Fall In Love With Your Food

Eating. It’s one of America’s favorite past times and yet so many of us do it un-healthfully and without connection. Obesity is rising at a rapid rate. So rapid in fact, that the statistics are saying 3 out of 4 Americans will be obese by 2020. WOW, that’s staggering.

As a Vegan Chef and Wellness coach I have assisted and coached hundreds of people to change their eating lifestyle so they can live longer, happier and healthier lives. One of the main components I focus on when working with my clients is teaching them to reconnect to and love their food.

I’m sure many of you are thinking, “I have no problem loving my food!”  I get it and I believe that to be true, but do you think your BODY loves your food?? Loving our food doesn’t mean that we get to eat whatever we want because we LOVE it, especially if it’s not good for us. Loving our food means that our bodies love what is going into it and that it’s nourishment and fuel for us. Most Americans don’t nourish their bodies properly and it’s usually due to the fact that they are not educated about healthy eating. There seems to be an upsurge in the amount of people who want to know about and are engaging in healthy eating, but obesity is still a major problem in the US. So what can we do about this?

Well, to start, we can learn to LOVE our food. And when I say this, I mean LOVE eating healthy, whole foods that are mostly plant-based that will give us the most bang for our buck and the most nourishment for our bodies. We live in a world where so much more is available to us, and this IS one of the reasons that obesity and heart disease are on the rise, but there are also vast amounts of healthier options available to us as well. It’s almost as if there are no excuses anymore!

LOVING your food means choosing fresh bountiful fruits, colorful veggies, high protein grains & legumes and heart healthy nuts & seeds. LOVING your food means nourishing your body as best as you can so that it works optimally for you. LOVING your food means making healthy choices even when you want the “bad” stuff. LOVING your foods means growing it, cooking it and savoring it. LOVING your food means smelling it, chewing it slowly, sitting down when you eat and practicing gratitude that you are able to enjoy a meal that will nourish you.

A large majority of us have become so disconnected from our food because we are too busy living life and trying to manage our calendars, children, carpooling, work events, etc. and we’ve shut ourselves off to what food really means in our lives. Food keeps us alive…healthy food that is! Our bodies are the vehicle we have to get around in for our life on Earth so why not treat it with respect and love?  Why not feed it well so it feels good and operates from an optimal, balanced place? Why not plan what we are going to eat so that we won’t be caught in situations where we have to make unhealthy choices? Why not try new recipes that will spark our taste buds and get us back into our kitchens with our families.

I am guessing that most people really do want to be and feel healthy and cooking our food and connecting to it is one of the simplest ways. If you think you don’t have time to do this, then you are denying yourself the gift of health. Cooking your own healthy food is a recipe for longevity and vitality and who wouldn’t want that?

Do your research. Ask questions. Go to your local health food store or farmer’s market and connect with your farmers. Eat 90% whole foods that are unprocessed. Cut back on sweets, coffee, white flour and anything that comes in a box, bag or can. Make healthy choices one step at a time and this will lead you to a true love for what you put in your body on a daily basis. And you will FEEL amazing!