Jo Sebastian believes eating should be both nourishing and joyful
Jo Sebastian has all the markings of a standout content creator. With her sunny, sing-song voice, passion for performing, and niche expertise in nutrition, paired with her distinct bald haircut, it’d be no surprise if one of her TikTok videos makes you do a double take.
Yet the impact of Jo’s work stretches far beyond the confines of the internet. Her content has empowered individuals to learn how to properly and compassionately fuel their bodies, a reprieve in a diet-driven culture that imposes unhealthy body images.
“Food noise,” as dietitian and TikTok content creator Jo would describe it, is difficult to shake off. Despite her early passion for ballet, Jo eventually stopped due to her struggles with body image—a decision that spurred her interest in nutrition. She began by studying it independently before pursuing a degree at the University of the Philippines.
“I gained a lot of weight after dancing and I got even more obsessed with my weight and tried to bring it down by doing more diets,” she tells me. Only when she graduated did she realize: “A lot of these behaviors are not right. They are disordered eating patterns and we need to address it.”
Content creation became her outlet, holding the belief that eating should be both a nourishing and joyful act. Here, she tells us why “you always deserve to eat,” a reassuring line she’d always end her videos with.
You don’t always need motivation to take care of yourself. In fitness, we’re drowned by the idea of strict discipline, and with it comes guilt should you break it. Jo stresses that motivation wanes for everyone, including herself. “I have a lot of down days. It’s important to let yourself have those ‘I don’t feel like moving or caring right now’ (moments).” Building habits takes time.
Staple foods in your pantry don’t need to be replaced. Instead, consider adding. Often, when we think of a healthy lifestyle, it immediately means a list of restrictions. “You’re not allowed to drink this or eat this or do that, so you fall into this negative cycle,” Jo explains. However, forgoing the food you love has long been gone on Jo’s list. One practice she’s known for is adding more balance to meals even if it’s only fast food. “It’s always (about) what I can do that will add value to my life, rather than what I should stop doing. That would be very helpful in changing your mindset and being kinder to yourself.”
Yet, she acknowledges that eating healthy is often a privilege. Jo encourages starting with what you already have, challenging the idea that everyone has equal access to resources and time. “Let’s say you’re a dormer and all you can focus on are canned goods right now because you don’t have a refrigerator. Canned veggies are nutrient-dense, we can do that for fiber.” This approach can help people feel less guilt and stress.
Improving your relationship with food means improving your relationship with yourself. Jo acknowledges that reaching a place where you can be as intuitive as you can with your body is a process. “It’s about understanding when you’re hungry, why you’re hungry, and how to address that.” Taking just one step is already a start until it eventually becomes the path of least resistance. “Wanting to lose weight is not inherently bad, it’s just we always take it to the extremes. It tends to impact our health negatively,” she adds.
Lastly, listen to your body—eating should not make you feel guilty. Jo reflects on how growing up in a Filipino household normalizes commenting on people’s bodies and what people are eating. “We all develop this consciousness around food, thinking, ‘Pwede ko ba ‘tong kainin?’ or ‘Pwede ba ‘yan sa’kin?’ Unfortunately we learn to be so insecure and to second-guess ourselves all the time.” The most important thing to Jo right now is creating more safe spaces online, where everyone feels deserving of nourishment and kindness towards themselves.
For more of Jo’s content, follow her on TikTok at @itsjosebastian and Facebook at Jo Sebastian.