We all come to the table with our own food stories—ideas and baggage around food that we inherited as kids. Me, I grew up with cornfields in my backyard. Farming and small-town life was the norm.
And because my parents were significantly older when they had me (surprise!), they had lived through times of scarcity, which had a big impact on how they felt about food.
My mom had her own food ‘story’ too…she would go from eating all the things to none of the things while she desperately tried different diets as an adult. My dad, on the other hand, didn’t really have an emotional attachment to food at all (that’s likely where I get my food attitude), and didn’t pay much attention to what he ate and when.
And back then, we just didn’t have the knowledge and access to the information we have today about nutrition and our bodies. How I remember the days of glass Coke bottles and everything covered with butter or cheese—oh, my! But people were doing the best they could with what they knew and had.
That’s just a glimpse into my food story. But you have your own, don’t you? We all do.
The media influences us, too. We are bombarded with food messages constantly. Women are sent conflicting messages, and it can feel like a lot to navigate. Trust me, I bought into my own lies back in the day, overtraining myself to the point of injury and fatigue.
But I’ve learned so much over the years, much from taking in great resources, leveraging smart tools, and surrounding myself with amazing people on a similar path. But I also learned the most important thing of all: to listen to my own body.
When it comes to nutrition and our bodies, there’s so much to learn. Today I want to share my two biggest pieces of advice when it comes to food:
1. Remember that your body is your best experiment.
Yes, we can Google anything and everything. Yes, we can get our hands on incredible resources and tools, but here’s the thing: you have to take the meat and leave the bones. You need to take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.
Life is one big, brilliant, amazing experiment.
And remember, just because something didn’t work for you in the past doesn’t mean it won’t work now. Our bodies change. Our lives change. Be willing to be on a constant journey when it comes to figuring out what works best for you (this holds true for all areas of your life, not just nutrition).
2. Automate everything you can.
You may have heard the term ‘decision fatigue’ before. It’s a legit thing! We overload ourselves all day long with decisions big and small. But our brains can only take so much. That’s why success stories like Mark Zuckerberg, President Obama, and Steve Jobs have all been known for wearing pretty much the same clothes each day. Why waste the brain space when you could use it for so many more impactful things, right?
When we automate our food choices, not only do we take the daily decision-making out of it, but we leave less room for decisions that don’t serve us. That’s why I eat pretty much the same thing Every. Single. Day. Yep, you heard me. And I don’t get tired of it one bit. And the less I have to think about food, the more I stay on track.
My Daily Food Intake
- A.M. Around noon each day, I break my intermittent fast and have my first meal with one of my favorite Shakeology recipes. I’ve been drinking Shakeology for 10 years—it’s incredible what real, consistent nutrition can do for your health!
- P.M. In the late afternoon, I have my biggest meal of the day, often a salad with all kinds of nutrient-dense toppings. It depends on what I’m in the mood for and what’s in season.
- Snacks: In the evening, macadamia nuts, gluten-free crackers, veggies, hummus, and Beachbody bars are my go-tos.
Remember… you have to trust your body and do what’s right for you! For you, cooking complicated meals and trying new flavors might be a joy. Then by all means, DO THAT! That’s just not my jam.
I am on my own for meals most days since my daughters are all away from home now and my husband has a career with non-traditional hours. For you, making family meals might be a big part of your day-to-day, so your rhythm will look different. You have to start where you are and go from there.
I’m really passionate about putting tools that work and knowledge in the hands of as many women as possible. I’ve seen women absolutely transform their lives by making different decisions in this arena.
If you’re feeling stuck in a food rut, I’d love to talk with you. Just reach out and we can make a plan to get you on a better food journey—one that works for you!
