Why Knowing What to Eat is Not Enough

“My problem with eating sweets is that I want to eat the whole cake.” Carrie Fisher

Most people already know the basic rules of what “healthy eating” means. The problem is not information. The problem is actually doing it. Although I will admit, I sometimes get overwhelmed by all the information too.

So why is there such a big gap between knowledge and behaviour? I have asked myself this question many times, while observing my own habits and those of my patients over the years. And some people really do struggle with this more than others. Including me.

In September last year, I asked my sister if she wanted to do some kind of eating challenge with me. I knew what I should be eating, and what I probably shouldn’t be eating, but I just could not get myself onto the “right path”.

She suggested something different. Instead of jumping straight into eating better, she suggested that I study why this whole “I can’t eat right” thing was such a struggle for me. She also suggested that I share the journey, because so many other people struggle with the same thing. I thought this was a brilliant idea.

So instead of immediately changing my eating, I started observing myself. I watched my habits, my thoughts, my triggers, and the people around me. I read, listened, and thought deeply about food, cravings, behaviour, and why good intentions so often fall apart in real life.

As I started sharing more honestly about my own struggles, other people began sharing theirs. That is when I realised how common this really is. So many people are harsh on themselves when it comes to food and body image. But most of the time, it is not a lack of willpower or discipline. It is simply being human in a modern world.

Our brains also did not evolve for the world we are living in now. They evolved for scarcity, not for cupboards filled with chips, Nutella, and Caramel Treat. For most of human history, food was uncertain and energy was precious. A brain that pushed us to eat sugar and fat whenever it was available was a clever survival tool. Put that same brain in a modern kitchen and things get complicated very quickly.

Life happens. Stress happens. Kids happen. Emotions happen. Habit loops are powerful. And very often, our brains are just trying to keep us safe and comfortable, not thin or perfectly healthy.

If this is hard for you, you are not broken.

I have learned a lot about myself through this process, and about why knowing what to eat is not enough.

Thank you, Linley, for encouraging me to write these thoughts down instead of letting them bounce around endlessly in my head.

This year, I am sharing My Sugar Story in the hope that it helps me, and by sharing, helps others too. I want to enjoy food, feel thankful for it, and eat without shame or guilt, while still taking care of my health.

I will explore this topic from different angles. Not just what to eat, but the psychology behind our choices, the habits we repeat without thinking, and the biology that quietly drives cravings and behaviour beneath the surface.

If this sounds familiar, you are welcome to join me on this journey and discover your own sugar story.