We are constantly bombarded with messages in our society like “eat this and you will lose ten pounds” or “too many carbs will make you gain weight.”
Society makes it about our weight.
But what really matters is how we feel.
So how do you really know what works for you?
How do you know what your body really needs?
Let’s talk about some ways to figure that out!
When I started my journey with plant-based eating, I had no idea what I was doing…
I felt like I was doing something wrong because I didn’t feel better…
I wanted more energy and to feel better in my body.
But all I felt was overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed with learning to cook a plant based diet. Overwhelmed with trying all these new things. And overwhelmed with doing what I thought I was “supposed to do.”
By the way, plant-based does not mean vegan. I eat fish and I know others who eat meat. It’s all about eating more plants to fuel your gut and make YOU feel good.
After a couple months of overwhelm, I decided I needed a change. I didn’t want to give up, but I also didn’t want to continue in overwhelm.
So I decided to start doing things my way instead of how everyone else said to eat.
That’s when I started LOVING the journey. And it all started with doing what was right for me, not someone else.
Start with Mindfulness.
You know you don’t feel good in your body, but you don’t know why. So the first step to learning what makes your body feel good is to be mindfully aware of what you are putting in your body and how you feel when you put that in your body.
Ask yourself questions like:
Do I like how this food tastes?
Does this food give my body energy or make me feel more tired?
Does this food upset my stomach?
Am I eating this because I need it or because I want it?
Am I eating this because someone else did or because I want it?
If you are eating broccoli because someone said it would increase your energy (this was me by the way) but you don’t feel energy after you eat broccoli, this does not mean something is wrong with you.
Everyone’s body is different and different foods help our body to function at it’s best.
Listen to the experts and other’s, but keep in mind that every body has different needs and what they say may not work for you.
Start by just trying different foods and being mindful of how they make your body feel.
Like I said, I had to start doing things my way to begin enjoying the journey and that meant eating foods that I truly enjoyed, not what someone else told me to eat.
Try new foods.
I did eat what I like, but along the journey I also tried a lot of new plant-based foods.
A lot of them I didn’t love.. but that’s okay because I was figuring out what foods I loved!
Sometimes we have to go through trial and error. Finding a couple foods you don’t like might lead you to some that you do like.
I learned that I don’t like spinach, kale, or beets.. but I do love spaghetti squash, zucchini, and beans.
Growing up, I thought I didn’t like vegetables. I grew up eating only green beans and corn (which is not a vegetable by the way!). Finding new vegetables that I like was a new adventure for me!
Try new things, but don’t just eat them because they are good for your body.
Simplicity is best.
When I started eating plant-based I was trying tons of new recipes that had tons of ingredients and took tons of time… it’s no wonder I was overwhelmed!
As I began to weed out the things I didn’t love and eat more of the things I do love, I learned that, for me, keeping my meals simple was best.
As you find the foods that are best for your body, don’t overcomplicate it. Finding foods that are best for your body can be as simple as trying one new food per week.
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it again. If you do like it, add it to your regular rotation.
Finding the foods that work best for your body is a process.
I thought that when I went plant-based that I could just jump right in.. but it didn’t work that way.
I thought the change would be easy, but it wasn’t.
I don’t regret it, though. Through the process I learned what made my body feel best and I now stick with those foods.
Once you find what makes your body feel good, eating for you becomes a lifestyle.
Eating for you is all about YOU, not someone else. Find what YOU enjoy and what makes YOUR body feel good.
Eating is not meant to be a chore and it isn’t meant to be something that you dread.
Eating is meant to give you energy and make your body feel good and strong.
I’ve included a link to some recipes that were (and still are) some of my favorites when I started the journey of learning what’s best for my body.
Of course, make it your own. Tofu can easily be swapped for chicken and the potatoes for rice. Take the recipes and put in ingredients that YOU love!
The goal should be to make your body feel good, and you do that by doing what’s best for YOUR body.
