Most of us don’t grow up thinking about food as neutral. Before long, we learn there are “good” foods and “bad” foods, meals we should be proud of and others we’re expected to feel guilty about. Without even realizing it, many of us begin eating not from hunger or pleasure, but from rules.

That’s where the Food Police come in.

The Food Police aren’t an actual authority — they’re the voice of diet culture. They show up in comments from others, in the rules we’ve absorbed over time, and in the voice inside our heads that narrates every food choice as a success or failure. Once you start noticing them, it becomes clear just how often they try to run the show.

Where the Food Police Show Up

The Food Police tend to appear through a few main channels. You might recognize these:

Internalize

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