Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul. ~ Dorothy Day
It is really tough to go a day without thinking about it, seeing it on Facebook, in magazines, in our kitchens, but most importantly putting in our mouths and bellies, yes, that would be food. Look down the grocery aisles, hear it on television, Paleo, vegan, non-GMO, organic and on and on and on. Everyday there is a new one that is better than the one yesterday and that is where the big "D" comes to play - DIET. For many of us the word diet is a not-so-fun four-letter word.
I will admit that I think about food ALL. THE. TIME. I have always had a generous appetite. I have also been blessed with good eating habits since I was young. My mom always made us eat fruit and vegetables even if we didn't like them. Yes, we ate our fair share of naughty food but at the end of the day I can say that I have a good, well-rounded palette.
When I used to asked clients about food my first question to them would be, "How's your diet?" When I look back on this I think, "Yikes, what a horrible question!" The word diet holds such negative emotions for many people.
I have never really gone on a "diet." This is not to say that I make 100% awesome food choices but I have found that depriving myself does not fix the problem. The food journey has been ever changing for me over the past year. I have mentored with colleagues who have expertise in food and nutrition. I will tell you that the knowledge I have gained has more to do with the spiritual and emotional aspects of food and less about the science behind it.
Think about food for a moment. Maybe there are certain foods we deem "bad" versus "good." Goodness knows that all the latest diet fads will tell you to not eat this and only eat that. Food is more than just chemical reactions within the body supplying energy to keep us going. Think of all the joyful events that surround food like birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. Food is also there at times of sadness like funerals and when people get sick. There is no doubt that we can tie food to just about anything we do.
Food is so much more than simple calories; food is nourishment and medicine for body, mind and spirit. Think of all the amazing things food does for our bodies and in return keeps up alive and able to enjoy another day?
Now when I talk to my clients about food I say either, "How are you nourishing your body?" or "How are you fueling your body." These questions sound much more positive.
When I go to eat I always think, it this nourishing me and fueling me for the day?
Again, I am not an expert on what you should be eating or not but I do have a few simple things that are easy ways to start nurturing our bodies with food. Here are a few things that I believe are sound nutritional practices:
1. Right away in the morning drink a class of lemon water - lukewarm or room temperature is best. Use real lemons and do it before you do anything else in the morning. Think about it this way, you have hopefully slept about 8 hours and your body is dehydrated, this a great way to hydrate the body and lemons are a great way to start cleansing your body from within.
2. Eat real food as much as possible. This means fresh fruit and vegetables preferably over canned but frozen are fine when you are in a pinch. Use fresh herbs to season such as dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, oregano and thyme. Herbs have many healing qualities.
3. Try not to drink your calories. So basically avoid or limit soft drinks and alcohol. I know, what a downer but beverages with calories add up over time. Drink mainly water throughout the course of the day. Try drinking tea made from fresh spices and herbs like cinnamon, parsley, mint and ginger. They are inexpensive, flavorful and calorie free all while being hydrating.
4. Eat good sources of fat. Try different oils such as olive and coconut (organic is best). Butter is good but ghee is even better. Avocados rock, too. Remember that a little goes along way!
5. Try to eat fermented food - seriously. I make my own sauerkraut and it is cheap and easy. There are good probiotics in fermented foods that are amazing for your gut. If you suffer from digestion issues this is a must for you. There are loads of other probiotic foods that your palette may prefer such as yogurt so do some research and eat a little every day.
6. Carbs are not evil, just pick the highest quality ones as often as possible. Fruits and vegetables are carbs so eat, eat, eat. Whole wheat over white bread, brown over white rice and whole grains when possible. We need carbohydrates.
7. Protein is great but we do not need to over do it. If you eat meat choose lean cuts and organic when possible. Organic dairy or alternatives like almond milk are wonderful. Beans are a great vegetarian and vegan option.
8. Eat real, high quality dark chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa the better. Not only is it good for you but it tastes awesome. Also, we all must live, right?
9. Branch out and try different things like chia seeds, quinoa and kale. Experiment with different recipes so you can enjoy some of these nutrient-rich foods.
