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Why I don’t Make Diet Plans
I’ve only gotten asked about diet plans a handful of times over the last few years, but I thought it would make sense to write up a post about it. It is something that I’ve never really felt was needed, which might sound weird since I am in the nutrition field. But there are a few big reasons why I don’t do this and why I never likely will.
We’re all Different
This is a phrase I say all of the time. We are all different! We need different things. Meal plans are usually directed towards a group of people with the same diagnosis or symptom. However, when you learn about biochemical individuality you will soon realize that people with the same diagnosis don’t always have the same exact imbalances and needs! So making up plans for anything (food or supplements) makes NO sense based on a set of symptoms.
Instinct and Intuition are Important
We all have intuition. When we deal with leaky gut and overall nutrient depletion, and when we are filled with toxins, it is so hard to hear that inner voice that should be guiding us. With meal plans, we would just be following someone else’s idea of what is the ideal. In reality, we should be listening to our cravings and needs and making our own perfect diet. You can read all about finding your own intuition here and why it is so important. The longer I am in this field, the more I realize how essential it is to learn to listen to your intuition.
A Real Food Diet is the Key
The biggest point I try to teach people is that a clean diet is best. Eat as many unprocessed foods as possible and make your own diet plan based on preferences, cravings, and nutritional needs. The HTMA is helpful in determining your personal needs so you can add foods specific to your needs and rotate as your needs change. I have my main guidelines on diet here:
What NOT to eat:
- Genetically Modified Foods
- Artificial sweeteners
- Food dyes
- High Fructose Corn syrup (and I’d stay away from Corn syrup too!)
- MSG
- Read why we should avoid the above mentioned here.
- Packaged foods labeled as “low-fat” (AKA filled with sugar!)
- Avoid as many boxed foods as you can
- Non-organic sugars
- Oils from soy, corn, safflower, sunflower, canola, and peanut
What to eat:
- Fresh fruit and veggies, mostly local if you can do this. (**See below for Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen)
- Grass-fed meats
- Organic chicken
- Free-range eggs
- Seafood from clean, reputable sources (if you’re a seafood eater!)
- Good fats like grass-fed butter, coconut oil, grass-fed dairy (cream cheese, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, heavy cream), ghee, avocado, fish, nuts, chocolate, meats, eggs, and olives.
- When it comes to grains, this is SO individual. My family tries to stick with organic whole grains as we do well with them. This includes organic wheat, Einkorn, basmati rice, organic oats, etc. I truly believe it comes down to the strength of our digestion as well as the quality of the food we eat that matters most.
- Real sweeteners like organic maple syrup, raw honey, blackstrap molasses, and we even use organic brown sugar for baking.
- Get in as many nutrient dense foods as you can. Herbal infusions, pumpkin seeds, bee pollen, bone broth, etc. Read more on there here.
The body is a whole and we must treat it as such! I have my Bachelor of Science in Natural Health Sciences, certificates in Herbal Studies from Herbal Academy, and I am constantly learning more about health to help my clients and followers.
My goal is to help you unleash your own inner healer! You already hold the power to heal inside you. My role is as a guide to help you realize this potential.