Sugar hides in places you wouldn’t necessarily think… salad dressings, canned soups, yogurt, frozen foods, and condiments, as well as all of the obvious places such as cookies, candy, soda and other packaged processed junk food.

If sugar is your number one vice and you are struggling to reduce or eliminate it from your world once and for all, try the following tips.

1. Read Labels.  This simple process will change the way you shop.  Before placing a packaged item in your shopping cart, read the label.  Choose products that have a short ingredient list that is made up of items you UNDERSTAND and can read!  Any multi-syllable, unpronounceable item is most likely not something you want to put in your body.  See how many grams of sugar are listed PER SERVING.  Estimate that 4 grams is about 1 teaspoon.  So when you drink that soda with 44 grams of sugar in it, you are essentially pouring 4 spoonfuls of sugar into your body.
2. Know All The Names of Sugar.  Manufacturers like to disguise the fact that their products contain sugar, because they realize sugar has a bad rap with the public.  Familiarize yourself with the various names it may be listed under.  High fructose corn syrup; sucralose; fructose; glucose;  cane sugar; dextrose; maltose; turbinado sugar; sorbitol… those are just a few.  Being an educated consumer is your best weapon!
3. Do NOT Buy Low Fat or Fat Free Items.  When they remove the fat from a food that was naturally high in fat, they also remove the flavor, so to make up for it, sugar is added.  It’s better to choose the full fat version and just have a smaller portion than to purchase the fat free or low fat alternative.  We wouldn’t have so many obese individuals in this country if the public were not so misinformed about this important point.
4. Add Sweet Vegetables.  Sweet potatoes, beets, onions and carrots are great ways to satisfy sweet cravings.  If you tend to crave sweets in the late afternoon, have a tray of roasted sweet vegetables ready to warm up.  Add cinnamon to sweet potatoes for a decadent treat.
5. Drink More WATER.  Sometimes cravings are merely a symptom of thirst or dehydration.  Keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day; if it’s winter and you don’t want to drink cold liquids, sip on caffeine free herbal teas or hot water with lemon.
6. Increase Dark Leafy Greens.  Create an alkaline environment in your body; you won’t crave sugar if you eat a lot of dark leafy green vegetables.  This is a process known as “crowding out”. The more healthy items you add in, the less you will crave junk.  You may even discover that you no longer even like your previous favorite vices anymore.
7. Add Other Sweetness To Your Life.  Do something everyday that brings you joy, just for the fun of it.  No other ulterior motive.  Laugh more; smile at strangers; give your loved ones a hug and don’t be the first to let go.
8. Lemons. Start your day with hot water and the juice from half a lemon.  It’s refreshing and alkaline and this simple ritual will reduce your sugar cravings.
9. Drink a Green Smoothie Every Morning.  This is the single best dietary habit I can recommend adopting.  It’s literally life changing. Better than a green juice, because you are taking in all the fiber (even though I LOVE juicing and am a big proponent of it, green smoothies are superior for your health in my opinion).  Raw foods are quick exit foods, so be prepared… you take it in, your body utilizes what it needs, and the waste promptly is exited from your system.  This is ust what you should want to have happen… food moving efficiently through your system and not getting stuck and blocked up in your digestive system.  Just envision a large gut hanging over your pants—that is what happens when you do NOT eat primarily fast exit foods.  You should be having bowel movements after each meal; that is a sign of good digestive health.
10. BREATHE. Practice deep breathing whenever cravings strike. Feel the craving, really experience it, and ask yourself what it is you truly want at that moment. What is lacking that you are looking to fill the void with sugar? Is it emotional? Stress related? Identify what triggered the craving and then choose a healthier alternative to satisfy it.  Take a walk; do some yoga; meditate; call a friend to share a good laugh—or cry; do some jumping jacks; run on a treadmill; or lie down with a good book and allow yourself a brief time out from your busy day.

