Nutrition: An Anchor for Your Health
Nutrition is often the anchor that gets the most attention. People get excited about it, eager to know the ins and outs: What should I eat? When should I eat it? What’s the “right” way to nourish my body?
To be honest, nutrition hasn’t always excited me. In fact, it used to be my least favorite anchor to explore. It can feel overwhelming and overly complicated. There’s a lot of noise around it—veganism, vegetarianism, keto, raw foods, carbs, fats, and more. The sheer volume of opinions and options can make nutrition feel like a minefield, leading many to hyperfocus on it while neglecting other important aspects of health.
But here’s the thing: nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated. I believe in keeping it simple and starting with the basics.
The Foundations of Balanced Nutrition
For me, a healthy approach to nutrition begins with a few simple principles:
- Minimize Processed Foods
Focus on eating whole, real foods and reducing your intake of heavily processed items. This shift alone can make a significant impact on your health. - Hydrate Well
Ensure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day to stay properly hydrated. - Incorporate Variety
Aim to include a wide range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and plant-based foods in your diet. A diverse plate often leads to a diverse set of nutrients for your body. - Portion Control
Overeating becomes less of an issue when you’re eating wholesome foods, but being mindful of portion sizes is still essential.
Once these foundations are in place, there’s room to delve deeper into areas like vitamins, minerals, and other specific nutritional needs. But trying to master those finer details before establishing the basics can be counterproductive.
Nutrition Without the Guilt
For many people, food can become a source of guilt or a measure of self-worth:
- “I had a good day because I ate healthy.”
- “I had a bad day because I indulged.”
This mindset isn’t helpful. Nutrition isn’t about perfection—it’s about balance and understanding. Food isn’t a reward or a punishment; it’s fuel for your body and a way to connect with yourself and others.
This is why nutrition is just one of the 7 anchors. While it’s important, focusing exclusively on it can leave you feeling stuck or frustrated. The other anchors—like mindset, sleep, and stress management—play a critical role in supporting your relationship with food and health.
How We Approach Nutrition Together
When you work with me, we’ll talk about nutrition in a way that’s approachable, realistic, and empowering. Together, we’ll create a nutrition plan tailored to your needs, starting with simple goals that give you:
- Room to learn about your relationship with food and how it affects your body and mind.
- Opportunities to reflect on your eating habits: What are your patterns? Do you eat mindfully, or are you driven by stress or convenience?
- Space to fail without judgment, because setbacks are part of growth.
We’ll explore questions like:
- What are your eating habits?
- How do specific foods make you feel?
- Are you using food as a reward, comfort, or celebration?
By understanding your current relationship with food and tuning in to your body’s signals, you can build a sustainable, balanced approach to nutrition. From there, we’ll work towards your goals in a way that feels supportive and achievable—not overwhelming or restrictive.
Nutrition is a powerful anchor, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Together, we’ll build a strong foundation that ties nutrition into the bigger picture of your health and well-being.