Loving the Foods that Love you Back!

Everything…Everything we put in or on our bodies affects us in a good or bad way. The foods we eat, the thoughts we think, the feelings we feel, the cosmetics and creams we put on our skin, the type of bacteria that is colonizing in our body all affect us. Even trauma’s, stress, relationships, how much movement we participate in, what we believe about our identity, lifestyle choices, affect us more than we will ever know.

One thing that we can do that will have an immediate huge impact on our health is to look at the foods we put in our body.

Food can either be medicine or poison. And Hippocrates is known for saying “all disease begins in the gut.” It’s turning out that he was a pretty smart guy.

I wonder what would happen if we started treating our bodies as well as we treat something we really care about. Most of us take really good care of our cars, a vessel that takes us places. Our body is also a vessel that takes us places. What if we cared for it like we did our car? Giving it just what it needs -the right kind of fuel, getting regular oil changes, getting an annual inspection- we might run better if we did. You would never put the wrong type of fuel in your car, because it wouldn’t run correctly or it might even break down. Why do we do that to ourselves?

What are the foods that will help us run better?

They are foods that pack a big nutritional punch. Foods that give life. Whole foods that are as close to their most natural form as you can get (the less processed the better).

• Organic fruits, veggies, fish, nuts, legumes, seeds.

• Healthy proteins. Look for chemical free, grass-fed, and free-range type foods.

• 100% whole grains and ancient grains. Try organic, chemical free, sprouted, and sourdough.

• Most Trim Healthy Mama foods!

There are several reasons we don’t eat the foods that love us back… check yes or no if you can relate to any of these.

1. There is a taste or texture difference between healthy whole foods and processed foods loaded with sugar and white flours.

-We’re not used to healthy foods and often times we don’t like it. The foods that are processed are very soft and require less chewing and less work. They’re also super sweet. So these differences can be deal breakers for some people.

2. We use valid excuses to eat ALL the foods.

• We often don’t “feel” like eating the healthy foods or “feel” like making a more nutritious meal/snack.

-I don’t always feel like getting up in the morning, folding laundry, doing the dishes. But I do them anyway. We can’t always go by how we feel. It’s important that we still do the things we need to do regardless how we feel.

-Eating foods made with sugar and preservatives actually cause a dopamine spike. And we become addicted to that spike. That’s why we continue to desire those foods. This addiction needs to be broken and once it is those cravings subside. You’ll find that eating the foods that heal you make you feel even better. Some people will even say that after they’ve been eating healthier foods for awhile, when they go back and eat unhealthy food, they don’t feel good.

• Busyness.

-Not having the time is one of the biggest excuses I hear about not eating healthy.

The reality- eating healthy does take more time. More food preparation, more planning which equals more time.

There are many other things that are important to us, and we make time for that. Making time needs to eat healthy needs to be a priority.

I’ve had to come to the realization that if I’m too busy to eat healthy and feed my family healthy, I’m too busy!! I’ve decided to make this a priority in my life. So, I make time.

• Not enough money.

-The reality- eating healthier can be more expensive...especially if you’re buying both kinds of foods- unhealthy and healthy. But, eating healthy can be done in expensively and even on a budget.

Do what you can with what you have where you are. Theodore Roosevelt

You might not be able to get everything. You might not be able to buy all organic, you might have to take the time to shop the discount stores. But it is do-able to eat healthy while not blowing your budget.

I make time to shop all the budget stores, my hubby and I do it together, because it's important to us. I also cook from scratch, making everything I can. I know not all of us can do that. But, I’m sure you can find a few creative ways to help you save money in order to eat healthier. It’s what you decide to make a priority.

How can we love the foods that love us back?

1. Don’t get overwhelmed and focus on making small changes.

-Start small by making one simple change at a time. Maybe start by cutting out sugar. Get used to it and then make another change. Or start by making your breakfast healthy for while. Then make changes to your lunch. When we make to many big changes, we get overwhelmed. Making small do-able changes help us stay the course.

-Focus on eating healthy foods on a weekly basis.

I don’t eat a salad everyday. But, I do try to eat one 2-3 times a week.

I try and eat salmon a couple times a week.

Trying to incorporate the super healthy foods in weekly rather than daily helps me eat them more often and I feel less overwhelmed.

3. Mind-set is huge.

-What are you thinking about when you think healthy foods? Do you have to eat these foods, or do you get to eat these foods?

Both realities for these are true, but just a simple shift in perspective can help you enjoy it.

What we think about our food, whether we enjoy it or find pleasure from it will have an impact on how we feel about eating healthy foods.

-Thinking about the health benefits of the foods while you eat them will help you enjoy them more.

I literally talk to myself and tell my brain how good these foods are for me. I often say…

• “This is so healthy, look what it's going to do for your insides...cells, get ready to have your world rocked.”

• “This is the best way to eat…body, soak it up.”

• “This food brings gives life… it’s just what I need.”

4. Train yourself

1 Corinthians 9:27

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

-Our tastebuds will respond to what we feed them. Did you enjoy coffee or red wine at first? Probably not, but by trying them we educate our taste buds and after a while we begin to enjoy the different complex flavors.

-So how can we educate our taste buds?

• Keep trying it!

-Try it when you’re hungry. Hunger is the best spice.

-Try it in foods you like.

-Try it at its prime, when its fresh or try the best version of it.

-Eat it often. The more we taste it, the more we grow to enjoy it. Sometimes it my take trying it up to10-15 times.

-If you’re trying a new recipe, tweak it and make it your own. Flavor it the way you like it.

After a while, your taste buds come alive and you’ll be able to taste the beauty of healthy foods.

5. Take time to take care of you!

-Stop making excuses!

Make the time to take care of you and while you do… say these things.

• I’m so thankful I get to make this

• I’m so grateful for all the ingredients I have access to so I can make this.

• I’m so grateful for the knowledge I have to help me get as healthy as I can be.

-Make eating healthy fun! Know yourself and cater to it.

I have a major sweet tooth. So instead of avoiding all things sweet, I find healthy foods that are sweet. Anything from fruit to making a healthy brownie. Eating foods I enjoy makes eating healthy more fun.

Add some music and laughter. And don’t be upset when you fall down and make mistakes. Get good at getting back up!

Blooming Challenge: Start loving the foods that will love you back. And when you fall down, get back up and keep going! Your body will thank you for it!

Encouraged Reading:

1 Corinthians 6:12

1 Corinthians 9:27