What's Your Food Philosophy?

In blogging about nutrition and food there is a temptation, I think, to make every post "marketable" in easily accessible formats like lists. This isn't to say lists are bad. One of my favorite bloggers, Danielle LaPorte of White Hot Truth, frequently posts lists of books or steps or things she's learned, and I love her stuff—she's authentic and inspiring.

But every now and then I really want to indulge my penchant for the philosophy of food and health. In pursuit of my goal to officially launch my food therapy business Jan 3, 2010, I've been examining some marketing angles to communicate how important this program is and to make it appealing, since nobody's ever heard of "food therapy" (because I made it up).

A good friend and marketing guru asked me today what my mission statement was. Normally when people ask me what I do, I say, "I counsel people to help them resolve their food and lifestyle issues."

Which is true. But kinda vague. So as I was thinking about "what is the problem I'm trying to solve?" it came to me that two kinds of people would most benefit from food therapy:

• people who basically know how and want to be healthy but can't make themselves implement what they know into their lives

Darn it! I failed again!

• people who want to be healthy but don't know what to do because there is so much conflicting information

Enough already! I'm overwhelmed and confused!

I think everyone on the quest for health has fallen into both of these categories at some point. When I started out at Integrative Nutrition, I fell into the second category. Since then I've been empowered to examine conflicting information and make decisions for myself. I still fall into the first category in some areas, and I think I always will, because implementation of good information is a lifelong process.

But recently, in my love of "facts," I've overlooked the beauty of this program, which is that everyone gets to develop their own philosophy—AND action plan. You get to decide what works for you and what doesn't, you become empowered to learn about what you're eating and how you're living and make an informed decision.

For me this means that I'm anti vegetable oil, pro saturated fat, pro soaking grains and relatively anti dairy, though I eat cheese and love half-and-half in my coffee. Other people might be more anti-wheat. Some may do better as vegetarians. There is an answer for everybody and until you discover it and own it, you'll be dissatisfied.

This goes for your life, too. Not everybody wants to be a food therapist, and not everybody should be. But it's my passion and purpose—what makes me most satisfied, happy, fulfilled, and whole. I also truly believe I wouldn't have discovered this career if it weren't for my relationship with God and an almost daily spiritual practice. I rely on Him every day to guide my decisions, my inspiration, and my attitude. If I had to do this on my own strength, I would have given up long before now.

So some people will decide to quit their jobs. Others will need to discover the purpose in them. Most everybody will need to delve more deeply into a spiritual practice, which as a nation we've lost touch with that side of ourselves and our deep need to rely on something bigger and more powerful than us. Some might find they are exercising too much, or relying too much on a romantic relationship to make them happy.

All this starts to become clear with food therapy. And as a result, more than just what we eat changes. Our whole lives change.

What's your food philosophy? What's your nutrition lifestyle?

Come find out.

My Favorite Recipe Sites

Over time I've compiled a list of some of my favorite sites to search for recipes when I'm feeling uninspired.


Real Simple Magazine's recipe section is one of the best I've found for easy, inspired meals. You can search by ingredient, I probably use this site the most of all of these, though be sure to stick to the recipes made with whole foods and avoid canned soups, precooked meats, and other highly processed ingredients. They will also send you a recipe each day if you sign up; I just delete the recipes I don't like or have time to get to, but I always have inspiration.

Integrative Nutrition has a recipe resource on their website. Many of these are simple, basic how-to's for those new to the kitchen. There's definitely an Asian flair to some of the recipes, but it's a great introduction to incorporating nourishing sea vegetables and expanding your seasoning repertoire. You can search by food type (grains, greens, proteins) or meal type (breakfast, dessert, etc.).



The Nourished Kitchen is one of my favorite sites simply because it contains beautiful photography. It is the absolute best resource for learning how to lacto-ferment, which is a lost art and absolutely vital to maintaining gut health (and immune health). Every recipe contains whole foods with a focus on seasonal cooking, and there is a wide range to choose from.




Eating Well is a great magazine, and their site is packed with all-natural, simple, gourmet recipes with a seasonal focus. They offer some of the best ethnic food recipes available, so expanding your palate is easy.





Epicurious is an online eating community. If it relates to cooking good food, they've got it, from a seasonal eating menu to a shopping list generator to a food dictionary. It's a great resource for do-it-yourself entertaining, and you can save your most successful recipes in your own recipe box.




Let me know which sites you search when you're looking for recipes! Bon appetit!

Health Care Reform

I still find it amazing that human lives andmoney rate the same (or if anything, human lives rate less) when it comes to health care, but at least Dr. Jon LaPook has the right idea about preventive medicine and health coaching or counseling.

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition now offers iPod learning for those interested in becoming health counselors. They have also just been officially licensed by the state of New York.

Spring Eating

During my last weekend in New York at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, we heard John Douillard of LifeSpa Ayurveda speak about the Ayurvedic diet, which bases eating recommendations on three seasons: winter, spring, and fall. His site offers a spring grocery list to guide shopping and cooking. Or check out the fun body type quiz that will help determine specific eating guidelines for your body type.

So as we move into spring--oh so slowly, I think I'm already ready for summer--it's a good idea to start changing eating habits from heavier, cooked winter foods to lighter seasonal fruits and vegetables. I found these great recomendations on Rejuvenating Foods for Springtime.

To go along with those recommendations, here's a great recommendation for Green Pea Guacamole to get started. I recommend using fresh peas since they are in season.