A favorite teacher of mine makes the claim that people are suffering from a “high fact diet.” I tend to agree. My clients are highly intelligent, highly functioning and fabulous men and women who come in with all kinds of nutritional information that doesn’t quite add up, certainly not for them as they are challenged by stubborn weight issues, chronic inflammation, digestive distress and hormonal issues. Sadly, most have resorted to self-soothing, yet sabotaging behaviors, searching outside of themselves for that often mis-guided and mis-leading solution to their frustration. It’s not their fault…..

Nutritional confusion is creating a new eating disorder.

Or maybe not so new…I know of what I speak. I spent 20+ years of my adult life fearing what food would do to me. This fear, along with much mis-information, plunged me into a relationship with food that was disordered, dark and ultimately dangerous. It wasn’t until I slowly learned to connect to and trust what my body needed, could I become empowered to embrace what food could do for me.

Are you confused by “eat this, not that? … high protein, low carb, no fat, high fat, vegan, Paleo, Keto, grain based or grain free? … Are you buying into the supermarket shelves lined with products designed to answer every craving (and creating new ones)?.

It feels like there are hundreds of “nutrition experts” (all with conflicting advice), new books each week offering the best plan ever, and friends or family claiming they’ve found the perfect diet (and you must try it too).

What’s an eater to do?

How do you clear through the clutter of information and find what truly works for you?

My functional nutrition approach starts with one key principle …

We are all unique! Your needs are different than mine, as well as the client I saw before you. And that is true whether your goals are general wellness, digestive health, weight loss, or eating disorder recovery. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition. It simply does not work. Your genetics, history, lifestyle and even your digestive system are as individualized as your fingerprint, and any nutritional protocol that doesn’t honor that is not worth your time or energy.

My mission is to help you explore and ultimately experience the food and lifestyle that’s optimal for you. That means getting to know yourself better than you ever thought you could. It means tapping into your hunger and understanding what drives it. It means discovering movement that honors your body rather than punishes it. It means nurturing and nourishing yourself in a way that creates resilience for your mind, body and spirit.

Do I ignore the various dietary theories?

Absolutely not. I take them in, look at the research, test them out, and pull out the pieces and parts that are appropriate for each client (or myself).

How can you do this for yourself?

Slow down, listen deeply to the signs and signals from your body and mind. Pay attention to the voice that speaks from loving kindness and truth – not the story you’re attached to that no longer serves you.

• keep an honest food log and journal not only WHAT you’re eating but how it makes you feel.
• remain open to figuring out what foods really are best for you
• honor your hunger and fullness (many of us deny our hunger, fearing we can’t trust ourselves to know when we’ve had enough)
• know that it’s always shifting and that’s ok – your body’s needs shift regularly
• move in a way that makes you feel connected to the beauty around you

And then ask yourself…”What are the nutritional and diet beliefs I feel most strongly about and how can I imagine they can change? What can I let go of in order to make room for the change I want to be?