As a Naturopath and Nutritionist who loves food, I think of food as so much more than eating. For me, it’s an experience to explore tastes, and flavours and to nourish and energize my body and soul. Food should be fun, enjoyable and health-promoting.
I spent years following ALL of the diets – sugar-free, paleo, keto, vegan, vegetarian, low carb and looking back I was feeling worse for it.
My role as a Naturopath and Nutritionist is to talk to my clients about food – what they are eating, how they cook and prepare and how they feel once they have eaten it.
When it comes to what we should be eating there is no one answer for this. We all have different requirements, tastes and preferences and while I have the key foundations that I believe everyone should focus on, for some even ‘healthy’ foods can bring discomfort so it’s important to look at things on an individual basis.
Here are my tips to help you make better food choices for establishing a healthy relationship with food and helping you sustain healthy eating habits:
- Pack your day with vegetables. To break this down, aim for two servings of vegetables daily. This can be hidden in smoothies, such as frozen cauliflower, kale, spinach or frozen zucchini, or added to omelettes, salads, sandwiches or wraps. Two cups per day should be your go-to.
- Aim to cook and bake from home as much as you can. Not only will you save money but you will also save on added ingredients you wouldn’t necessarily add at home, but you are also no doubt reducing the hydrogenated oil, bleached salt and sugar.
- Be okay with frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables are a cheap way of making sure you always have vegetables on hand at home. This means there is no excuse when it comes to adding vegetables to your meals.
- Don’t deprive yourself. I often find most people ‘fall off the bandwagon’ with good nutrition when they become super selective or restrictive on specific foods. People who cut carbs end up binging on bread and those that cut sugar often overeat chocolate. I’m sure you have experienced it yourself. We all have weaknesses (mine is chocolate), but allow yourself ‘ah moments’ with your chosen vice. If chocolate is your thing too, enjoy it, savour it, take your time and be mindful of what you are eating.
- Mindful eating. I sound like a broken record to my clients on this one, but truly it is not always food to blame. Being distracted while eating can not only cause GI issues but you will also nearly always overeat as you miss your satiety (fullness) cue.
- Listen to YOUR body. Your body will always tell you if it doesn’t like something. Whether this be with gas, bloating, pain, headaches, fatigue or diarrhoea. Often we don’t stop for long enough to listen to what it is trying to tell us.
- Hydrate and drink fluids away from meals. Your body is 65% water. Small fluctuations in your hydration status can change the way your bodily functions work. Aim for 2.5: of water and always be away from food as drinking dilutes your digestive enzymes which is essential in breaking down your food properly.
Seeking guidance from a qualified health practitioner like me ensures a personalised approach tailored to your needs. Please book a complimentary 15-minute consultation to learn more about how we can assist you today.