Episode 25 - Unapologetic Eating & Living with Olga Bonde

13 Jan

Healthily | 01/13/22

In this episode, I chat with friend and colleague Olga Bonde about how many of us pick up a range of limiting beliefs about food, and how we should live and take care of ourselves, throughout our lives. Is it correct that we label some foods 'good' while others are 'bad'? Does food need to be earned somehow, in order to be enjoyed? Are these limiting beliefs really serving us? Olga presents a new way to view things, and we cover a range of practical suggestions to step into a new way of viewing things.

TAKEAWAYs

✔️ Health is about adding in, not taking away

True nourishment doesn’t begin with restriction. Both Nicola and Olga emphasise starting with what can be added in — nourishment, pleasure, rest, and clarity — rather than focusing on what must be removed. Often, once the body feels safe and well-fed, balance follows naturally.

✔️ Food does not need to be “earned”

The belief that food must be deserved through restriction, punishment, or over-exercising is deeply ingrained — and deeply harmful. Food is not a reward or a moral test. It is nourishment, joy, connection, and care.

✔️ Language around food matters

Terms like “cheat meals,” “naughty foods,” or “being good” reinforce guilt and disconnection. Shifting the language we use — both out loud and internally — can dramatically change our relationship with eating and our bodies.

✔️ Permission is a powerful healing tool

Many clients arrive expecting to be told what they must give up. Instead, healing often begins when they are given permission to eat, to rest, and to enjoy food without fear. Permission reduces stress — and a regulated body is far more capable of healing.

✔️ Enjoyment supports physical health

When the body is no longer in survival mode — fuelled by enough food, rest, and pleasure — energy improves, sleep deepens, cravings soften, and weight regulation often becomes easier. Enjoyment is not the enemy of health; it is part of it.

✔️ Playing with food builds confidence and connection

Creativity in the kitchen doesn’t require perfection or advanced skills. Olga encourages:

Letting things go wrong
Breaking “food rules”
Exploring different textures, flavours, and temperatures
Trying one new ingredient at a time

Curiosity builds confidence — and joy.

✔️ Convenience foods are not a failure

Using shop-bought hummus, falafel, salads, or other convenience foods can be a supportive and sustainable choice, especially during busy or demanding seasons of life. Health should fit real life — not compete with it.

✔️ Midlife is an invitation, not a decline

For many women, midlife is the first time they begin to prioritise themselves. Olga describes this phase as an opportunity to: