Depending on who you ask, the definition of a “cheat meal” will vary. However, for the most part, a “cheat meal” involves the planned or scheduled consumption of foods that break the “rules” of one’s usual diet or meal plan, allowing you to indulge in whatever food your heart (or tastebuds) desire. Typically, “cheat meals” occur within the context of a restrictive diet or a meal plan that involves a period of strict dietary intake and/or depriving oneself of certain foods. However, deprivation and restriction is ultimately too hard to maintain long term and as such, “cheat meals” allow for a break in the rigidity.
Whilst for some people the concept of a “cheat meal” may work, for many, this method of scheduling “cheat meals” can have harmful consequences. Having forbidden foods that are off limits, except for certain times, may encourage binge eating at the time that they are allowed, a loss of control over eating during the “cheat meal”, thinking about “off limit” foods all of the time, craving “off limit” foods, and even obsessing about food.
Further, when we use the term “cheat meal” to describe food that is essentially providing us with the nourishment we need to function effectively in the world, we begin to prescribe a moral value to food. That is, we begin to inaccurately label foods as “good” (e.g. apple) or “bad” (e.g. chocolate cake). Whilst it is important to have an understanding of the nutritional content of the food we are consuming, labelling certain types of foods as “good” or “bad” can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food and encourage the maintenance of a cycle of restricting and bingeing (as shown in the figure below).
So, what is the alternative? Eat the foods you want, when you truly want them and only if you are hungry (you may find our blog on reconnecting to your body with mindful eating helpful in learning how to recognise your body’s internal cues of hunger and satiety). By eating in a way that allows all foods in moderation, rather than restricting or cutting out particular food groups, you may no longer feel the need for a “cheat meal”. After all, you get to eat foods of your own choosing every day.
I have concerns about the ‘eating the foods you want’…. ‘only when you are hungry’. This can become another rule about eating. Normal eating can also include eating when you are not physically hungry.
Hi Anne, thank you for your comment. We would normally suggest following some guidelines such as these for those just starting out with learning to eat more mindfully. We absolutely agree though, that normal eating can include over-eating and and eating when not hungry at times, as well as under-eating on occasions. Once we begin to master eating more mindfully, we develop increased body trust and can learn to accept and feel comfortable with all varieties of ‘normal eating’.