The concept of "cheat meals" is very unhealthy, amirite?

I think it's about tricking people who feel trapped by a committed diet and these are built in stress relief points that people can look forward to while struggling with their diet. I'm not saying it's right but I do think it serves a purpose in making people feel like that one special meal is even more indulgent because it's "cheating".

by Marcellus45 1 day ago

What's wrong? Well, people keep getting fatter and fatter. Also, what's so "toxic" about having some discipline/diet or grind culture anyway?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

IMO learning overall healthy habits is way more valuable than focusing on specific diets. When you break a diet, it's really easy to spiral. When you have a bad meal but aren't focusing on being perfectly aligned, it's easy to jump right back in to being healthy.

by AstronomerAlert 1 day ago

There's nothing wrong with discipline or diet, as I said eat however you like, but there is something wrong with shaming other people for what they eat.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I've never heard people use "cheat meal" to shame others. It's usually just a personal term, like "I had a cheat meal last week." People use it to track their own habits, not to judge others. But yeah, if someone would somehow shame others with it, then that would be wrong of course.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I've definitely heard people brag about how few cheat meals they have

by AstronomerAlert 1 day ago

But that's exactly my point, they're talking about their diet. No one's forcing cheat meals on you. If you eat pizza, they're not going to call it a cheat meal for you. They're tracking their own stuff, not yours. At least from my experience.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Some people absolutely use that to shame/belittle.

by AstronomerAlert 1 day ago

Perhaps, and in that case it's definitely not okay. I just personally never experienced that, even after years in those kinds of communities.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Attitudes like this are how people get body dysmorphia and eating disorders.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Genuinely curious, what part of what I said screams "toxic attitude" to you? Is encouraging discipline and health now offensive?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Theyre talking about the attitude that eating a burger is supposed to inflict guilt and shame in you because its not healthy enough (and therefore youre not healthy enough either)

by gradymurphy 1 day ago

Working with a dietitian earlier this year was eye opening for how to approach general health. First thing- don't frame as cheat meals, recognize the relative health of the the meal compared to your "normal" Second off- why is it unhealthy? Understand what about that meal isn't ideal for you, and it's way more than just calorie count. Honestly a burger isn't the worst thing you can have, especially if it's not doused in sauce.

by AstronomerAlert 1 day ago

Is a burger really something you should be eating every day if you're trying to be healthy? For most people, it's not, that's why it's often called a "cheat meal." Same goes for pizza, nuggets, or other fast food. Sure, you can make a healthier version at home, but most people are eating that greasy fast-food version. It's not about guilt, it's just acknowledging it's not something ideal for regular consumption.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

No, and youve completely missed the point

by gradymurphy 1 day ago

I mean, feeling guilt or shame isn't something the term "cheat meal" forces on people, that's internal. No one's saying you're bad for eating a burger. The term just reflects that it's not ideal for regular health goals. It's about awareness, not judgment. If someone chooses to feel shame from that, that's not on the food, or the word.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Im just explaining what OP is talking about since you refused to understand it. I couldnt care less, Im not speaking english and therefore I dont use that word anyways. Also btw you dont "choose to feel shame". Thats not how shame works

by gradymurphy 1 day ago

Saying I "refuse to understand" just because I don't agree is lazy. I understood, I just don't think the term "cheat meal" is harmful. It's about acknowledging a deviation, not assigning moral failure. If someone feels shame, that's internal, not the word's fault.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Given you wrote a whole paragraph about wether or not youre supposed to eat unhealthy food every day I think "refusing to understand" sums it up quite well. You can agree or disagree, but youre only able to really do that if you understood the original point made to begin with

by gradymurphy 1 day ago

Contraception has also been pushed for decades to prevent unplanned pregnancies, but if people don't use it properly, accidents still happen. Same logic with diets, if you don't follow one consistently, it just won't work. In the end, weight loss comes down to calories in vs. calories out. The best diet is the one you can stick to long-term. I do agree with you that a balanced lifestyle is the goal, but let's not pretend most people eat that way. What I eat might be balanced for me, but when I occasionally go off-track and eat junk, I call that a cheat meal, because it's something I know isn't healthy as a regular habit.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I guess that just means people are better at using contraception than sticking to a diet then.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

honestly just call it Break Meal sounds better and less judgemental

by Any-Berry4095 1 day ago

I'm willing to bet that OP is obese.

by haylie50 1 day ago

Would saying something like "I'm relaxing my dietary restrictions this weekend and having a burger" be better? It puts the focus on the individual's diet and dietary restrictions.

by Alert_Ad 1 day ago

I worked with a dietitian earlier this year. Her view was just acknowledging the relative health of the meal you had, and recognizing if that's something you're always having or something you don't always have. Also why is it unhealthy, because calorie count isn't 100% of the story.

by AstronomerAlert 1 day ago

I think just "I'm going to have a burger today" would be better. Then the next day, if it needs to be announced, the person can say "I'm having a salad today"

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I love that I'm reading this while eating a donut.

by Loose_Regular 1 day ago

This concept is made for people who actually diet and/or working. Nobody cares whther you "cheat" or not but it's "cheating" for someone who is cutting

by alicenienow 1 day ago

It's unhealthy because people shouldn't think about food as treats or a luxury. It's a way to fuel your body and putting good fuel in yields good results. So I agree with you.

by Anonymous 1 day ago