29/07/2026
Add, not restrict.
There's a little experiment I use with clients called And-And, which is a tool we implement to help take foods off the magical pedestal they've been put on.
If you struggle with overeating, binge eating or food avoidance, shifting from an all or nothing (black and white) approach to one that is more flexible takes time.
Continuing to engage in actions that fuel back and white thinking, only strengthens the food rules and rigid beliefs about food.
So instead of avoidance or removing foods from your diet, I like to introduce And-And. Pairing an avoided or feared for WITH a safe one. This follows the same concept of adding something to your plate, rather than restricting.
For example, instead of avoiding pizza, can you have pizza AND salad. Add the salad, rather than restrict and avoid the pizza. Then repeat this again, and again, and again.
Has this strategy worked for you?