Have you ever stood in front of the fridge or a supermarket shelf, feeling completely overwhelmed by what you "should" be eating? You’re not alone. Between diet trends, social media advice, wellness influencers and conflicting opinions from friends or family, it's no wonder so many women feel confused and even anxious when it comes to food.

In my work as a nutritionist, I hear it all the time: "I don’t even know what’s healthy anymore" or "I feel guilty every time I eat something that’s not ‘perfect’." The truth is, food shouldn’t feel this hard. Eating well isn’t about perfection, it’s about consistency, flexibility and feeling good in your own body.

We live in an information-rich world, but when it comes to nutrition, more information doesn’t always mean more clarity. Keto, intermittent fasting, plant-based, low-FODMAP, gluten-free… the list goes on. Each approach claims to be the “best” which can lead to decision paralysis.

This confusion often makes people feel like they’re failing, especially when a certain style of eating doesn’t “work” for them. But the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one person may not work for another. And that’s okay.

Many of us have grown up surrounded by diet culture, being told that certain foods are "bad" or off-limits or that we have to "earn" our meals through exercise. From a young age, we may have been taught to fear food or to associate eating with guilt and restriction. These beliefs can stick with us well into adulthood, shaping how we feel about our bodies and our food choices.

Alongside the confusion often comes guilt. Guilt for eating a slice of cake. Guilt for skipping a workout. Guilt for not eating organic. Guilt for not following “the plan”.

But food isn’t meant to be a moral issue. You are not “good” for eating a salad or “bad” for eating pizza. Food is nourishment, yes, but it’s also enjoyment, culture, celebration and comfort. Feeling guilty every time you eat something less nutritious is exhausting and unnecessary.

Imagine what it would feel like to make food choices from a place of self-trust, not fear. To eat without obsessing over the ingredients list or calorie count. To enjoy a meal and move on, without shame.

The way forward starts with ditching the diet mentality and reconnecting with your body. That doesn’t mean throwing all nutrition knowledge out the window, it means learning how to apply it in a way that works for you, long term.