Eat + Enjoy + Restore
Prebiotic Sodas: The best gut health drink? In a world where gut health, clean ingredients, and functional foods are trending, traditional sodas are making way for a new generation of fizzy, flavorful, and health-conscious drinks – aka – prebiotic sodas. If you’re someone who craves […]
Histamine intolerance can be a challenging condition, but with the right dietary choices, you can make significant strides in managing its symptoms. As a dedicated gut-health dietitian, I’m here to share a valuable approach: incorporating herbs into your meals. These natural wonders offer promising benefits […]
Just say, “No.” Any of us born in the 80s or 90s had that phrase drilled into our brains about drugs. And honestly, it’s solid advice – saying “No” and being assertive, especially regarding our food choices.
Being assertive is a skill that has taken me years to master, and while I am still a work in progress, when it comes to food, I don’t feel guilty about not eating when:
A) I don’t like the food.
B) I am not hungry (whether physical or some other type of hunger- like emotional).
C) I know the food will make me feel bad after I eat it.
A significant component in mindful eating is changing your mindset around food – from being in control of food to being IN CHARGE of what you eat. If you control your eating, you can quickly find yourself out of control with eating. Versus when you are in charge, you can make your choice around food and move on – like the grown adult you are!
Even with a change in mindset, you can feel “guilt” around eating, no matter the situation. So it’s essential to have some mindful eating skills and a mindset shift you can fall back on when you need to.
Have an idea of what and why you will eat before entering a social food situation. Planning isn’t always possible, but having an intention of what you want to experience and how you want to feel after eating can help you make the best choice for you at that moment and decrease guilt and anxiety later on.
For individuals with food sensitivities, it’s crucial to consider what food choices will be available and what you want to feel after eating.
I think this may be the most important yet overlooked skill of mindful eating. It sounds easy, but deciding what you are going to eat and how you will feel after eating – making a decision – is key to being in charge of your food choices. Whether eating something you know you have a sensitivity to, but you eat it because it’s your favorite dessert that your Aunt Martha makes, OR choosing not to eat it – the power lies with you, not the food. And the power does not lie with the person who made the food either! Once you take away the control of food and other people’s opinions, you take charge of your eating choices.
Hunger is more complex than just the pain you feel in your stomach if you go more than three hours without eating. Physical hunger (that pain you are experiencing) is regulated by your hormones, while Emotional hunger is present to satisfy an emotional need. You could also consider Taste and Desire hunger as different types used to fill a need for food.
Practicing mindfulness and becoming more aware of the different types of hunger we experience throughout the day will help you understand and take charge of your food choices and what you need at that moment.
To recap, it’s not only essential to know what the best foods are for your body to help decrease inflammation, but you have to know how to use the knowledge you’ve gained about food and yourself MINDFULLY in the REAL WORLD. Hopefully, these three skills I have my clients work on can help you understand your food choices and become in charge and more assertive about your eating habits – helping you eliminate all the unnecessary and unhelpful food guilt in your life. Remember, you can say “No” and “Yes” to what and when you want to eat.
Life is too short to eat food that doesn’t taste good, and that doesn’t make your body feel good after eating. For people who have food sensitivities or food allergies, sometimes it’s hard to find the combination that fits both of those requirements – nourishment […]
Coffee or tea?! Which would you choose? ⠀ Lately, I have been on a tea kick – Green, Hibiscus, Earl Grey – you name it – I’ve probably have been having a cup most days of the week. And really, you can reasonably argue that […]
Are you getting ready for Thanksgiving? Or if you’re like me, you might STILL have some leftover Halloween pumpkins hanging around. Roasting a pumpkin can seem overwhelming at first, but it is incredibly easy!
Tada! Freshly roasted pumpkin is so versatile in a variety of recipes – we love it in stuffing and muffins Links to those recipes below!
