The REAL Meaning of Self-Control (And How Diet Culture Gets It Wrong)

Have you ever been told you “just need more self-control” to stick to your diet plan?
Maybe a trainer, a well-meaning friend, or even a voice in your own head told you that if you could just muster up enough willpower, you’d finally see the results you want.

Been there.
Heard that.

But here’s the thing:
That diet culture definition of self-control isn't only wrong—it’s robbing you of the freedom God actually wants for you.

Today, we’re diving into what the Bible really says about self-control (⚠️spoiler: It’s a lot more life-giving than you think), why diet culture has twisted the concept beyond recognition, and how to start living out self-control in a way that brings peace, joy, and freedom.

The Struggle Is Real: When “Self-Control” Feels Like Punishment

A while back, I had a client who was really struggling to stick to a low-carb meal plan her trainer had given her. She was convinced the problem was her la...

3 Ways to Help Your Kids Have a Healthier Body Image This School Year

If you’ve ever cringed at something your kid came home saying about food or their body after a day at school… friend, I get it.

I’ll never forget the day my son—fresh out of kindergarten—waltzed through the door clutching a worksheet from his “healthy eating lesson.” He proudly showed me where he had circled the “healthy” foods and X’d out the “unhealthy” ones, just like the teacher told him to.

Cue the deep sigh, the slow sink into my chair, and the eye roll (yes, all three happened in quick succession 😅). As a food freedom dietitian and mama who works hard to teach my kids that all foods are morally neutral, this worksheet felt like a flashing neon sign for one of those “We need to talk” moments.

Because here’s the deal—those kinds of messages? They don’t just stay on the worksheet. They sink deep into our kids’ little hearts and minds, shaping how they see food… and eventually, how they see themselves.

And...

How to Turn Setbacks Into Your Secret Sauce To Make Food Freedom Progress

Ever feel like you’re doing so well… then one “off” week wrecks everything? One comment, one meal, one moment—and suddenly it feels like you’re right back where you started.

If that sounds familiar, you are so not alone.

Let me tell you about a client of mine (we’ll call her Emily). She was finally feeling confident about her food choices, seeing progress, and embracing a little more freedom each day.

Then she started seeing a new physician.

And this doctor? Ohhh boy.

He handed her a brand new list of “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts”—dietary rules she never asked for—delivered in the most triggering, rigid, food-rule-heavy way possible.

All that hard-fought progress? Suddenly, Emily felt like she was starting from ground zero.

Her words?

“I’m overwhelmed. This feels like a setback I’m not strong enough to come back from.”

Whew. Been there? Me too.

But here’s what I told her (and what I want you to hear to...

Can I Really Trust My Hunger Cues?
3 Sneaky Lies Christian Women Believe About Hunger (and the Truth That Sets You Free)

Ever found yourself hovering in front of the pantry at 9:30 p.m. asking: “Am I actually hungry, or just bored? Emotional? Broken?”

If you’ve ever questioned your body’s hunger cues—or even thought, “If I listened to my hunger, I’d totally lose control and eat ALL the things”—we get that around here.

For Christian women navigating a disordered or anxious relationship with food, this kind of confusion isn’t just common... it’s practically expected in a culture that glorifies diets and demonizes carbs.

But here’s the truth bomb I want to lovingly drop in your lap today:

Your hunger cues are not broken.

Your body is not the enemy.

You can learn to trust your God-designed hunger again.

So, let’s talk about it. In this post (based on a recent episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast), we’re going to unpack:

• Why hunger feels so confusing after years of...

What Is Normal Eating? A Christ-Centered Guide to Ditching Food Guilt & Finding Freedom

Ever feel like everyone else got the secret playbook for how to “just eat” without spiraling—and yours got lost in the mail? 😅 Maybe you’ve stared down a barbecue plate, praying for the willpower to “be good,” while secretly wondering why this feels so hard. If you’ve ever wished you could just be a normal eater, you are so not alone—and girl, I’ve got good news.

