I’m starving. There is a big piece of hot, cheese pizza with a thick, gooey, doughy crust. I’m just about to take my first bite when my friend asks me, “You’re a dietitian and you’re going to eat...that?!” AH! This question is probably one of the most frustrating questions I get as a dietitian. Some people might feel that judging what a dietitian eats is a right of passage. Afterall, anyone who becomes a dietitian automatically has identified themselves as a healthy eater who would turn their nose up at what others might consider “bad” food choices. Right? Well, I don’t think that can be farther from the truth - at least not for me. I became a dietitian because I was fascinated with the fact that food is medicine. Food is the foundation for one’s well-being. How cool is that?? Over my years in practice, I started to realize that many people seem to have developed a negative relationship with food without even knowing it. The diet industry has taken over, with consistently over-promising and under-delivering (the number one no-no when it comes to any sort of sales). We’ve taken advice from magazines, celebrities, TV personalities, friends, family members, all which has led to a lot of confusion and frustration when it comes to figuring out what, when and how to eat.
However, there is one person that people have learned not to listen to when it comes to eating- themselves. We have to remember that we are natural born intuitive eaters (something my two toddlers remind me of every day). We were born to listen to our body’s hunger and fullness cues, cravings etc. So, where did we go wrong and how can we get back there? T.A.S.T.E. life was built on the foundation that we need to become attuned, or should I say re-attuned, to what our body needs when it comes to food, movement, self-care and anything else that contributes to your overall well-being. Have you considered ignoring the noise of what you should eat and how you should exercise, and get back to listening to what your body is trying to tell you? Can you learn to become mindful? Intuitive? I’m inviting you to not just live life, but to taste life.
TUNE IN to the moment before you. Being present in the moment is a wonderful gift to give yourself.
ACCEPT YOURSELF, your body and your mind. Be kind to yourself and accept your body shape, your pant size, your weight. Accept who you are, because you are exactly who you need to be.
SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR on your plate, your mat and everywhere in between. Slowing the pace can help you become more intune to what your body needs in the moment.
TAKE TIME TO MOVE and respect what your body can do. What your body did yesterday, may not be what your body can do today. Listen to your body and move in a way that you enjoy.
ENJOY LIFE, simply put. And be grateful for it.