. Developed in the mid-1990s by dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, it’s based on ten principles guiding us to reconnect with our internal cues. These principles are:
1. Reject the diet mentality
2. Honor your hunger
3. Make peace with food
4. Challenge the food police
5. Respect your fullness
6. Discover the satisfaction factor
7. Honor your feelings without using food
8. Respect your body
9. Exercise–feel the difference
10. Honor your health–gentle nutrition
Unlike a weight-loss plan or specific diet, intuitive eating is a mindset shift. It helps us break free from food rules and restrictions, encouraging eating for pleasure and nourishment without guilt or shame. The goal is not weight loss; it’s about cultivating a peaceful relationship with food and our bodies.