What I think about food
My food philosophy is simple: do the best you can for your unique body, and give thanks to God for your health.
Being a food blogger for 10+ years has connected me with many people from various backgrounds, all over the world, and there’s a few things I’ve learned from that. Location, gender, age, and money all become factors when it comes to what we eat and what we thrive on. Most importantly, I’ve learned that different diets work for different people. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa.
I think we all have seasons where we beat ourselves up about food, but the truth is that no one is perfect. Which means that there is no perfect diet either.
Personally, I believe that the most successful diets are well-balanced, and includes a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts/seeds, and protein (plant-based or other). And yes, sometimes that includes cake for fun. #sorrynotsorry
Also, the more you cook at home, using the freshest ingredients you can find, the better. Avoiding as much pre-packed foods as possible is a good goal and something we should be aware of, but not always realistic in this fast-paced world.
That’s why I say do the best you can. Take into consideration your needs, your family’s needs, and where you want to be health-wise. Then adjust as necessary, and don’t be afraid to pivot/evolve your diet as you grow older. Because what works for you at 20 may not work for you at 40.
No judgement zone
Therefore, I do not judge someone based on their healthy eating goals. I think we all need to make decisions based on our own health, and not fall into labeling ourselves or each other.
For years I restricted myself on what I could and could not eat, and in many ways that hurt me along the way. While I still follow a primarily plant-based diet, I no longer like labels. Labeling something “vegan” is helpful when serving food or posting recipes (especially for those with allergies), but labeling myself is not something I want to subscribe to any longer.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to healthy diets, and there never will be.
It’s not my job to judge you and where you’re at. It’s my job to love you and continue to post recipes that can help you along your wellness journey.
More than just food
Being healthy isn’t just about what kind of food you put into your body. It’s also about your spiritual and mental wellness.
Because it doesn’t matter how many avocados you eat in a day or how many green smoothie pics you post on social media– if you’re carrying around stress and excess baggage, those issues are going to affect your overall wellness and can cause a chain reaction of physical problems. No amount of juicing is going to heal past traumas or mend broken relationships (trust me, I’ve tried).
First and foremost, I believe that we need to place God above food, as top priority for a healthy life.
Having a healthy relationship with God means we make a conscious effort to commune with God every day, even if we have to get up early or place him before other priorities. We can do that through prayer, through reading the word, and putting what we learn into spiritual practice.
Mental health ties in with this and is also extremely important to me. I think having a healthy mindset is crucial in addition to your spiritual practice. Things such as positive self-talk, stress management, counseling, breath work, and yoga are all ways we can take steps towards mental wellness and living for God.
All that to say, I must repeat that this isn’t about being perfect.
You’re going to have days where you don’t want to do diddly squat, you feel grouchy, and you just want to sit on the couch with salty potato chips all day. I get it.
But, the more we take conscious steps towards God, towards wellness in all areas of life, the more we can help others do the same. And I don’t know about you, but I’d like to see more people turn to God and take care of themselves.
I hope that you join me by making this world a little brighter and healthier.
