Blog 05: Thinking "Inclusive" not "Exclusive"

 Whenever you think of going on a diet the dreaded “D” word, your first thought is deprivation. Cutting out all the “Bad” food and gnawing on celery and carrots while watching all your friends eat nachos and beer right before your eyes. This way of thinking is very common and leads us to feeling deprived and not even wanting to begin the journey of healthy eating. I’ve found that the best way to approach a healthy change in the diet and to give the old foods a swift kick is to take the approach of inclusive not exclusive.This approach is simple, just look at your daily food choices and think how can I make this meal that I love into a healthy more nourishing one and finding healthier alternatives to the foods we love to eat. I feel the hardest part isn’t necessarily the food choices but is the mental switch.  Taking a look inward and thinking how does this make me feel when I eat it? Do I feel energized or do I feel like taking a nap afterwards? When we start to look inward it gives us control over our body. We are making a conscious effort and listening to our body and what makes it run at its best.Having this mindset is going to set you up for desiring tasty more nourishing foods. It will leave you wanting to tell all your friends about this delicious new recipe you tried and how it’s nourishing for the body as well. I encourage you to get creative, look up recipes, try new things, eat fresh locally organic foods, you would not believe the difference in taste when getting something fresh and organically grown. I’ll never forget the first time I had a true Farm breakfast. I simply replaced the regular store bought eggs for cage free ones, swapped bacon from a mass producer to pasture raised pork from a local farmer and true fermented sourdough bread and the amount of flavor that was packed into those three foods was out of this world. It was making these little efforts and realizing the big difference in taste and that’s what got me hooked and desiring more nourishing foods for my body. I was still eating what I loved but found a way to nourish my body with foods that it loved.Things your may Love and Healthy Alternatives to them:Things you love vs. Nourishing foodsSour Cream < Greek YogurtMargarine < Grass Fed ButterFried French Fries< Baked Sweet Potato FriesWhite Bread<Fermented Sourdough BreadEgg Beaters< Free Range whole eggsPizza Dough < Cauliflower CrustGrain fed beef < Grass Fed Beef100% Whole Wheat < Sprouted Grain BreadGMO veggies < Naturally Grown These are a few ideas to get you thinking and in the minds set of what’s nourishing and what’s just convenient or easy. Be creative, think outside the box, find foods that you love and bring them back to life in a healthy nourishing way. The future of your body lies in your hands. Are you going to make an effort today to benefit your body and health??? My answer is YES!