Eat Real Food

We’ve talked a lot about werkin out, and eating good stuff, and having a healthy mindset, and all kinds of things that can make you strong and healthy and awesome.

I’ve been a little slack in my writing the past couple of months, because I’ve been focusing on the “eating good stuff” part in a serious way. I’ve gotten a specialty certification in Fitness Nutrition (FANCY, Y’ALL) and really nailed down the most important part about eating right. Oh and I started a new business you guys. Here’s the main nutrition philosophy that sparked the idea:

There are a lot of things to think about in nutrition: getting enough nutrients to fuel your lifestyle, keeping the source of those nutrients lean enough that it doesn’t cause unhealthy weight gain, making sure you don’t consume additional harmful ingredients, and keeping expectations real so you can enjoy your life and sometimes chill with friends and eat a burger or whatever.

One of the main, probably most harmful, categories of things to avoid in your diet is sugar. This is no mystery (if it is news to you, then you can read more about it here, here, or for those of you that can’t read, watch this video). And refined, simple carbs convert to sugar almost immediately in your body. Simple carbs are things like white flour, soda, fruit juice, and any form of sugar. So simple carbs and sugar are essentially the same as far as damage they can do in your body. We eat more sugar now than we ever have (and were ever meant to) and it can effect your heart, your brain, and most definitely your weight.

The problem is that refined sugars and flours are found in many, if not most, processed foods. Like we talked about with Nutrition Labels, sugar is hidden under a number of different names, and trying to avoid refined flour by choosing “wheat” breads can still backfire — the first ingredient in those is often white flour. Food manufacturers don’t focus on feeding you responsibly, they focus on feeding you something you will enjoy eating and want more of, so they will put their efforts into making the tastiest product as cheaply as possible. That means simple carbs galore, which leads to weight gain (specifically in belly fat, which is the most harmful fat to your health), higher risk of heart disease, decreased brain function over time, and a host of other health issues.

The most basic solution for this is simple: eat real food. Eat as many meals as you can that are made from whole foods. Actual, real, food, not a “food product.” Buy vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, lowfat milk products like fat free plain yogurt and light cheeses, healthy whole grains like wild rice and quinoa, lean proteins like chicken breast and pork tenderloin, and a shit ton of herbs and spices. This will cut TONS of sugar from your everyday eating that you didn’t even know you were ingesting. You don’t need to cut sugar out entirely, but why waste your sugar binges on processed salad dressing and tomato sauce? Dumb. If you’re gonna eat sugar, make it a real, conscious choice that you can enjoy (DID SOMEONE SAY 16 HANDLES?).

FURTHERMORE, if you eat a wide variety of whole foods, then you are absolutely getting the nutrients your body needs. You don’t need a multivitamin, or protein powder supplements, or a strict regimen. Eating lots of veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and fruit, and eating a wide variety of them, will take care of allllllllll the vitamins, minerals, protein, carbs (complex carbs), and healthy fats you need. It’s your best shot at being your healthiest self. Plus, without added sugars and preservatives, your brain will get better at knowing when you’re full. Simple carbs send a signal to your brain that you need more, so you never get satiated. Cutting the majority of those out will help you feel fuller faster, helping with portion control.

So. Now. Based on all of this, and knowing that a lot of people may not have time to cook meals from whole foods, I’ve started a business as a health food chef that will deliver meals. It’s called Wholly Fit Foods, and every single thing is made from scratch, using real, whole foods, from mostly local and organic ingredients. And, because I am absolutely obsessed with food and mealtime and delicious things, everything is TAAAASTY, because if I eat stuff that doesn’t taste awesome, then I just end up eating more stuff.

Anyway. Check out the website if you want to learn more; there are some pretty pictures of the food and more detail on how it works. If you need some help with healthy homemade whole foods meals, then lemme make them for you. And if you don’t, then keep making awesome healthy meals yourself! It’s the best path to a more energetic, lighter, leaner, healthier self. If you’re scared, try just a few a week. Every little bit helps.

Also, every single client gets the first week at 50% off. Cause I think you’ll love it, and I want you to give it a shot. So. There’s that.