Normal eating isn’t some elusive thing reserved for Instagram influencers and nutrition nerds. It’s for you too. Yes, even if you’ve struggled with food guilt, body image obsession, or that all-or-nothing mindset for years. In this post, we're gonna break down what normal eating really is, how diet culture has distorted it, and how you can start taking steps toward freedom—starting today. 💃

Let’s dive in.

What Does "Normal Eating" Even Mean?

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t mean salads and sparkling water every meal. And it definitely does...

Because the Lord didn't say "Thou shalt live in the kitchen all summer long." 😉

🥴 Does Summer Meal Prep Feel Like a Full-Time Job?

You know that moment when you're sprinting out the door—kiddo’s half-dressed, coffee half-drunk—and your stomach growls like a hangry lion? Yep. That’s when it hits you: You forgot to plan lunch again. 😩

Or maybe you’ve stared longingly at your Pinterest board full of dreamy meal prep ideas... but somehow your fridge still looks like a chaotic “before” photo on a makeover show.

Friend, if any of this sounds familiar, you are so not alone. 🙋‍♀️ In fact, you’re exactly who this post is for.

If you're ready to stop the summer snack-time scramble and ditch the "ugh, what's for dinner?" stress, I’ve got some real-life-tested, mom-approved, Christ-centered hacks that’ll help you meal plan without the madness.

👉 And if you're a podcast kinda gal, you’ll wanna catch the full episode over on Faith-Filled Food Freedom.

🌟 Why Food Planning Feels So Dang Hard i...

Ever had that "I'm going to be so good on vacation" moment... only to find yourself face-first in the mini donut box by Day Two? 😬 Or maybe you've felt that gnawing fear that if you don't track, you'll spiral out of control and come back feeling physically and mentally blah?

Girl, I've been there. 🙋

And as your faith-filled, food-freedom dietitian, I’m here to tell you: You can enjoy your vacation without tracking, obsessing, or feeling guilty—and still come back at peace with your body, your mind, and Jesus.

Ready for your anti-diet guide to guilt-free vacation eating? Let’s go. 🧳✨

When Vacation = Food Noise and Fear

Let me take you back to one of my "firsts"—my first trip trying to not track anything. We were at the beach, and I promised myself I'd "just eat normally." Cue me overthinking every meal, stressing about getting it "right," restricting here, overdoing it there, and sneaking snacks in secret while everyone else was playing beach volleyball. 😳

I felt like I couldn’...

Can the Desire to Lose Weight AND Pursue Food Freedom Coexist?

“I want food freedom… but I also kinda want to lose weight. Is that wrong?”

Oh friend, if I had a dollar for every time a Christian woman whispered this question with a cocktail of guilt, shame, and curiosity—I’d be writing this blog from a beach house in Maui. 🏖️

But in all seriousness, if you’ve been wrestling with this exact thought, I want you to hear me loud and clear:

You are NOT disqualified from pursuing food freedom just because part of you still wants weight loss.

Let’s break this tension down together—with grace, truth, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (not the scale).

The Honest Truth: You’re Not Alone in This Tension

First, a big ol’ exhale. You’re not the only Christian woman who feels this way. This desire to “want both” is extremely common—especially if you’ve grown up in a performance-based or image-focused environment.

“Brittany, I don’t want to obsess over food anymore... but also, I’d love...

Did your dad ever comment on your weight—even jokingly? Or maybe he never said a word about your body, but somehow you always felt like you needed to look a certain way to be "good enough."

Friend, if your dad wasn’t the "villain" in your story, but his absence, criticism, or silence still left a mark on how you see your body, you’re not alone. This post is here to help you unpack those unspoken hurts, so you can move toward healing with the love of your Heavenly Father, who sees you fully and calls you worthy.

This isn’t about blaming our dads. It’s about understanding how our earthly relationships shape our self-image—and letting God redeem those places for freedom.

How "Dad Wounds" Can Shape Your Body Image

I’ve worked with hundreds of women who say:

• "My dad never told me I was beautiful."
• "He only noticed me when I lost weight."
• "He was around but emotionally absent."
• "He made offhand comments about my eating or how I looked."

Even if these moments seemed subtle, th...