I think I may start every blog with a caveat, but I also want to protect folks who may not be in the head space or position to keep reading. Please protect your peace and your boundaries and if discussing the way food makes you feel, think, or do certain things does not fill your cup then this blog is not for you.

Growing up I remember being so annoyed with my dad every time he would cross another food or beverage off his list and say something along the lines of “I used to be able to eat/drink anything before I turned 35, now I can’t.” And for good reason, his body started rejecting certain things.

His findings: Chocolate/cookies/sugar = heightened emotions centered around anger. Caffeine = feeling fuzzy and too jacked up to focus. Too many carbs = sleepiness. Overly processed foods = instant bloat/feeling sluggish. More than 2 beers = extreme bloat, and the list goes on.

Sounds silly but having shared DNA and similar metabolisms as my Dad I dread each year as I inch closer to 35 thinking, great what foods will I have to cross off my list next. However, what he was doing, whether it is conscious or not, with each new trial and error he went through, was connecting with his mind and body on a deeper level, he was letting his food talk to him and tell him what his body needed and didn’t need.

I hate to say that my list is quite substantial already and continues to grow and I am still 5 years from 35! How rude, but I will also say its pretty life changing when you do listen to your body and understand how food plays a MAJOR role in your everyday life.

For example, if I have one too many coffees one day, I’ve started to realize I sleep poorly because my mind can’t shut off at night. And while I’m laying in bed trying to fall asleep, I am playing out worst-case scenarios in my head, that typically increase my anxiety and thus make it even harder to fall asleep. See where I am going here… it’s all related and the cycle continues.

Another example, on days that I have what Dr. Julie Smith likes to call “low mood,” (an emotional state characterized by sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, tiredness, and frustration) I find it harder to make good decisions on what I put into my body because my motivation is low. And when your motivation is low it impacts your ability to make the decisions you know are better/healthier/more nourishing for your body. So sometimes it is all about creating an environment that’s conducive to the choices you want to make vs. having to use time and energy to make decisions during difficult days or times.

However, on the flip side when I am well hydrated, limit my caffeine and sugar intake and get my fair share of fruits, veggies and protien (think seasoned chicken, sweet potatoes and quinoa) my anxiety is low, I have more focus and clarity throughout the day, and I don’t feel as sluggish which typically leads to me feeling that I need more caffeine to keep going.

All of this may sound simple, but a lot of people do not realize the habitual decisions they make day after day that may be impacting their moods and their lives. Whether it be your environment, i.e. your spouse ALWAYS buys ice cream and then you feel tempted to have ice cream after every meal. Maybe you can ask your spouse not to buy ice cream for a week or two so the temptation isn’t there and see how it effects your days. Or maybe you have kids who only like Mac n Cheese and you find yourself eating out of the pan as you feed them, perhaps you can meal prep the night before or have a healthy snack ready prior to cooking for them so you don’t feel the aching pang of hunger which causes you to make decisions you may not want to be making.

Now I’d like to note I’m not saying ice cream or Mac n Cheese are bad, but those are two examples of foods that make me feel bloated and sluggish throughout the day. You know your body best, but only when you start listening to what it’s telling you. You don’t need me to tell you it’s all about balance, but by listening to your body, perhaps on a day you already feel tired and sluggish you opt for something that will nourish your body vs. contribute to even more feelings of exhaustion.

The ask here; let your food talk back to you. If it helps write down how certain foods/meals make you feel. Or take notes in your phone. Or tell a friend or partner so you can start putting it out into the universe and make small changes from there. The reverse of this is when you start to feel low mood, or sluggish or bloated or whatever the undesirable mood may be, think back to your day. What did you eat, drink, do? What didn’t you eat, drink do? Making a list based on your mood can also help you associate how certain foods/drinks impact you.

The goal is to start making small changes and iterate from there. We all know how hard change is, but with a little determination, creating an environment conducive to the choices you want to make, and constant trial and error I promise you will start to take more control of your life and your moods.