What a Healthy Relationship with Food Really Looks Like and Why It Matters
Last week I took my kids to Costco. They basically looked like twins sitting next to each other in the shopping cart.
While most people were inside grabbing pizza and hot dogs, my kids sat in the shopping cart beside my car, happily eating an entire container of organic raspberries and string cheese.
Between bites, they shouted “Hi!” to everyone walking by and yes, we got some strange looks!
But in that moment, I felt proud. Not because of the food itself, but because I was confidently showing them this: we can live differently than the “norm” and celebrate healthy choices. That healthy doesn’t mean boring or restrictive. That we can make food choices based on what makes us feel really good.
Does that mean we never eat pizza? Of course not. But we aim to make intentional choices the majority of the time.
Is Your Relationship with Food Holding You Back?
Ask yourself:
+Do you feel stuck on the hamster wheel of starting a diet, “messing up,” going off the rails and then feeling horrible about yourself?
+Do you wish you could stop tying your worth to the number on the scale?
+Are you frustrated with “eating pretty healthy” but still not seeing results?
+Are you tired of having a negative relationship with food, a negative body image, disordered eating and/or yo-yo dieting?
+Do you have habits or a food mindset that you would never wish upon your daughter or granddaughter?
+Do you want to improve your body composition without slowing your metabolism or increasing your risk of chronic disease?
If you can say YES to any of these questions, you’re not alone. And more importantly: you don’t have to stay stuck.
What a Healthy Relationship with Food Really Looks Like
Establishing a nourishing, non-judgmental relationship with food is just as important as what you eat when it comes to harnessing potential health and wellbeing benefits.
Most diets work the opposite way: the longer you do them, the more boxed in and stressed out you feel. They occupy 100% of your brain space.
That is not health!
Let’s break down what a truly healthy, sustainable relationship with food actually looks like.
1. Focus on Nourishment, Not Judgment
A healthy relationship with food means choosing meals that nourish your body the majority of the time. This means having the discipline and intention to eat foods that fuel your cells with nourishing compounds that allow them to function better and help you feel better. A lot of people think that a healthy relationship with food means eating whatever you want and I could not disagree more.
But at the same time, you want to be able to enjoy some less optimal meals or treats without guilt, shame or obsessive thinking. Most people believe you have to be on or off plan but that is just not reality. And this is where the work comes in for so many, especially women who have cycled in and out of dieting for years.
Calorie focused, restrictive diets often create an unhealthy obsession with food, where you are constantly trying to fight hunger, avoid cravings or find the lowest calorie option. Over time, this damages self-esteem and makes long term weight management harder than ever because you’re constantly on and off a plan.
2. Eat Dessert and Move On
In the thousands of women that I’ve worked with, the women who are able to eat a piece of dessert and move on are the ones who have the best results with their health.
Here is how it looks: You can eat a piece of dessert without an incredible amount of guilt. When you eat a treat, you reflect on how it made you feel and then pass on seconds. This decreases the urge to have a few more pieces or to have more treats the following day because you “messed up”.
3. Prioritize Health Outcomes Over the Scale
Most women have been taught to chase a number on the scale. But true health is about more than weight. A healthy relationship with food shifts your focus to things like:
- Stronger bones and muscles
- Lower waist and hip circumference
- Improved labs (blood sugar, cholesterol, inflammation)
- Improved energy, sleep, and digestion
- Understanding your body and honoring its needs
- And less mental chatter around food
Redefining success means choosing metrics that reflect true healing, not just weight loss.
4. Be the Example You’d Want Your Daughter to Follow
Your relationship with food doesn’t just impact your health, it shapes how your children approach food and health. A healthy approach is one that you’d be proud to pass on to your daughter or granddaughter. One that models self-respect, not self-criticism.
This means that you aren’t making comments about how fat you are or talking about your weight in front of your kids. It means showing them what it looks like to have a high self-esteem, enough discipline to make choices that make you feel good and enough grace to enjoy a treat without commenting about how it’s not on your plan.
How can you embrace your health in a way that is not only healthy for you but also shows your kids, especially your daughters how we can redefine health, aging & dieting for women?
5. Trust the Process, Not the Quick Fix
Stop looking for the magic bullet or the quick fix. The real magic is in the process of becoming more aware of your body’s needs, more at peace with food, less judgemental and more confident. It’s not found in shortcuts.
This is especially true in today’s society with the Ozempic mindset which is training more people to believe that faster results = better and if fast results aren’t happening that it means it’s not happening at all. There’s nothing wrong with taking a GLP-1 agonist but it’s important to focus on the process and create long-term sustainable changes.
6. Eat for Results and Peace of Mind
You don’t have to choose between results and freedom. You can get real, measurable results and feel more calm, confident, and in control. You can improve your symptoms and have a healthier relationship with food. It’s not either-or—it’s both. That’s what we help women achieve every day.
What Sets Our Approach Apart
A few days after that Costco moment, someone asked me: Of all the functional nutrition companies out there, what sets you apart? I quickly responded:
1-I’ve been doing this for a decade and obsess over outcomes! I trained under Dr. Mark Hyman, teach a graduate-level course in functional nutrition and obsess over creating frameworks and experiences that actually drive results.
2-We help women get healthier without becoming obsessive. Our programs are supportive, not judgmental. Realistic, not excessively restrictive. It’s a clear roadmap with expert guidance and a voice that walks with you, not above you.
We’re Here to Help You Redefine Health
Inside My Food is Health, we combine:
- Functional lab testing
- 1:1 expert Dietitian support
- Customized nutrition and supplement plans
- Education that empowers you
- And a no food shaming environment
Here’s an Example of What That Can Look Like
“I lost 7 pounds, several inches in my waist and hip and have even gained muscle. After years of frustration with diets and worsening labs, I finally feel in control. This program has completely transformed my relationship with food and health, making optimal eating feel natural and sustainable. And my cholesterol dropped 50 points!” -Jennifer, My Food is Health Alumni
This is how we help women age with strength and confidence, while transforming how they feel and how they think about food.
Book a discovery call with me to learn more and see if you are a good fit for our next round of My Food is Health.