My food "LOVE GURU" Gillian

Falling in love with Food

When Andrea asked me to write about nutrition for her blog, I was super excited because talking about food and family, and the marriage of the two, is a special subject for me. As a holistic nutritionist and personal trainer, I meet with clients all the time but I'm also a social worker who has intimately worked with children and parents for almost ten years. During that time, I've had the unique experience of getting to know different families -- what they do well and what their challenges are, especially when it comes to meal time. In so many instances I see food become a source of stress because of a lack of time to shop and prepare, moms struggling with weight issues, and kids with discriminate tastebuds. This saddens me because deep down everyone loves food. It gives us energy, we center our social activities around it, and it tastes damn good! So my purpose – both today and in life -- is to get people excited about food again. To renew an old partnership or start the healthiest relationship you've ever had. Literally.

So what are some things I can tell you about food to make you love it the way I do? Here's a start:

• Healthy food tastes SO GOOD! (once your tastebuds adjust to the lack of salt – which I promise you they will)
• When you eat healthy foods everything is better. Energy, sleep, skin, hair, nails, mood, sex....
• Eating well helps us lose and maintain a healthy weight
• Healthy food can be fast and easy
• What you can do with food and how you prepare it is endless
• Good food is not expensive (despite what people say to the contrary)
• Food nurtures your children and helps them grow. Food nurtures the soul of the person preparing it for their loved ones
• The love found in real, healthy food prepared at home gets transferred to everyone who eats it
• Because food makes us what we are -- physically, mentally and emotionally -- food really is life

The idea that one simple thing can reach from the smallest cellular unit of the body to the limitless area of the heart and mind is more poetic than anything else that I can think of. When we put it that way, how can we not want to explore and experience food the way it was meant to be? Now that I've hopefully wet your appetite and peaked a healthy curiosity, I will tell you that there are solutions to all of your questions about making food practical for your household. In upcoming Fitmom blogs, we will ponder, discuss and marvel (well I will anyway) at all the things that can be done with food that will make you fall in love with it all over again. 

 Yours in health,

Gillian Reid, B.S.W., R.H.N.
VIVE Nutrition For Life & Nectar
Registered Social Worker
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Certified CrossFit Trainer
gillian@vivenutritionforlife.com
www.vivenutritionforlife.com

Damn Food

Dear food,

Oh why do I love you so?  You fulfill me in every way.  When I am up late at night with kids, your there for me.  When I feel sad I know I can count on you.  When I celebrate with friends your the life of the party.  I really can't think of anytime you don't have my back.....and my backside!  This  is why I need coaches to support me around our relationship.  For all I know about you I think we need some friends to step in and make sure we grow old together!


Stay tuned for some tips from food experts , recipes and other tidbits I come up with along the way.

Andrea FITMOM Page