About a quarter of men and almost four in ten women in the United States are trying to lose weight, according to one study. The most common methods people are using are exercising and being more attentive to the number of calories they consume. Some people, especially men, are also skipping meals or taking pills that make them urinate more frequently in order to lose weight.

Is it always bad to skip meals? It depends on why and how often you do it. If you're genuinely not hungry, it's okay. How can you tell if your eating habits are normal, safe, and healthy? Everyone has a different idea of a healthy diet, but there are a few signs that usually indicate a healthy relationship with food.

1. You can cope with stress without turning to food.

If you are like most Americans, you probably enjoy associating different foods with different celebrations. For example, you might have cake on your birthday, pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, mac and cheese on the 4th of July, and red velvet cupcakes on Valentine's Day. The link between food and celebrations is what makes “emotional eating” so alluring. When you're feeling down, you might crave the comfort of a Snickers bar or your grandma's apple pie. These treats are fine occasionally, but using food to deal with stress day after day might be a problem.

When you're trying to have a healthy relationship with food, it's important to know coping strategies for stress that don't involve eating, says Sarah Thacker, LPC, registered and board-certified art therapist. For example, here are five meditation techniques that might help you manage stress instead of turning to unhealthy snacks.

2. You feel satisfied after eating—not guilty or regretful.

Friedman says that being able to enjoy food without anxiety or hangups is a sign of a healthy relationship with food.

Look at the way you speak about food after eating. Do you say things like, “That was delicious?” Or are your comments more like, “Ugh, I'm stuffed. I shouldn't have eaten that. I'm going to have to run tomorrow.” These comments are (unfortunately) common at the dinner table, and they trick us into thinking of food as something that will cause us pain.

You may want to keep a food journal if you're concerned about your emotions after meals. You can look for patterns, such as whether the negative emotions are stronger after eating certain foods.

3. You feel present during meals and snacks.

You should enjoy the food and company while sitting at the table with friends or family.

According to Gisela Bouvier, an unhealthy relationship with food is characterized by constant stress and fear around eating and food. This may manifest as obsessive thoughts about food, calorie counting, and restrictive diets.

4. You feel comfortable eating in front of others.

To begin with, there is nothing wrong with eating by oneself. ” This can be a special, calming, and even therapeutic experience,” Friedman says. It might even help you eat more attentively.

If you always eat alone, it might be because you're anxious about food or you might have an issue with food or eating, says Friedman.

An example of food anxiety would be if you were worried that others would judge you for how much or how fast you're eating. People with food anxieties often worry that everyone is watching them eat and will judge them for it.

5. You listen to hunger cues.

Your hunger cues play a role by telling you when to start and stop eating. If you ignore them, you may end up eating too much or too little.

An individual with a positive outlook towards food uses their intuition to make decisions on what is best for them, rather than forcing themselves to follow a set of arbitrary rules. This trust allows them to satisfy their cravings without restriction.

At the other end of the hunger scale is recognizing when you are full. If you stop eating before you are full to save calories, or if you continue eating uncontrollably, these are both signs of disordered eating.

An eating disorder can make it hard to trust your body's hunger cues. For example, you may stop feeling hungry, or you might feel full with just a little amount of food. In this case, “not ever feeling hungry” may not be a good reason to eat less.

6. You don’t punish yourself for occasionally “going overboard.”

You may have ignored your fullness cues and had an extra serving of mashed potatoes, but this doesn't mean you have a negative relationship with food.

Muhlheim says that if you prioritize working out over other aspects of your life, that may be a sign of an unhealthy relationship with exercise.

7. You don’t fear foods or food groups.

It is normal to not like some foods or to avoid eating something if it does not agree with you. However, if you avoid a food that you actually like because you are afraid of how unhealthy it is, that may be a problem.

Just about everyone has something they don't like, and that's okay!” says Friedman. Hating olives is one thing, but fearing them because of their fat content signals a problem. “Being open to all types of food is a sign of comfort and peace,” she says.

Speaking of which…

8. You’re comfortable eating out or having others cook for you.

Dr. Rosenfeld states that the key to having a good relationship with food is flexibility. Someone with a healthy relationship to food is able to eat various foods in different settings and go with the flow. On the other hand, someone with a strained relationship to food may feel anxious when eating at a different time, at a new restaurant, or in someone else's home. This person may only feel comfortable cooking in their own home because they are in control of what goes on their plate. This indicates a rigid need for control and perfection with diet. If you find yourself checking the menu before heading to a new restaurant or canceling food events because you're worried about what food will be served, your relationship with food might need some help.

9. You understand that food is just one of many pleasures in your life.

You need ways to cope with stress besides eating, and you also need ways to enjoy life besides food. Overeating can be a coping mechanism for stress, but it is not the only way to cope with stress, and it is not the only way to enjoy life.