You really don’t need that sugary junk!  You’re sweet enough just as you are.

If you want to learn how to make some easy recipes that will satisfy your sugar cravings in a healthier way, I am teaching a class Healthier Alternatives to Sugar To Satisfy Cravings at the South Bay Wellness Center in Sayville on Thursday, March 14^th from 7-8pm.  If you live in the area, I hope you can join us for a dynamic, informative evening with some tasty treats!

Will I see you there?

I have a new love interest… and his name is MISO!  Miso, as in Miso Soup; Miso Salad Dressing; Miso Marinade; Miso Sandwich Spread; Miso by the spoonful! Where have you been all my life miso? How did I manage to survive for 44 years without you?

The Natural Gourmet Institute has its roots in Macrobiotics, so we see our fair share of Asian products in our culinary training, products that the typical American household are not familiar with; products such as umeboshi vinegar, plums and paste; shoyu; mirin; sea vegetables; and miso.

Up until recently my experience didn’t go beyond a good bowl of miso soup, which I purchased at the local Japanese restaurant.  Little did I know how simple it is to prepare at home and how incredibly tasty and health supportive it is.  It’s one of those recipes that even if I haven’t gone to the grocery store in days, and I’ve had a crazy busy day, I can still whip up in less than a half hour with ingredients I have on hand.  The nice thing about the ingredients in miso soup, aside from their amazing medicinal benefits, which I will delve into shortly, is that you can keep these ingredients for months in the fridge without worry about spoilage.

So miso soup has now become a weekly staple in my house and my kids go-to request when they are sick.

But I’ve begun to expand my horizons after working with miso at school.  Now, I find myself scooping it by the spoonful and eating it plain.  It has a wonderful “cheesy” flavor; very satisfying for someone who is trying to give up dairy products and misses cheese.  I’ve made some simple salad dressings and marinades with it and have used it to replace the cheese in pesto recipes.  It’s versatile, inexpensive, incredibly healthy and keeps for a long time.  Definitely worth adding to your weekly repertoire!

So why should you include miso in your diet?

Miso is fermented soybean paste that is a staple in Far Eastern cooking. There tends to be confusion about whether or not soy is good for you.  Fermented soy is a healthy version of soy.  The soy that is best avoided is that which has been processed such as soy protein isolate; this is an ingredient you will find in most packaged “fake meats” and is not a health supportive product.

Miso contains live enzymes and is helpful in digestion; great for an upset stomach or nausea.  It is detoxifying and is helpful to counterbalance the effect of too much sugar or too many animal products in the diet.  It is rich in minerals and contains all of the amino acids.  It is a good source of Vitamin B12, it strengthens the quality of the blood and has been linked with lowering the risk of cancer and protecting against heart disease.

For more information about the benefits of miso as well as other fermented soy products, the Macrobiotic Diet by Michio and Aveline Kushi is an excellent resource.

Quick and easy, tasty AND good for me?  I’m sold!

Try this Simple Miso Soup recipe:

7 cups water (or vegetable broth)

1 piece of Kombu

2 pieces of Wakame, broken into small pieces

½ cup mushrooms (shitake, cremini), small dice

½ cup yellow onions, small dice

4-5 T white miso

Tofu, small dice (optional)

Scallions, chopped for garnish (optional)

Bring water and Kombu to a boil. Add mushrooms and onions. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add the wakame, broken into small pieces and the tofu if you are using.  (I’m not a huge fan of tofu, so I skip it)  Simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.  Ladle out a little of the broth and mix it together with the miso paste in a small bowl.  Once the miso is dissolved into the broth, pour it back into the soup pot and stir.  Cover the pot (heat is OFF) and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.  **Miso should never be boiled; boiling will destroy the medicinal qualities.

What is your favorite way of eating miso?

If any of these questions ring true, I’m not surprised.  Emotional eating is rampant in our society.  The solution may not be what you are thinking though; it does not always lie with what is on your plate.  You can eat all the broccoli in the world and still not be healthy.

