It’s that time of year where we start reflecting on the year that passed and getting excited about and planning what we want in the year ahead. There’s a new sense of energy and motivation to make those positive changes in the hopes that they will stick for the long term.

On the downside, it’s also the time of year where we get lots of internal and external dieting messaging that can often cause people more stress around food (a thing that can already be stressful!).

I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to feel stressed about eating. I want to feel indulged, nourished, and satisfied. I want to make lifestyle and diet choices that reflect my belief that I deserve the best things and foods that this world has to offer!

Sometimes that means a soup, a saucy rice bowl, or avocado toast on a thick slice of sourdough bread. Sometimes it means (heavily) buttered popcorn, my favorite croissant, or vanilla bean ice cream drenched in olive oil. All of those things bring me joy and when I eat them, I try to eat them slowly, with intention and gratitude. Emphasis on TRY – definitely doesn’t happen all the time!

So let’s talk about why dieting doesn’t actually work…

WHY DIETING DOESN’T WORK

Dieting can give you short-term results but doesn’t work long-term, period. There has been a ton of research on this topic and it all shows the same result. Restrictive dieting actually causes weight gain in the long term and does not encourage a healthy relationship with food. 

After the initial weight loss effect of a restrictive diet, our bodies gets used to being in a restricted state, so our metabolism starts to slow down, we hold onto fat stores and start shutting down other “non-essential” systems like reproduction (common in female athletes, known as RED-S). So now all of a sudden you have a slower metabolism than what you started with and maybe some other health issues.

Food should be celebrated, not a cause of stress and anxiety. It’s one of the greatest pleasures in life (in my opinion!). So, let’s create sustainable habits around food that aren’t based on diet or restriction.

My favorite food resolutions

Instead of making resolutions to “eat fewer carbs” “remove sugar from my diet” or “stop eating bread”, switch your mindset to “eat more (insert food here)”. For example, “eat more vegetables with every meal” “incorporate more nuts and seeds into my diet” OR “start eating more fish every week”…

Here are some other favorites:

• Try one new recipe every week and save your favorites
• Plan my weeknight dinners out each week
• Bake a nourishing treat from scratch once a week or month
• Buy one new ingredient at the grocery store each week (a new vegetable, a new spice, etc…)
• Start meal prepping for dinners, lunches, or breakfasts (just pick one to start) – simply chopping up your veggies for the week is a great start.

HOW TO COOK MORE

I believe the best way to improve your health and diet long-term is to learn how to cook more nourishing foods from home. If you can learn how to make vegetables taste amazing and how to put nourishing meals on the table without all the stress, you’re setting yourself up for life.

The hardest part about getting dinner on the table is trying to decide what to make. After a long day of work, it’s hard to make another decision or to spend an hour in the kitchen. So maybe you reach for your phone and order take-out or you have popcorn or cereal for dinner (we’ve all been there).

The answer is obvious, but harder than it sounds – plan your meals for the week before the week starts. 

That’s why I created the Cooking Club. For people like you who want to eat nourishing meals every night, but need a little help getting there.

I want to make planning your meals a little easier by giving you some structure that you can build on.

I want to teach you cooking skills and techniques to help you become a better, more confident cook.

Lastly, I want to keep you inspired in the kitchen, so you don’t get bored with what you’re eating.

If that all sounds great to you, check out the Cooking Club (if you aren’t a member already…)!

Cheers to a healthy and nourished new year!!!

– Natalie, Your Nutritionist, and Personal Chef