Making a change is hard. Dietary changes are especially challenging, as eating is something we do several times a day, every day. We are faced with the newest battle with ourselves each time our stomach rumbles. The temptation of food is everywhere – a coworker offering us a piece of birthday cake; the office potluck; the beckoning of any eateries we pass with their aromas and colors.
What does this have to do with a dietitian, you might ask? How does your struggle with trying to redefine your relationship with food relate to who I am? Well, it is this very challenge you are seeking to take on that I hope to make a bit easier. I believe that food should nourish both our bodies and our souls. That means you should not only eat to sustain your life, meet your weight goals, and improve your health, but also because food tastes really good! I believe the key is moderation, in all things, including moderation! I love to eat! And not just salads and green smoothies, as you might suspect. I adore cupcakes, have baked my fair share of chocolate chip cookies, and go gaga over a chocolate bar sale. But, I also try to balance my sweet tooth with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality protein, and whole, nourishing foods, as well as water, and exercise.
My belief is that nature provides everything we need. My food philosophy is to eat as much real, whole food as possible and avoid processed, chemical-infused goods. Another way to put it – if you’re great, great, grandmother couldn’t have eaten it, you probably shouldn’t either! Our body is meant to digest, absorb, and utilize foods found in nature. That’s what we should be feeding it. With all this said, I also understand that sometimes life gets in the way of making everything from scratch, bringing lunch from home every day, etc. etc. Modern conveniences have their place too; it’s all about balance and choosing the best of these “less optimal” options. This is why meal replacement, a tool here at CoreLife, can be a great tool to utilize while we work on these new habits.
The media bombards us with different food fads, diets, weight-loss promises, and all sorts of contradicting information. In my previous blog post (“Dietitian, Nutritionist – What’s the Difference?”), I highlight the first step in changing your relationship with foods – finding a qualified professional to assist you in navigating these often confusing and contradictory waters. That’s where I come in. I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and I try to lead by example, spending my own daily life attempting to improve my own relationship with food and to continuously improve my health and that of my family. I believe everyone can and should have a good relationship with food.
You may have come to CoreLife simply wanting to lose weight, and that is an admirable goal, but if you don’t also consider and change your relationship with food, no amount of weight loss will be sustainable and your overall health could still be jeopardized. Weight is a number, one that we can work together to improve through your diet and exercise. But, enjoying your meals each day, not fearing what you put into your mouth or feeling restricted and deprived, I believe we all deserve that. Good nutrition is the best medicine and prevention there is. A CoreLife registered dietitian is ready to help you get started.
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Happy Eating!
Aubrey MS RDN
