Are You Cheating Yourself? Breaking Down the Cheat Day

I’m sure you’re familiar with the term cheat day or cheat meal.  Basically, a cheat meal is a planned meal that include indulgent foods that wouldn't ordinarily be permitted on your diet. A cheat day is when you allow yourself to consume any foods you want over an entire day.

As a registered dietitian, I shudder when I hear the term “cheat day.” Not because I’m thinking of people shoving donuts and cheeseburgers in their mouths left and right, but because it’s a term rooted in diet culture and it puts foods in strict 'good' and 'bad' categories.

Here’s why associating morality with our food choices can trigger unhealthy eating behaviors and how to ditch the cheat day and focus on more helpful eating strategies.