Are You Ready To Change How And What You Eat, Improve Your Health And Experience Whole-Body Healing?
Have you, your teen or another loved one been diagnosed with a health problem that has a nutrition-related component, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, heart disease or hypertension? Do you suffer from food intolerances, acid reflux or digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or GERD? Perhaps you’re adopting a specific diet, such as gluten-free or plant-based, and you’re looking for whole, nutritious and satisfying foods. Or maybe you’re pregnant, menopausal, recovering from an illness, an athlete or simply aware that you’re aging and want to consume foods that promote optimal health. It might be that you’re trying to manage depression, anxiety, lethargy and/or sleep problems and wonder if making dietary changes could lead to improved mood, lifestyle and overall health. Confused by conflicting information about proper nutrition and/or after making unsuccessful attempts to change what and how you eat, are you looking for guidance and support? Do you want to improve your relationship with food, promote good health and longevity and feel better in your body?
Bridging The Gap Between Food And Health
Making healthy choices about food and nutrition can be confusing, especially, in part, because the food and diet industries constantly offer conflicting information about proper nutrition and strategically manipulate messages to support trends about what and how to eat. One day, it’s focus on foods that are low-carb and high protein; the next day, it’s high-carb and low-fat. Elimination, restrictive, yo-yo and trending diets are often not based in science and almost never lead to sustainable results or optimal health. Rather, they leave people feeling hungry, fatigued, frustrated and in even poorer health.
Furthermore, diet businesses touting their slim down drinks and diet pills bump up against big food businesses, which design foods that promote hyper-eating and asks consumers to super-size meals and consume nutritionally bankrupt foods. As a result, an increasing number of people are now suffering from obesity, vitamin deficiencies and a long-list of chronic health conditions.
The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to eating optimally. We’re all different and have varying dietary needs; however, there are some universal truths concerning mindful eating and proper nutrition. As a clinically trained dietitian, certified nutritionist and skilled psychotherapist with decades of experience helping people regulate food and mood and improve overall health, I know that a holistic, whole-foods approach to nutrition is what leads to sustainable results and long-term health and happiness. By shifting the relationship you have with food, while still enjoying foods that you really like to eat, you can elevate the role of eating in your life, infusing it with values and intent and making mindful choices that support whole-body health and healing.
Nutrition Consultations Help Foster Health And Harmony
In initial nutrition consultation sessions, I’ll take a comprehensive health and nutrition assessment, which includes information such as food preferences, intolerances and allergies; daily food intake; personal diet history; personal and family health conditions; food lifestyle; relationship with food; and food cravings, as well as review any lab work and/or notes from your physician. Based on the assessment, we’ll work together to evaluate the role that food plays in your life and I’ll design a nutrition plan that supports your needs and goals, including stabilizing your weight and achieving improved and/or optimal health.
My mindful nutrition consultations and counseling not only give you a comprehensive diet and food plan that is tailored specifically to your needs, lifestyle and health goals, but I also help you shift your relationship with food and become more mindful and skillful about what and how you eat. You can learn how to eat well without having to cook every night and get tips on what to order when dining out and/or eating on the go. You can also learn to identify sensations of hunger and fullness and recognize food as a source of energy that essentially comes from the sun. Understanding where food really comes from helps you make more mindful choices and can encourage food choices that put the best fuel possible in your body. If you’re interested, I can also offer you insight and education on different types of and approaches to eating, such as Ayurvedic medicine, seasonal eating and the benefits of a plant-based diet, all of which can heighten your connection to your health, body and food sources.
As a holistic nutritionist and dietician as well as a skilled psychotherapist, I believe that everything—mind-body-spirit—is interconnected and know how powerful the mind can be in helping or hindering our attempts at getting healthy. A plan on its own isn’t going to get you to your goals. In order to achieve long-term and lasting results, it’s important that we access your readiness to create behavioral changes around food and work through any existing or potential feelings of ambivalence, resistance and other obstacles that could get in the way of your nutrition goals. Defining and returning to your “why” when obstacles arise also helps a lot. Why is it important for you to change how and what you eat? Why do you want to improve your health? Making it personal—I want to watch my grandkids grow up; I want to feel better in my body; I want to be able to move without pain—can help you stay motivated and connected to your goals when life’s inevitable challenges and old patterns come up.
