Episode 270: Rethinking Nutrition: 3 Simple Ways to Add More, Not Take Away

“When we approach nutrition from a place of addition rather than restriction, I think it can become so much more approachable, doable, and honestly, fun.”

When you think about improving your nutrition, does your brain immediately go to what you should eat less of, cut back on, or avoid? Today I’m flipping that perspective and sharing some of my favorite ways to add in nutrition instead. Supporting your health doesn’t have to mean restricting your food, and it can absolutely be delicious, approachable, and fun.

In this episode, I share three of my favorite ways to add nutrition to the foods I’m already eating: plant-based micronutrient additions, fiber-rich foods, and smoothies. I talk about the importance of eating enough before focusing on variety, why variety can be a simple way to support your nutrition without obsessively tracking individual nutrients, and some of the herbs, spices, seeds, fruits, and other foods I’ve been enjoying lately.

Most importantly, I want you to think of these ideas as inspiration rather than another set of nutrition rules. Healing your relationship with food can give you the freedom to consider nutrition alongside taste and preferences, instead of letting calories make every decision for you. Adding nutrition should feel enjoyable, flexible, and supportive of your relationship with food, not rigid or guilt-inducing.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why eating enough is the foundation of nutrition before focusing on variety and micronutrients
• Simple ways to add plant-based micronutrients to various dishes
• How to add more fiber in ways that feel enjoyable and approachable, using every day foods
• How smoothies can be an easy and fun way to combine a variety of foods, flavors, and nutrients
• Why healing your relationship with food allows you to consider nutrition alongside taste, satisfaction, convenience, preferences, and your body’s needs
• How to approach nutrition without turning it into another rigid set of rules, tracking system, or source of food guilt and anxiety

If adding nutrition has started to feel like another way to restrict, optimize, or judge your food choices, this is a reminder that you can experiment with foods that sound good to you and find ways to nourish yourself that feel easy and enjoyable.

Resources:

• My smoothie guide: dietculturerebel.com/smoothie
• Sunfiber supplement: https://amzn.to/3X0dtcx
• Grab the Hunger & Fullness Scale Guide at DietCultureRebel.com/hungerfullnessscale and take your next step toward building trust with your body and food
• Connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel

Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?

You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.