It’s Not About Eating All the Candy

Debunking the Biggest Myth About Intuitive Eating

Every Halloween, bowls of candy seem to appear everywhere: on desks, counters, and in our feeds.
And right alongside them comes one of the most persistent myths we hear about Intuitive Eating:

“It’s just about letting yourself eat all the candy.”

It’s understandable that this idea sticks around. For those who’ve spent years navigating diet culture messages about “good” and “bad” foods, the idea of “eating whatever you want” can sound like chaos, or, depending on the day, like total freedom.

But the truth is far more nuanced. This myth oversimplifies something deeply healing.

What Intuitive Eating Really Means

Intuitive Eating isn’t about what you eat, it’s about how you relate to food and your body.

Giving yourself permission to enjoy candy (or any food) can be a meaningful step, especially if restriction and guilt have ruled your food choices for years.
But permission is not the end goal, it’s the first step toward rebuilding trust with your body.

When scarcity and shame are removed, curiosity can take their place. People often notice that:

• Sometimes candy tastes great and hits the spot.

• Sometimes a few pieces feel satisfying.

• Sometimes they don’t want it at all, and that choice feels neutral, not virtuous.

That neutrality, the ability to make choices without guilt or rebellion, is the essence of Intuitive Eating.

Why Food “Freedom” Can Feel Unsettling

For many, food has been tied to control and safety for a long time.
When someone begins loosening old rules around eating, parts of them may feel anxious or unsafe.
From a trauma-informed perspective, those reactions make sense. They’re protective. The body and mind remembering times when control around food felt like survival.

Approaches like EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) often support clients in exploring these deeper layers.
It’s not just about changing food behaviors, it’s about healing the inner relationship with safety, trust, and care.

A Real-Life Example (That Might Feel Familiar)

We’ve all had that moment standing by the candy bowl, torn between “I shouldn’t” and “But I want to.”
That tug-of-war isn’t really about sugar; it’s about the fear of what happens if we stop policing ourselves.

When people begin to practice Intuitive Eating, that fear can soften.
They start to realize that unconditional permission doesn’t lead to chaos, it leads to connection.

This Halloween, Try Curiosity Over Control

If you find yourself caught in food-related anxiety this week, try pausing before reacting. Ask yourself:

• What story am I telling myself about this candy?

• What would it feel like to trust my body. just for this moment?

• Can I notice what I want, without judgment?

You don’t have to earn your treats or make up for them later.
You’re allowed to have candy, and you’re allowed not to want it.

The goal isn’t to eat all the candy.
The goal is to feel safe enough to choose.

Closing Reflection

Healing a relationship with food takes time, especially for those with a history of trauma or disordered eating.
Each moment of curiosity and compassion builds a new pattern of trust.

So if you notice a little guilt or fear around the candy bowl this Halloween, take a breath.
You don’t need to prove your worth to diet culture, or anyone else.
You can simply listen, and respond with care.

That’s where true intuition begins.