Nourish

Nourish: The Fundamental Habit

To nourish is the process of obtaining or providing the foods necessary for health and growth and the ability to flourish. In our modern society today we have easy access to good tasting, high fat and sugary foods. Our portion sizes have increased and as our lifestyles become more demanding we reach for a fast food fix rather than preparing the food ourselves. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things we can do for our health but rising obesity has become the current trend. In pursuit of intentionally losing weight we create other problems such as a weight stigma, weight cycling and eating disorders. It is of great importance for our total health, physical and mental, that we learn that all bodies deserve dignity and respect as we strive to be our best selves.

Back to Basics: Listen to Your Body

Learn to attune yourself to the physical sensations you are feeling to help you meet your biological and psychological needs. There is no one perfect diet or perfect way to eat that fits everyone. Current trends and research are constantly changing and shifting and new diets that restrict certain food groups are emerging all the time. Listen to your body and be open to trying new things. Incorporate unprocessed foods into your meals and add colorful fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget the water!

Daily Planning for Nourishing Your Body

Plan ahead for what you are going to eat each day. With a plan in place you are better able to succeed in making healthy food choices. At the end of a long day the prospect of having to figure out what to eat can be daunting and lead to just grabbing a prepared processed meal. By planning ahead of time you can have everything you need on hand to maximize your food enjoyment.

Practical Tips and Tricks to Nourish

• We need to learn to focus on eating foods that work best for each person’s physical and mental health and not concentrate on foods specifically to lose or gain weight or look a certain way.
• Reject diets that restrict certain foods. Deprivation often triggers intense cravings and overeating.
• Eat when you are hungry and pay attention to your hunger pangs.
• Eat consciously and pay attention to when you feel full.
• Savour your food and choose foods that make you feel good in moderation.
• Tune into your emotions and don’t eat to treat anxiety, loneliness, anger or boredom. Food won’t fix the problem.