Dr. Rosenfeld believes that one of the signs of having a healthy relationship with food is not thinking about food constantly. This is usually a result of eating enough and getting proper nutrition, she says. A sure sign that your relationship with food is strained is if you are so obsessed with food that it impacts your ability to concentrate on school, work, or relationships, says Dr. Muhlheim. When you're not eating or feeling hungry, food should be a distant thought while you enjoy other parts of your life.

5 Signs You’re Dieting, Not Making Healthy Lifestyle Changes

The following are signs that you may be stuck in a dieting loop:

1. You Say “I Can’t Have” 

If you ever say (or think) the words “I can’t have,” or “I’m not allowed to” when talking about food, this is an unsustainable eating habit, May says.

The text is saying that in most cases, saying “I can't have” is a lie. Fear explains that your brain knows this, so when you place bagels, pasta, or chocolate into the “no-no” category, you're often just making yourself want those foods more.

Mindful eating is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular. However, many people are unsure of what it actually is. Mindful eating is simply the practice of being present and aware while you are eating. This means being aware of the food you are eating, the taste, the texture, and how it makes you feel. It is also about being aware of your emotions and thoughts while you are eating. This can help you to become more aware of your eating habits and make changes if necessary. Mindful eating is all about being in the moment and being aware of what you're putting into your body. It's not just about the taste or the texture of the food, but also how it makes you feel emotionally and physically. If you're not used to being mindful while you eat, it can be a challenge to get started. But with a little practice, it can become a habit that can help you make better choices about what you eat and how much you eat.

May recommends removing “I can't” from your vocabulary so you can still enjoy your favorite foods. Fear adds that it's okay to eat these foods occasionally or in smaller amounts, as long as it's not every day or in large quantities.

2. You Cut Or Limit Entire Food Groups

Cutting out entire food groups is not a good diet tactic because you are eliminating valuable sources of nutrition.

Many popular diets eliminate or drastically reduce carbohydrates, but these foods are an important source of nutrients like B vitamins, iron, fiber, and phytonutrients, as well as an important source of energy.

Even if a food does not have a lot of nutritional value, it can still be enjoyable and provide a way to connect with other people. “Connecting with others and eating enjoyable foods is health-promoting,” according to Hartley.

If certain foods bacause problems for your body, or if they go against your values, it is okay to stop eating them. You can find other foods to eat that will give you the nutrients you need, and there are always supplements you can take.

The solution: Rather than cutting out foods entirely, learn how to eat them in such a way that you feel good. Start by incorporating them into your meals with intention. For example, rather than eliminating pasta, Hartley suggests serving it as a planned, balanced meal with roasted veggies, tomato sauce, and chicken.

3. You Don’t Physically Feel Good

If you're restricting your diet, you might experience some negative side effects, such as low energy levels, feeling cold, difficulty recovering from exercise, sleep problems, or decreased libido. Even if you're motivated to stick to your diet, eventually these side effects will make it too difficult to continue.

Read More: 6 Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Calories

If you do decide to quit, you'll likely start overeating. “If someone hasn't felt satisfied after a meal in months, they usually eat past the point of satisfaction, and may continue doing so for a long time,” Fear says.

If you want to lose weight without experiencing hunger, low energy, and a lack of satisfaction, cut back on your calorie intake gradually rather than drastically. This way, your body will be able to adjust to the new intake without suffering from negative side effects.

4. You Obsess Or Stress Over Food

If you're spending a lot of time thinking about food or obsessing over it, that's a sign that you're dieting.

Anxiety over following food “rules,” wondering what and when to eat next, stressing about food preparation, and logging every bite of food are all examples of food-related thoughts, according to Fear.

If you're obsessed with food, it can have a negative impact on your health and happiness. It can be tough to relax and enjoy time with friends or go on vacation if you're anxious about being able to stick to your food rules. If a diet is so complicated that it causes anxiety when cooking or grocery shopping, it's not something you can sustain long-term.

If you're struggling to stick to your weight loss goals because they're making you too stressed, it's time to reassess your habits. “It's more important to be able to stick to your healthy behaviors even on a bad day, than to lose weight and sacrifice your sanity,” says Fear. Start by making smaller changes that you can manage, and allow yourself time to get used to one new habit before moving on to another.

5. You Judge What Other People Eat

If you've ever scolded a friend for ordering fries instead of a salad, you may be dieting too hard. According to May, people who worry about what others are eating are often not following a balanced diet themselves.

If you're jealous of your friend because they're eating fries, that's probably because you want some too. May says that if you deprive yourself of what you want for too long, you'll eventually give in and end up overeating the very thing you were judging your friend for. This guilt then leads to more restrictive eating, and the cycle starts all over again.

If you find yourself judging someone for their food choices, remember that everyone is free toeat what they want, including you. Then, ask yourself why that person’s food choices are noticeable to you. If it’s because you want what they’re having, think about how you can have that food in a way that you feel good about.