My first assignment in my Culinary Nutrition Expert Program was to write our food philosophy. While I have studied and shared a great deal about food over the years, this was the first time I wrote out my own personal food philosophy.
Writing my food philosophy made me realize how much my food choices have changed over the years.
If anyone would have asked me my food philosophy from my teen-to-early 30s, I would have said I'm a vegetarian who tries to eat low-calorie, low-fat, low-point, diet foods.
I wouldn't have mentioned actual vegetables since I didn't eat many despite being a vegetarian. I probably would have left out the part of my secret binges on cookies, ice cream, and all other things sweet.
My old eating philosophy focused on dieting. It led to an unhealthy relationship with food, an eating disorder, and contributed to fertility issues due to blood sugar and hormonal imbalances. It definitely didn't work for me.
I'm so grateful to have moved from a dieting mentality to a place of honoring my body's nutritional needs.
Below is my current food philosophy which is one I live by and share with the women I work with. If you have been on my list for a while, you will most likely recognize many of the elements of my food philosophy. Feel free to try anything that resonates with you :)
My Food Philosophy:
Focus on Foods that Make You Feel Fabulous
I believe that we should eat food that gives us great energy to do the things we love and to be our healthiest self.
* Learn to listen to your body and notice how different foods make you feel and function.
* Eat more vegetables, especially dark leafy greens.
* Choose organic and local produce whenever possible.
* If you eat animal products make sure they were fed well too. Stay away from factory farmed animal products.
* Cook most of your food at home and use fresh, unprocessed ingredients.
Break Free from Fake Foods
I believe that in order to feel our best we must get rid of processed food products that steal our energy and have a negative impact on our health.
* If you don’t recognize the ingredients on a food label, don’t eat it.
* Cut out or dramatically reduce your sugar and white flour intake.
* Stay away from deep-fried foods, sodas, candy and pretty much anything you would find in a fast food restaurant.
Sit, Slow, and Savor
I believe that eating well goes beyond what we eat. How we eat is an essential ingredient for optimal health.
* Sit- Make a strong effort to eat all your meals sitting at a table rather than mindlessly eating while walking around the house.
* Slow- Chew your food slowly and put your fork down between bites. Listen to your body and stop eating when you feel you that you have had enough. Gone are the days of the “clean plate club.”
* Savor- Food is meant to be savored. Pay attention to the taste, smell, texture and the beauty of your healthy, delicious food.
A healthy food philosophy serves as a guideline to help you make food choices that work best for you. It also serves as a place to come home to when you fall off track.
How's your food philosophy working for you? Do you know what it is? If not, take some time to brainstorm. Are you happy with it? Does it need some upgrades?
You can always create a new ideal food philosophy to move towards. Remember it's never too late to make a change.