People turn to emotional eating when something is lacking in their lives. “Healthy relationships, regular physical activity, a desired career, and a spiritual practice fill our soul and satisfy our hunger for living”, says Joshua Rosenthal, founder of The Institute of Integrative Nutrition.  Joshua refers to this phenomenon as Primary Food and uses it as the basis for helping people to live healthy, balanced lives both in his nutrition school and his health counseling practice. When we achieve fulfillment in these primary areas of our lives, the actual food on our plates becomes secondary nourishment.  When one or more of these primary elements is suffering, we tend to turn to food in an attempt to squash this “hunger”.

We’ve all been there.  I know I have.  Take a minute and think about each of these areas in your life.  Rate them on a scale of 1-10 to determine where you need to concentrate your efforts.  Here in the United States, we are fortunate to live in a society where we have control over the way we live our lives.  If there is an area of your life you are not satisfied with, then make the commitment to change it.

Career

If you spend a majority of your time at a job you dislike, it will have a negative affect on your health.  Stress is the leading indicator in many types of cancer and heart disease.  Improving your work situation may be as simple walking into your boss’ office and asking for a raise or promotion; you may just be feeling under valued or unappreciated. If you know you want to make a career change or are looking to re-enter the workforce after raising your children, make a list of all of the things you enjoy doing, even if it is something you cannot imagine being job worthy.  I once saw a man profiled on the news who managed to go from unemployment to a successful career building houses out of toothpicks, a long time hobby of his.  That 30 second clip gave me all the inspiration I needed!  Find the items on your list that speak to you the most and brainstorm about how you can turn one or more of them into a rewarding career.  When you are doing something you love, it doesn’t feel like work.  Getting paid for it is just icing on the cake.

Relationships

Are you cultivating relationships that support your individual needs? Relationships should leave you feeling motivated, energized and inspired.  If you feel emotionally drained, depressed or negative after spending time with a friend, co-worker, or even your significant other, it may be a sign that this is not a healthy relationship.  We do outgrow people at times.  Your best friend from 20 years ago may no longer have anything in common with you.  It’s okay when this happens; it’s a part of life.  You just need to know when it is time to move on.  You have a limited amount of time each day; decide carefully with whom you want to spend that time.

Make a list of a few people who are like-minded and who inspire you to be a better person.  Cultivate these relationships and cut back on the time you spend with the energy sappers and negative-nellies.

Physical Activity

Pick something physical to do every single day.  Hitting the gym for two hours on the weekends after a week of being sedentary isn’t going to cut it.  You’re better off taking 30 minutes every day, mornings preferably, to do some form of exercise that you enjoy.  If you hate lifting weights, don’t do it.  There are so many options out there today, there is no excuse for not being able to find something enjoyable to do.  Walk the dog, walk your elderly neighbor’s dog, try taking a class you’ve never done before like belly dancing or kick boxing.  Find a buddy to exercise with and set personal goals for each other.

A workout buddy will keep you motivated and make you feel accountable.  Train for a race together or a breast cancer walk.  Don’t make losing weight the goal…that will just be an added bonus that happens along the way.  Priorotize your physical activity…if you wait until the to-do list is done, you will never get there.  Exercise first and you will be more productive throughout the day.

Spirituality

Regardless of your religious background or upbringing, everyone needs to have some sort of spiritual practice.  Having a spiritual connection gives you a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.  Without it, you may feel lost, unimportant or worthless. Spirituality is as diverse as we are as human beings.  Some people find solace in structured religion while others can’t bare the thought of stepping into a church or temple.  The type of practice doesn’t matter, but the spiritual connection does.  It could be as simple as walking in nature and connecting with source energy.