It’s normal for humans to resist change, experience heightened stress and fall back on comfortable, yet ineffective and damaging patterns of behavior, which is why I offer ongoing compassionate support, practical guidance and mindfulness and stress management techniques. Together, we’ll identify ways that you can feel more calm and settle your nervous system, such as yoga, exercise, meditation, mindfulness techniques, etc. Chronic stress dysregulates the nervous system, and your nervous system affects everything—including how you metabolize nutrients and digest food. Calming the mind and body helps to regulate the nervous system and improve overall mood. A regulated nervous system also allows for improved biological functioning, as well as the increased focus and resilience needed to feel good and make long-term, positive changes in your diet and in your life.
I know both personally and professionally that a mindful and whole-foods approach to nutrition is what yields sustainable results, promotes longevity and fosters optimal health. Everything I do is holistic, practical, based in proven science and customized to meet your health needs and goals. Not matter what your current health condition and/or nutrition requirements are now, it is possible to bridge the gap between food and health and learn how and what to eat in ways that support your health and wellbeing. With a food plan that is simple and straightforward, ongoing guidance and support and the willingness to affect change in your life, anything becomes possible. You can replace poor eating patterns with supportive habits, develop a healthy relationship with food, stabilize weight, improve mental, emotional and physical health and feel healthy and whole in your body.
You still might wonder if working with a holistic nutrition specialist is right for you and your family…
What’s the difference between working with you and getting a membership at a company like Jenny Craig or Red Mountain Weight Loss?
Most of these types of companies are part of the Big Diet business and don’t teach people about sustainable eating and proper nutrition. Rather, they sell diets and trademarked products and employ strategic tactics to get people to keep coming back when their diets inevitably fail. Alternatively, my approach is based on whole-foods eating and focuses on helping you to tap into your own innate ability to normalize your weight and develop eating habits that are supportive of your lifestyle, realistic and lead to sustainable results. I do not sell or promote packaged foods, pills or shots. They are expensive, unnecessary and can lead to further health issues. Rather, I believe in the healing power of whole foods, the integration of mind and body, engaging in a supportive relationship and customizing a realistic, effective nutrition plan that is designed specifically for your needs, goals, lifestyle and history with food.
One of our family members needs to make dietary changes due to health concerns. How can I get the whole family involved?
Regardless of who needs to make dietary changes or why, helping your family develop healthy eating habits and a healthy relationship with food is one of the best gifts you can give everyone. Teaching kids and young adults (and you older adults, too!) the value of whole-foods nutrition helps them create effective habits early in life, which they’ll pass down to their children. An understanding of and appreciation for whole-body health is such a positive thing to bring into your home. I can create a nutrition plan and provide you with simple, nutritious and satisfying recipes and tips that can be easily integrated and are accessible in even the biggest and busiest home.
My doctor is requiring that I make some pretty drastic dietary changes. I’m not sure I can do this.
Being asked to make big changes can feel overwhelming, especially since humans are naturally resistant to change. The good news is that you don’t have to make massive changes all at once and you don’t have to figure it out alone. It’s one thing to have to change, and it’s a whole other experience having support and guidance along the way. Change doesn’t have to happen overnight, and together we’ll develop a nutrition plan that supports your health needs and create a realistic strategy for you to gradually introduce dietary changes. In steps, we’ll work on interrupting and reframing lifelong habit patterns in ways that support your long-term goals. Everything is also based on your food preferences, which can go a long way in moving past resistances and help in adopting new habits. Physicians love what I do because it works and, with your permission, I can also work with your doctor to ensure that we’re all on the same page and that you’re receiving the most comprehensive care and support possible as you embark on a healing path.
Improve Your Health And Revitalize Your Relationship With Food
If you’re in Scottsdale, AZ, the surrounding area or interested in nutrition consultations and counseling, I can help. I invite you to contact me through the website or at 480-675-4568 to schedule a no-obligation call or meeting to discuss your needs and goals and determine if we’re a good fit. Due to the mind-heart-body-spirit centered quality of this work, I’m not the right fit for everyone; however, I truly love working with clients who seek whole-body healing and are ready to make the changes—even if they are initially small changes—needed to foster sustainable results and improved health.