Coming to terms with how many aspects of life are beyond our control is a journey experienced by all people. Fortunately, the choices we make about what to eat and drink are in our control, and have a foundational and pivotal impact on all aspects of our experience of what happens in our life. Choosing to consume whole foods and pure beverages promotes health, regeneration, healing and prosperity.
5 Tips to Encourage Nourishing Food as the "GO-TO" Choice
- 1.
Avoid making impulsive food choices.
Take a deep breath and wait 10 seconds to consider if you're hungry or thirsty. Often times, having a glass of filtered water or herbal tea can satisfy cravings and is nourishing. Staying hydrated is a critical aspect of metabolizing nutrients, because liquids stimulate the process of digestion which has 4 stages: conversion, absorption, assimilation and elimination.
- 2.
Participate in a local Community Share Agriculture (CSA) Program.
Joining a CSA is a simple and nourishing opportunity to consistently consume Seasonal, Organic, Unprocessed and Local (SOUL) food which is naturally nutrient dense. A CSA weekly delivery helps make meal planning more simple, because it guides you about what to eat and saves you time at the grocery store.
- 3.
Eat a diverse range of foods in color, texture, and taste.
Crunchy, leafy, crisp, moist, juicy, bitter, pungent, sour, spicy, savory and tangy. Look to the season to help guide your food choices. Diverse, delicious, seasonal and nutrient dense winter foods are: butternut squash, spaghetti squash, root vegetables, dark leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, snow peas, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, olives, walnuts.
- 4.
Cook, sprinkle and rub fresh herbs and spices on SOUL food.
Cayenne pepper, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, parsley, cilantro, basil…possess deeply nourishing properties ranging from reducing inflammation, boosting immune function and balancing blood sugar.
- 5.
Keep a daily food, mood and activity journal.
Choosing what to eat and drink are the most frequent and powerful decisions we make everyday. Tracking food choices, portion sizes, energy level, mood and activity throughout the day can be a great awakening for you to notice how food choices cumulatively affect productivity level, ability to concentrate and focus, stress and feelings of anxiety and sleep patterns.
Dawn Sitchon
Dawn is a Certified Nutrition Consultant (NC) from Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition & Culinary Arts. She works at Elevate Acupuncture & Wellness Center in South Lake Tahoe and teaches cooking classes at Lake Tahoe Community College.