Journaling, meditating, breathing exercises, praying and expressing gratitude are all ways to bring spirituality into your life.  Find the method that works for you and make it a part of your daily routine.  When stress creeps in leaving you feeling overwhelmed, turn to your spiritual practice to ground yourself and connect to your higher self.

Certainly the actual food we put in our mouths plays a crucial role in our health; if it didn’t I wouldn’t be enrolled in culinary school right now learning about health supportive cooking, but if we overlook the nourishment we get from “primary food” (relationships, career, spirituality and physical activity) we will never achieve true health and happiness. If we work on finding balance in each of these areas, we can begin to reap the rewards that accompany living a fulfilled life.  Life is not meant to be ordinary.  Life is meant to be extraordinary.

 
What area of your life are you going to focus on turning into a 10?

I have tried some ultra restrictive cleanses in the past and would always end up failing miserably!  I would stick with the program for a couple of days and then eat or drink some forbidden food and give up, feeling like a complete failure! I would return to my old way of eating and drinking, feeling like there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t stick with the program.

It doesn’t need to be like that.

The guidance I give to my clients who wish to embark on a cleanse is always customized to their particular needs.  For many people, just removing sugar, alcohol and processed foods from their diet is enough.  Anything more than that, and they are setting themselves up to fail because it would be too much of a change from what they are used to. It will be a shock to their system, they will get frustrated trying to prepare foods they aren’t familiar with, and they will feel bad about themselves when they can’t stick with it.  For others, who already follow a pretty clean diet to begin with, a stricter approach of removing all known allergens may be advisable.  The type of cleanse that is right for you depends on the individual; what  your current diet is like, your physical and emotional health, stress and activity levels, and reasons for wanting to embark on a cleanse in the first place.

Eventually, I designed my own cleanse that I found to be easy enough to follow and to adapt to my varying needs.  The focus is on cleaning up your diet, removing known allergens and adding nutrient rich whole foods, green smoothies and juices and lots of water as well as self care rituals to nurture your physical body, your mind and your soul.  At times I follow it to the letter and other times I pick and choose what I want to strictly adhere to.  By returning to it a few times a year, I gradually adopted many of the principles outlined in the cleanse into my daily life and they eventually became routine for me.

The beginning of a new year is a fabulous time to take inventory of your life and re-evaluate your choices.  For many people, that includes making dietary and lifestyle improvements.  If this tops your list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2013, consider jump-starting your efforts with a 7 day cleanse.  I call my cleanse The Cut The Crap Cleanse because that is basically what you are doing–cutting out all the crap that comprises the bulk of most people’s diets.  You will be surprised at how differently you feel, just after 7 days, when you really clean up your diet and add important self care rituals to your routine.

To help you achieve your goals this year, when you purchase the cleanse ebook, you will receive a complimentary 15 minute consultation to discuss your particular needs and desires and to give you suggestions on how to best customize the cleanse so it works for you.  Purchase The Cut The Crap 7 Day Cleanse ebook and then email me at Carol@GetSomeZen.com to schedule your free consultation which can be done over the telephone, Skype or even email if you prefer.

I look forward to helping you reach your health goals this year!

And out of curiosity, what is the number one reason you have hesitated in the past to embark on a cleanse?

It’s amazing that two tiny little glands sitting atop the kidneys can wreck such havoc when they are not functioning properly.  The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are primarily responsible for regulating the bodies stress response through the production of a variety of hormones including cortisol and adrenaline.  When they are functioning at their peak, you feel energized when you need to be and relaxed when it is time for rest.

When faced with chronic, unrelenting stress—raising kids, losing a job, financial pressure, marital discord—the adrenal glands become fatigued.  They just cannot sustain producing high levels of cortisol for an extended period of time.

