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The first step is to do a stock take of your fridge and pantry. It’s best to remove all packaged, processed foods to eliminate temptation! Replace with quality, real ingredients. A well stocked pantry means quick and nutritious meals no matter what.
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Can you read and pronounce the ingredients? If no, don’t buy. If a packaged food has its own tv commercial, don't buy.
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Pick one day of the week to go shopping and get prepared for your week. Set aside a couple of hours to prepare some healthy snacks/healthy bread/soups to freeze etc.
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Start your day with a good savoury breakfast that consists of a protein and good quality fats. Eggs are always the best option. You can fry them in a bit of butter, make an omelette or frittata, scramble or boil them. Serve with sides such as haloumi, avocado, basil, spinach, mushrooms with a small slice of spelt sourdough. Or try Scottish oatmeal with coconut oil, chia seeds, cinnamon, nuts, seeds, organic berries and natural Greek yoghurt.
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Always be prepared with snacks. A few simple ideas include:
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Activated macadamias with cinnamon, berries and desiccated coconut.
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Homemade guacamole with carrot and celery sticks.
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Low GI fruit options such as berries, apples, pears, and nectarines.
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Homemade sweet potato fries baked in coconut oil and paprika (optional)
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Chew your food until it is liquid for maximum digestibility.
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Try to avoid eating when stressed as blood diverts away from the digestive system in times of stress.
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Add herbs and spices to all your meals. They instantly make meals tasty, boosts the nutrition content and takes no extra time. Can be fresh or dried eg. rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, thyme, cinnamon, turmeric, parsley, coriander, fennel, garlic, sage. Most are blood purifying and antimicrobial.
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Swap table salt for Himalayan salt/Celtic salt instead.
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More fat! Use a variety of extra virgin olive oil, avocado, pure butter, ghee and coconut oil. Just make sure to keep away from industrial seed oils such as canola and deep fried foods.
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Swap refined sugar for delicious, wholesome alternatives such as vanilla bean powder, raw honey, organic maple syrup, cinnamon, stevia or low GI fruits such as berries.
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Indulge in your favorite foods 1-2x/week. Balance is key. Life is too short. But remember, healthy eating is not deprivation, it's a way of living longer and better. Your body will thank you.
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Water, water, water all day long. Filtered is best. To make it more enticing, you can add lemon, mint and cucumber. Just remember it's best not to drink with meals but around 30 mins either side of eating. Add a small pinch of Himalayan salt 1/8th teaspoon to 1 L water) to ensure proper uptake of water into cells.
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Embrace herbal tea. So many to choose from but you can't go wrong with green or peppermint or ginger tea in the morning and chamomile in the evening. It counts towards your total water intake. Just make sure it's not artificially flavoured.
Always strive for long term, sustainable changes.
If you suffer from ongoing skin conditions, digestive upset or menstrual irregularity it’s important to talk with your trusted health professional. Increased intestinal permeability, exposure to exogenous endocrine disruptors, high stress and an under-functioning liver can all contribute to a state of imbalance.