10. Make eating more about enjoyment and nourishment and less about how we desire to look. Remember that if we are not fueling our internal body it will eventually show on the outside. Think about how you feel after eating something nourishing compared to something unhealthy. Overtime your body will start to crave that which makes us feel good.
So, there is Yogi Girl's eating philosophy. No deprivation, no gimmicks, just fueling for the body, mind and soul. Do I fall off the wagon every once in a while and eat something not so wholesome? A resounding...YES!
Everyday is different and our bodies internal system can change over time. Always be mindful of how we are feeling in our digestion. If we have a constant upset stomach, overactive or under active bowels this is a sign that something is not going well in our bodies. Listen to our bodies and seek help when we cannot solve the issues on our own. There are numerous dietitians and natural healers out there that can help solve our digestion and nutritional issues.
To end this foodie discussion I thought I would post my most recent favorite go-to recipe. Eat well and be well folks. Honor our bodies with good nourishing food and our bodies will honor us.
May the light in my heart honor the light in yours.
Namaste
Kale Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing
Salad Ingredients:
6 cups of finely cut kale, no stems
1 red pepper cut in thin slices
2 carrots shredded
1 bunch of green onions thinly sliced
1 cup of shelled edamame
1/2 cup of fresh parsley finely minced
1 cup of orange slices (navel or clementine)
Dressing Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of local honey
1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
1 lemon zest and juice
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all salad ingredients into a large bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients together and then pour over salad. You can eat immediately but it actually gets better over the course of a few hours and into the next day or two for the lemon breaks down the kale and makes it tender. Enjoy!
4. Eat good sources of fat. Try different oils such as olive and coconut (organic is best). Butter is good but ghee is even better. Avocados rock, too. Remember that a little goes along way!
5. Try to eat fermented food - seriously. I make my own sauerkraut and it is cheap and easy. There are good probiotics in fermented foods that are amazing for your gut. If you suffer from digestion issues this is a must for you. There are loads of other probiotic foods that your palette may prefer such as yogurt so do some research and eat a little every day.
6. Carbs are not evil, just pick the highest quality ones as often as possible. Fruits and vegetables are carbs so eat, eat, eat. Whole wheat over white bread, brown over white rice and whole grains when possible. We need carbohydrates.
7. Protein is great but we do not need to over do it. If you eat meat choose lean cuts and organic when possible. Organic dairy or alternatives like almond milk are wonderful. Beans are a great vegetarian and vegan option.
8. Eat real, high quality dark chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa the better. Not only is it good for you but it tastes awesome. Also, we all must live, right?
9. Branch out and try different things like chia seeds, quinoa and kale. Experiment with different recipes so you can enjoy some of these nutrient-rich foods.
10. Make eating more about enjoyment and nourishment and less about how we desire to look. Remember that if we are not fueling our internal body it will eventually show on the outside. Think about how you feel after eating something nourishing compared to something unhealthy. Overtime your body will start to crave that which makes us feel good.
So, there is Yogi Girl's eating philosophy. No deprivation, no gimmicks, just fueling for the body, mind and soul. Do I fall off the wagon every once in a while and eat something not so wholesome? A resounding...YES!
Everyday is different and our bodies internal system can change over time. Always be mindful of how we are feeling in our digestion. If we have a constant upset stomach, overactive or under active bowels this is a sign that something is not going well in our bodies. Listen to our bodies and seek help when we cannot solve the issues on our own. There are numerous dietitians and natural healers out there that can help solve our digestion and nutritional issues.
To end this foodie discussion I thought I would post my most recent favorite go-to recipe. Eat well and be well folks. Honor our bodies with good nourishing food and our bodies will honor us.
May the light in my heart honor the light in yours.
Namaste
Kale Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing
6 cups of finely cut kale, no stems
1 red pepper cut in thin slices
2 carrots shredded
1 bunch of green onions thinly sliced
1 cup of shelled edamame
1/2 cup of fresh parsley finely minced
1 cup of orange slices (navel or clementine)
Dressing Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of local honey
1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
1 lemon zest and juice
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all salad ingredients into a large bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients together and then pour over salad. You can eat immediately but it actually gets better over the course of a few hours and into the next day or two for the lemon breaks down the kale and makes it tender. Enjoy!
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