This results in a variety of symptoms:

• Waking up feeling fatigued even after sufficient number of hours of sleep
• Sleep disturbances (feeling wired at night, waking up frequently)
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Cravings for salt
• Reliance on sugar and caffeine
• Intolerance to cold
• Low blood pressure
• Low stamina for stress
• Light-headedness upon standing up
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Moodiness
• Nervousness
• Lack of libido
• Excessive sweating from little activity
• Weakness
• Heart palpitations

Adrenal fatigue can turn into a vicious cycle of exhaustion and poor nutrition as you rely more and more on caffeine and sugar to keep your energy up throughout the day.  If you suspect you have adrenal fatigue, it is best to address it right away.   Following are a few ways to support your adrenals:

•  Sufficient rest is essential.  Be in bed every night by 10pm.  Make this a top priority. The rest allows your body to heal.
• Reduce and manage your stress level by saying no to obligations that are not important and adding in meditation, yoga and massage.
• Exercise moderately every day.
• Make dietary changes:  avoid sugar and any white flour products such as pasta and bread.
• Eat a whole foods diet consisting of lean animal protein (fish, eggs, chicken) as well as organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
• Avoid caffeine.
• Drink plenty of water.

Adrenal fatigue can be extremely frustrating, but with proper care and attention, you can regain your energy and sense of well being back, but it can take several months before your system is back in balance.

Have you noticed signs of adrenal fatigue in your life?

Pure Food and Wine is my hands down favorite restaurant in New York City! With all of the amazing restaurants that reside in this dynamic city, I still feel drawn to go back to Pure Food and Wine over and over again.

Partly because I consider it “research” for my own culinary endeavors (I love the challenge of coming up with satisfying raw foods dishes that will please even the biggest skeptics I know) and partly because the food is just amazingly delicious and satisfying every time I eat there.  I’ve brought my three kids there and tell them they can order dessert for their meal—a sure way to win them over!—and I never feel guilty in doing so, since the desserts at Pure Food and Wine are much healthier than any “entrée” they would order off a kids menu elsewhere.

I have purchased two of Sarma’s raw foods books and will sit and flip through the pages looking at the beautiful photography, salivating over the choices.  I’ve made many of her recipes at home and have been pleased by the results, but I must admit, the majority of the recipes are not for the feint of heart.  They are a bit complicated to make.  I go for simplicity at home, so I’ve carefully chosen the ones that don’t require too much effort; the others I save for when I’m in New York and can dine at the restaurant.

This recipe for Chocolate Freezer Fudge is in Sarma’s book Raw Food Real World.  It is simple and satisfying.  It takes mere minutes to make with no special equipment required and gets stored in the freezer, so when temptation strikes, you have a ready made snack waiting. Unlike most chocolate desserts that are full of sugar and white flour, this dessert is nutrient dense, high in fat (the good kind), protein and minerals. The complex carbohydrates break down slowly in your system, unlike simple carbs that wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels.  One or two squares of this fudge will leave you feeling satiated and nourished.

Chocolate Freezer Fudge

Ingredients:

• 2 cups almond butter (one 16 oz jar)
• ¼ cup cocoa powder, or raw carob powder
• ½ cup plus 2T maple syrup
• 1 heaping Tablespoon coconut butter  (NOT the same as coconut oil)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, stirring well.  You can also use a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, but it’s more fun to do by hand.

Line a square baking dish with parchment paper.  Place the fudge into the pan and cover the surface with another sheet of parchment paper, pressing down evenly to flatten.  Place in the freezer to chill.  If using the pan, remove from the freezer after an hour or so, flip it out of the pan onto a flat surface and cut into squares or rectangles.  These should be stored, covered, in the freezer (otherwise they will get too soft and mushy) where they would keep quite well for a long time if they didn’t always get eaten so fast!

Try it and let me know what you think!

Forget the bacon!  Who needs it when you have kale in the house.  I celebrated my birthday this week and treated myself to the best birthday breakfast ever.  A hearty, satisfying, slightly spicy dish of kale, eggs and tomatoes.

