Nutrition Is Obtaining The Food Necessary For Health and Growth

Written by Shelly Hilliard

Nutrition is obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.  Sounds simple, right?  Then why do so many people struggle with this concept? Why is the “standard American diet” given the acronym SAD, or why are almost 40% of American adults considered to be obese? We have more food in this country than any other country, yet most of us don’t get the proper nutrients we need on a daily basis. You can literally eat to build muscle, create healthy bones, gain energy, balance your hormones, fix your gut, boost immunity, or improve heart health. Though most of us do not. We have lost the concept that what we eat becomes part of us, every level of our health is impacted by what we eat.  

We live in a society that has made the food and diet industry a billion dollar market.  When we walk into stores and turn on the television we are being marketed items and food that usually aren’t good for us. The average person doesn’t know how to properly read a nutrition label and we often eat for convenience not enjoyment. Sadly, too many people reach for the labeled food in the grocery store which is processed and made in a plant versus the unlabeled food such as real plants and fruits that are actually good for us.  When did this topic of nutrition become so complicated? What if proper nutrition was easier than we thought?  What if we really started to listen to our bodies and paid attention to what makes it feel good? If we did this we would be intentional about what we were putting into our bodies and we would choose things that bless our bodies and give us the nourishment we need. . 

How we nourish our body should be bio-individual, meaning there is no one size fits all approach.  Animal protein may work for one person, but may make another person feel bloated.  Whereas a plant diet may work for someone, but make another person feel sluggish.  This is where we need to take the time to listen to ourselves and start to monitor what feels good in our own body.  We pay millions of dollars a year to have other people tell us what is good for us, when we often miss the mark to listen inside our own hearts.  

Truth be told, nutrition is more than food.  You can eat all the kale and lean protein you want, but if you are not nourishing yourself off the plate, in your day to day life, then it doesn’t matter what you eat.  You see how we manage stress, the relationships we make a part of our life, our physical activity, our career, sleep patterns, and spiritual outlets all play a part in how we are nourishing our mind and body.  These areas are often overlooked, proper nutrition comes from balance. 

Proper nutrition is different for each person, every person needs different foods and daily routines to properly feed their body and soul.  Our lives are the result of the habits we practice daily.  If you know today you are not properly nourishing your body then it is time to make some changes.  Start today, start small, and most importantly do your best to stay consistent.  Always remember health and wellness is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t try to be perfect, just try to be better today than yesterday, and if you mess up, pick yourself back up, pat yourself on the back, and give yourself grace. Healthy habits are built one small step at a time. Start your day with a well balanced breakfast, create a gratitude journal, drink less of your calories, move your body everyday, drink more water,  prioritize sleep, really take time and enjoy your food, ditch the refined sugar, find healthy outlets, enjoy your relationships, be creative, have fun with cooking, find joy in each day,  and keep pushing yourself to learn new things and grow.  Get out of your comfort zone and take some healthy risks. Choose one of these healthy habits and go with it, proper nutrition and wellness starts today!

Meet Shelly: Certified Nutritionist

Her holistic approach to nutrition will help you to find the nourishment that feeds your body and your soul to help you maximize each day. Her goal as a health coach is to mentor and empower you to take control of your health by implementing proper nutrition, behavior changes, and better lifestyle choices that will contribute to the achievements of your personal wellness goals. Shelly believes in a bio-individual perspective, there is no one size fits all approach to help people reach their goals. She also believes in finding the balance in our lifestyle choices that nourish our bodies off the plate (career, relationships, physical activity, spirituality, finances, etc) and what nourishes us on our plate through our diet. Her goal is to help you find the balance between these two areas. Shelly’s love and passion for people and wellness help her to continue growing her knowledge base to help bless the people around her with the tools to assist them in living their best life on and off the plate. Shelly has been in the health care arena for 13 years.