You will hear me talk a lot about Primary and Secondary foods, as this is the foundation for my approach to holistic, whole-body health.
But WHAT do these actually mean? And HOW do they benefit you?
Primary Foods-The Circle of Life
Primary foods are the parts of our life that feed our mind, body and spirit-OFF the plate. This includes things like our relationships, home environment, home cooking and Physical Activity.
You can reflect on and celebrate the areas of your life that are balanced and working well. The Circle of Life also offers an opportunity to focus on areas that may be out of balance so you can find ways to infuse more satisfaction into your life.
Secondary Foods
Secondary food is the food we eat every day; quite literally the food on our plate.
Secondary food emphasizes that physical nourishment is both bio-individual and supportive of multidimensional well-being. I will continue to highlight many secondary food themes, all designed to inspire curiosity and exploration into your food preferences and the aspects of secondary food that work best for YOU. For example, I choose to eat a vegan, plent-based diet, but this is not necessarily the best diet for everyone
Many factors affect what, when, and how you eat. Some factors can be controlled, while others cannot. By fostering curiosity, compassion, and understanding around your food choices we can help create realistic and sustainable approaches to nourishment and overall health.
These factors include:
Health
Lifestyle
Environment
Physiological and Psychological Factors
Personal Belief and Knowledge
Cultural, Social and Economic Factors
Many people associate the word diet with a meal regimen designed primarily to lose weight. But a diet is really a healthy lifestyle rather than a fad or trend. This lifestyle encompasses nourishing yourself in all areas of multidimensional health (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual), moving in ways that feel authentic to you, and choosing foods that support your optimal health and well-being. This will vary from person to person and is what we call the bio-individuality of nutrition. This means that we will tailor your plans and sessions around YOU, and not a prescribed "diet". There is no "one size fits all".
I believe that healthily nourishing the body encompasses one’s thoughts and beliefs about food. I will help to teach the benefits of exploring your relationship with food in a variety of ways – from reframing unhelpful food beliefs and moving away from food morality to listening to your body and choosing foods from a place of intuition. When we’re at peace with food, mealtime becomes a pleasurable experience as well as an act of self-care. Food becomes medicine for the body, mind, and soul.
This will involve adding more nutrient-rich foods to your diet, and "crowding out" the ones that no longer serve you. More fruits, vegetables, and water will naturally lead to less processed food, sugar, and caffeine. It’s also important to consider that many highly processed foods are made to look healthier than they are. Opt for packaged foods with minimal, whole-food ingredients, all of which are easy to pronounce! There’s also no rush to change everything about your diet all at once. Take your time and make what we call sustainable shifts – small adjustments to the foods you eat in an achievable way.
When in doubt, go back to the basics of whole, fresh and seasonal foods. This includes choosing a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables (Eat the Rainbow!), whole grains, quality protein sources, herbs and spices, and healthy fats. And don't forget to stay hydrated with lots of WATER!
Combining Primary and Secondary Foods
Being healthy isn’t just about the food on your plate; it’s about the water you drink, the air you breathe, the love in your life, whether you have a fulfilling career and spiritual practice, and so on.
Primary food and secondary food are both sources of nourishment and should be looked at together rather than separately. Combining these two philosophies and tailoring them to each individual will help us have a holistic balance to our overall health, nutrition and well-being so that we may live happier, more authentic lives.
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