No meal feels complete to me unless it includes greens and that includes breakfast.  There was too much of a chill in the air for me to enjoy my typical green smoothie or juice, so I opted to cook my greens instead, and I added a bit more warmth to the dish by sprinkling a generous amount of spice into it.  I felt so warm, nourished and comforted as I sat down to write the recipe, sipping on my hot peppermint tea.  The perfect way to start a brisk winter day.

Recipe: Kale and Eggs

• 4-5 kale leaves, washed, stem removed, leaves chopped
• ¼ cup diced onion
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 egg
• 2 T olive oil
• 1 T shoyu
• 1 T brown rice vinegar
• ½ tsp Himalayan sea salt
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• Black pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in cast iron skillet.  Add the onions and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent and fragrant but not brown (a few minutes). Add the kale and toss to coat evenly.  Cook 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and cumin and mix well.  Add shoyu and brown rice vinegar and mix well.  Add the cherry tomatoes. Crack the egg over the mixture and gently fold it in, lightly scrambling it.  When egg is cooked, remove from the heat and serve.  Add black pepper to taste.

Tune in and ask your body what it needs to feel nourished and supported.  What is your body telling you today?

This upcoming weekend at The Natural Gourmet Cooking School is all about Sea Vegetables, a topic near and dear to my heart!  I love introducing my private cooking clients to these underutilized, nutritional powerhouses!  Most people I work with have either never had them before or their experience has been limited to the seaweed they see floating around in their miso soup.  They are always pleasantly surprised by how easy they are to prepare and at the tremendous health benefits they can reap by adding just a small quantity of them into their diet.

So after seeing that sea veggies were the topic for the weekend, I had to jump right in and test out some of the recipes.  (You may be seeing a few of them in the upcoming weeks here on the blog).

Today I made a cucumber salad with Wakame.  Most people are familiar with Wakame; it is commonly used in the preparation of miso soup.  It is mild in flavor and the nutritional benefits are astounding!  Sea vegetables in general are high in iodine and supportive of thyroid health.  Wakame in particular is extremely high in calcium; 1300 mgs (vs 118 mgs found in cow’s milk).  It also contains over 12 grams of protein per serving, making it a terrific source of vegan protein. It’s also very high in potassium (6800 mgs) as well as being a good source of vitamin A.

Wakame is very versatile and simple to prepare.  You simply soak it in water for 5-10 minutes to reconstitute it, then chop it up and add to a raw salad or soup. It lasts basically forever in the refrigerator and you only need to use a small portion at a time.  You can find it in the Asian food aisle of most health food stores, or you can buy it online.

This recipe takes about 10 minutes to make and has a slightly sweet, refreshing flavor.  It would really be perfect in the summer when cucumbers are in season, but I couldn’t resist bringing a bit of summer warmth into my kitchen today.   Try it and let me know what you think!

Wakame Cucumber Salad

• 2 cucumbers (peeled and thinly sliced into matchsticks)
• Pinch of sea salt
• 2 oranges, supremed (skin, pith and membranes removed, leaving just orange segments)
• ¼ cup wakame, soaked 5-10 minutes
• ½ cup cilantro, minced (or parsley)
• 1/8 cup mirin
• 1/8 cup brown rice vinegar
• 1 T shoyu
• 1 ½ T maple syrup

Soak wakame for 5-10 minutes.  In medium bowl mix cucumbers with sea salt to taste and set aside for a few minutes.  Lift wakame from water and chop into small pieces.  Add to cucumbers along with the orange segments and cilantro.  In separate bowl whisk together rice vinegar, mirin, shoyu and maple syrup.  Toss salad with dressing and serve.

(Recipe adapted from Melanie Ferreira, The Natural Gourmet Institute)

What is your favorite way to eat sea vegetables?

All too often we don’t trust our instincts.  We stay in jobs or relationships that are no longer suited to us because we listen to the voice in our head that has a ready list of reasons as to why we should stay, rather than listening to our gut instinct, our inner knowing.

