Let’s get real about food
Let’s get real about food
Hi there! My names Elyse and I’m a Holistic Nutritionist at The Natural Nutritionist. I have a deep passion for whole foods and the nourishment it provides our bodies. My mission is to help people establish a positive relationship with food and strip away the confusion, giving you the skills to enjoy simple and delicious food and embrace the most amazing version of yourself. I can’t wait to share with you my simple food philosophy and healthy eating tips for you to get started on today!
So let me begin by saying there are plenty of reasons why you may be feeling confused and wondering why making the right food choices has become so complicated, you are not alone! With the rise in food marketing, dietary fads, health food claims and genetically modified food companies creating products that claim to be ‘healthy’, its no wonder making healthy food choices has become so convoluted. It’s as though we have been brainwashed by big food companies to forget the basics of nutrition and I’m here to set the record straight.
Firstly, nourishing your body with whole foods is of upmost importance when achieving a healthy and balanced lifestyle. In essence, it’s just about opting for food that is as close to it’s natural state as possible. Removing processed foods and focusing on buying foods without a label will remove artificial ingredients and chemicals and supply the body with a host of nutrients that it needs to thrive.
So what does real food comprise of? An abundance of vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds, beans and fruit in their purest most unadulterated form, just to name a few. These are not ‘products’ but foods, they are not created in a lab, they are grown and nurtured by the environment. Trust me when I say nature knows best, stick with natural nutrition and your body will thank you.
Secondly, in order to attaint the benefits that real food has to offer you want to make sure you are consuming a good balance of macronutrients with every meal. This will allow you to achieve satiety (feeling of fullness), blood sugar control (say goodbye to sugar cravings) and longer lasting energy. So how can you achieve this? Simply ensure, when preparing your meals, you have included an abundance of vegetables, quality protein and healthy fats. This will allow you to get to your next meal with ease and give you the energy you need to take on the day ahead! Don’t cut yourself short and ensure you are getting as much nourishment as your body deserves. You wouldn’t fill your car with bad petrol so why even consider doing the same to your body!
My last recommendation is to ensure you are supporting your gut health, as it is the key to good health. Just to give you a bit of background information, the gastrointestinal tract is where digestion takes place and therefore where we absorb the nutrients from our food and in turn use as fuel for our body’s cells. It is also where majority of the immune system lies and where our ‘feel good’ hormone serotonin is created. What does this mean for us? If you are not supporting your gastrointestinal tract, you are compromising your nutrient uptake, immunity and even your mental health. The first line of treatment for optimising your gut is sticking to nothing but real food, which by now, you should be well equipped! The next step involves the introduction of good bacteria as this is exactly what a healthy gut comprises of. It’s as simple as consuming probiotic-rich foods such as fermented vegetables, sauerkraut,Kombucha, kimchi or miso, to name a few. Alternatively, if fermented foods aren’t your thing, get your hands on a high quality probiotic capsule to repopulate the gut with good bacteria.
If you can make these few simple changes to your diet, I guarantee you are well on your way to achieving a healthy and happy life. Get back to basics, make your number one goal nutrient density and your body will thank you in return. To show you how simple whole food living can be, I thought I would share one of my favourite snack recipes with you guys. I hope you love these Chocolate Brownie Bites as much as I do!
Ingredients (Makes 10-12)
• 3/4 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup almonds
• 8 Medjool dates, pitted
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao nibs
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Method
1. Blend nuts together to form fine nut flour.
2. Add all other ingredients and blend until a crumbly mixture forms.
3. Empty mixture into a bowl and roll palm size scoops into balls.
4. Chill in the fridge before serving. For extra presentation points, you may like to roll in blended coconut flakes.
5. Nut free: Use 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds + 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds in place of walnuts and almonds.
If you need guidance to help get your healthy eating on track or need assistance setting nutrition and body composition goals, with an effective plan to follow, the practitioners at The Natural Nutritionist can get you on your way. Visit www.thenaturalnutritionist.com.au for further information or to book a consultation.
The Natural Nutritionist – Elyse Lagos BHealthSc (Nutr) NSA.
Holistic Nutritionist specialising in real food education, high performance fat loss, and metabolic efficiency.
e elyse@thenaturalnutritionist.com.au
f /thenaturalnutritionist
i @thenaturalnutritionist
t @natnutritionist
