What the Heck Do I Eat?

Beyond the basic plant-based, whole-foods diet (and you’d have to be living under a rock to NOT have heard that this is an optimal way to eat – it’s everywhere!), there is still a lot to be interpreted from one person to the next when it comes to food.

So how do you figure out how you should eat? What is the best diet for you?

We’re sorry to say that there is no magical answer. There’s no shortcut or perfect formula. Hey! – that wouldn’t be any fun anyway, would it?

If you’re focusing on plant-based, whole foods, then the rest doesn’t need to be too complicated, perfect or follow any particular “rules.” The answer comes from learning how to listen to what your body is telling you. Sound a little hokey? We’re not saying you will suddenly have this out-of-body experience in which a voice will tell you what to eat for breakfast that morning (although we suppose that’s possible!). Instead it’s learning how to read the subtle signs your body gives you every day and then using those signs to make an informed choice on how to respond to what your body is telling you.

When we begin relying our own intuition with our health, it’s pretty amazing what we can begin to figure out!

Here are some examples of signs your body may give you on a daily basis:

• Bloating and gas

• Constipation or diarrhea

• Stomachache

• Headache/migraine

• Acne

• Fatigue

• Mood swings

• Decrease in energy

These aches, pains and discomforts don’t just happen for no reason. When your body gives you one of these signs, it’s your job to figure out what you need (or don’t need). This can take some practice, but learning to make the connection between food and your body can go a long way in your health and sanity. And you may wish to seek support from your regular doctor, a naturopathic doc, health coach or some other alternative health practitioner.

Bloating and gas may mean you ate something with gluten in it that doesn’t agree with your body. Next time try eating gluten-free bread or a gluten-free whole grain like brown rice. A headache might mean you are dehydrated and need to drink some water or that you need to get some sleep. Feeling tired or cravings sweets? You might not be getting enough protein or the right kind of protein (more or less animal protein?).

So often we run to the doctor or pop a pill, but sometimes that just isn’t necessary, and what’s really needed is a little (or a lot of) adjusting in your diet. There is certainly a place for conventional medicine, and you should seek medical support if you choose to. However, sometimes we really can figure it out and heal on our own.

One way to become more comfortable with paying attention to your body’s signs is by keeping a food journal. This can help you keep track of what foods you ate and when, as well as the signs your body gave you as a result. Then when you get a headache or you have a day with lots of energy, you will be able to look back at what you ate and consider how it affected you.

In your journal, don’t worry about calories or the amount of carbs, fats or protein consumed (unless you want to). Instead, try recording what you eat, when you eat it and how you FEEL afterward.

You may begin to notice patterns with certain foods and this can help you make better decisions the next time you eat. If you find, for example, that every time you eat ice cream or drink a glass of milk you have a stomachache, then you may decide that dairy doesn’t sit well with your digestive system, and try to avoid it in the future.

You may also find, as you begin to “upgrade” your diet by adding in more real, whole foods, that you notice positive changes in your body:
• Acne clears

• Skin glows

• Moods are more balanced

• Feel energized

• Aches and pains diminish

• Mental clarity and concentration increase

• Get sick less often

• Digestive issues like bloating, excess gas, constipation or diarrhea stop or improve