We tend to not trust that inner knowing, to be suspicious of it, because acting on it often requires doing the opposite of what is expected of us.

The same holds true with our food choices.  When we learn to eat intuitively, to choose foods based upon what our body wants and needs at that moment; what will make us feel nourished and supported; and what will provide us with the energy needed at that particular time, we will enjoy perfect divine health.

Perfect health IS within your grasp.  It is your birthright, as is peace and happiness. Once you master how to tune in to your intuition and make your decisions from that place of inner knowing, your life will begin to unfold effortlessly.

The route to optimal health will differ from person to person.  As I’ve said before, there is no one size fits all diet.  Food that one person thrives on may leave another feeling sick and depleted.  Problems arise when people get caught up in a particular nutritional dogma…” well Aunt Jennie has been vegan for ten years and she looks great and lost 30 pounds, so that is the diet I am going to follow because I want to lose weight and look great too”.  That’s all well and good if a vegan diet is working for you and you are feeling good and functioning optimally, but if you begin to notice your energy lagging, your moods swinging, your hair falling out and intense cravings occurring and you still insist that a vegan diet is the only way to go, then you have a problem.

I wish we could drop all labels as to “what we are” … I am so tired of being asked if I am vegetarian, vegan, raw foodist, meat eater, etc…  I don’t fall under any label!  I’m me and I change from day to day.  Yesterday I was vegetarian. Today I’m vegan.  Tomorrow you may find me eating a steak and ice cream.  I eat what feels right for me at any particular time.  There are days I need to feel stronger and more focused and I’ll choose foods that are energetically matched.  There are other days I want to curl up on the couch in front of the fire with a book and not move a muscle for hours on end, and I’ll choose foods that feel right for that.  Sometimes any kind of animal protein makes me feel weighed done, heavy and lethargic, while other times it gives me the perfect energy I require for certain activities.   The point is, it changes…with the seasons, with age, with stress levels, and a host of other reasons.

Americans tend to emphasize a left brained approach to diet and nutrition…counting calories, looking at individual nutrients, weighing their food and choosing their food based on how many grams of fat, protein and carbs it contains.

A right brained approach to diet and nutrition takes taste, texture, and aroma into account.  How a food makes you feel when you eat it and how it looks are vital elements.

Incorporating more of the right brained approach into your food choices is an essential element to achieve optimal health.  Sometimes we eat out of habit, because the hour on the clock says it is time to eat.  I never look at the clock before I eat.  I eat when I’m hungry, and before I decide what I’m going to make, I take a moment to get quiet and really tune in to see what I feel like having.  Do I want to feel light and energetic?  I may make a salad with a variety of veggies and seeds.  Do I feel cold and lacking energy?  Perhaps a hearty bowl of lentil soup and whole grain bread would feel warm and nourishing.  Am I feeling stressed and overwhelmed?  Maybe something sweet like raw chocolate almond fudge with a cup of mint tea would be the perfect antidote.

Check in with yourself before you make your food choices.  Ask your body what it wants. Ask both your physical body and your emotional body.  Notice the signals you are getting.  Are you cold, tired, stressed, anxious, hyperactive or having cravings? Are you moody, angry, weepy, or feeling scattered? These are all signs of imbalance and can be rectified with proper food choices. If you begin to notice patterns, such as a waning of energy over a period of several weeks, or changes in your bowel habits are occurring, significant dietary changes may be in order.

Working with a health counselor can help you to discover what food choices work the best for you; once you know how to recognize the signs of imbalance and tune in to your intuition, it will become easier and easier to get yourself back on track on your own.

Do you find that you generally choose foods based on a left brained approach (number of calories, grams of fat, protein, carbs, etc)  or from a right brained approach (taste, texture, aroma, energetic qualities)?  I know that for myself, once I learned to let go of the dogma and make choices based on my intuition and how I felt, my overall health improved.  What about you?