My philosophy to meals is simple.
It’s a 3-step system:
Step 1: Want
Slow down & ask yourself: What do I actually WANT to eat? This is the missing piece of all “diets” & the actual secret to success. Most diet plans don’t start with this basic question. They just launch right into telling you what to eat. When you start by asking yourself what you WANT, you will never feel deprived.
PS: What you WANT changes day to day, from having a taste for a salad to wanting tacos, burgers, or pizza. No judgement needed. Just tune-in.
Step 2: Balance
I absolutely hate when people say weight loss & healthy eating is about “portion control.” OMG that sounds boring, hard & restrictive. Instead, I suggest focusing on creating BALANCED RATIOS at mealtime. When food is in balanced ratios on your plate, it helps balance blood sugar for lasting, steady energy.
So after you decide what you WANT to eat, create a meal with that food in BALANCED RATIOS, meaning a little grain + a little protein + lots of produce w/ a topper of healthy fat. Check out the PERFECT PLATE GUIDE HERE.
Step 3: Own
To truly enjoy your food & be an empowered eater, you’ve got to OWN the decision about what you are going to eat and OWN the experience of eating (no rushing, no sneaking). Many people speed through decisions about what to eat, rush through eating, and then feel bad physically and mentally.
Instead, slow down and practice TABLE-PLATE-CHAIR. Enjoy eating what you WANT in BALANCED ratios. No need for second-guessing, shame, guilt, or regret about what or how much you ate. Just eat it, enjoy it, OWN it…and move on.
Want-Balance-Own: In Action
My recent meal from Whole Foods salad bar…
1. Want: Mac & Cheese.
2. Balance: A little mac & cheese + a little baked chicken + lots of kale salad w/ almonds & a delish dressing.
3. Own: Ate from a plate while seated at a table. Highly enjoyed this & then went on with my day.
= POSITIVE NUTRITION that nourishes your cells to be both healthy + happy. xx
