Food For Thought
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I started writing...then deleted...then got distracted...then walked away and started doing something else...then made more excuses not to write...then wanted to not write this at all...then FINALLY put my big girl pants on and started to focus and just write. OY VEY! Usually, when this happens, it is because it is a heavy topic that I have always wanted to tackle, but I wasn't ready or able to put my thoughts together (apparently still having that issue...LOL), or I did not have the confidence to dig deep into this subject. But again, looking at the positive during these weird times, I have experienced a lot of clarity and I have found my voice, and truly want to bring so much value, inspiration, and positivity to this community. This post is going to be a little all over the place...so bare with me and my ramblings, but in all honesty talking about food is all over the place...It is just one of those topics!
Let’s (NOT) Talk Food
Talking about food in this space is just not for me and never really has been. What I mean by that, is that you will not find me talking about...What I eat in a day...how many calories...how many carbohydrates...How many meals I eat in a day...Do I do cheat meals...What would I recommend that you eat to lose weight...
I am not a recipe creator...
I am not a dietitian...
I am not a nutritionist...
YES, I have a Kinesiology degree and have studied nutrition and I have a lot of knowledge about food, health, and a passion for eating well and creating healthy recipes. But, talking about food is A LOT, especially for women, so I will leave that to my foodie friends (Cotter Crunch has always been one of my favorites) to create all the beautiful and delicious recipes. I will leave my other friends to educate you on nutrition (Leslie Ann provides great information that is real and doable), because...
Food is BIG
Food is EMOTIONAL
Food is COMPLEX
Food is ALL THE THINGS
In this space, you know for sure, that I will continue to share my healthy and sometimes "healthy-ish" plates of deliciousness. We all know that I train hard, I work hard, and this Jersey girl knows how to eat. I LOVE food. I LOVE eating. I LOVE to treat myself to big ass ribeye, burgers, pizza, and cookie sandwiches. But not all food is created equal and I like to eat a lot of healthy foods that work for my lifestyle, my training, my body, because I know that pizza and cookie sandwiches do not help me when I am taking a spin class or doing burpees.
Listen To Your Body
We need food to survive and fuel our bodies. That is a fact. We also need REAL & GOOD food to keep us healthy. And now more than ever we need to be healthy, strong, and have badass immune systems.
I am the first one to admit that I have had my moments with food. It has taken hard work, diligence, and dedication to figure out what works for me and to listen to what works best for my body.
But that is the thing...this is MY BODY and what works for me is probably not going to work for you. Talking about why I eat what I eat and why some weeks I eat all the carbs and other weeks I eat all the fats, is just not my cup of tea. What I do LOVE talking about is supporting brands that I love and use on a regular basis (for example - DAK'S SPICES) and supporting restaurants in Charleston that I can't get enough of (for example...Poe's Tavern, Hall's Chophouse, HomeTeam, and the list goes on and on).
I also think that talking about food and what I eat really opens me up for easily being critiqued and judged. I have tried eating a certain amount of calories a day, or six meals a day, or certain kinds of foods. I have been there...It made me feel like shit...My body said HELL NO. I have put in the work to figure out what foods my body loves and what food my body rejects. Our bodies are changing as our environments are changing...um hello stress, sleep, hormones, age, it is always changing. And I will be the first to tell you that it is sometimes hard for me, especially now during these times. Some weeks I feel strong and lean...some weeks I am bloated, from lack of sleep and stress...some weeks I am totally normal and just GOOD.
Am I making any sense?
I know this is all over the place with my thoughts, but what I want you to understand and take away from this post is that I don't talk about food, because it is just too much, even for me. There are too many parts that are always changing, with science, the environments, and our bodies.
My body is very different from yours…
My needs are different than yours…
My cravings are different from yours…
My life is different from yours.
And that is OKAY...You have to do YOU!
You have to take the time to figure out what works for you and what makes YOU feel good inside and out. I can't do that for you. But what I can do is share good foods, brands, recipe creators, nutritionists, and restaurants that want your support and your business. I can share my simple, easy, meals that bring me joy and make me feel good and hopefully will inspire you to try something new. I can offer you simple tips...like eat all the summer fruits, healthy proteins (follow The Salmon Queen for the most epic salmon photos. She is the reason why I have become addicted to salmon), drink all the water, but don't forget to treat yourself to ice cream, a big ass burger, and a delicious couple glasses of rose!
Listen to your body...Feed it what it needs...Educate yourself so you can feel your best inside and out...Keep it simple and find what makes you happy!
xoxo
