How to Get Started on Your Journey… and on this Website!

The reason I created this website was to help more people gain access to quality nutritional information that can put them on the path to a happier, healthier life. 

We live in a world where information is flying at us non-stop – through online news outlets, through the TV, through our phones, and through social media. That information overload – combined with an overload of unhealthy food options in the modern world – are big reasons why there is so much confusion about the fundamentals of a healthy diet. 

With so many channels and sources and food options to consider, it’s easy to run into contradicting advice, fad diets that do more harm than good, and foods such as chocolate and wine that are touted as “good for you” one day and “bad for you” the next.

My mission is to bring clarity to nutritional education and to empower you put that information to good use. I do this by providing evidence-based, scientific dietary advice that has stood the test of time – not flash-in-the-pan fads or trendy diets. And the truth is that the world of nutrition is very complex. There isn’t one magical food that will provide your body with all the nutrients it needs, and there are a lot of things to consider when you are putting together your perfect plate.

Because of that complexity, you may feel overwhelmed when you first visit this site! There’s a lot of important information to grasp, and you may even need to do some math in order to decipher food labels. The last thing I want is for you to feel bombarded by information, get exasperated, and maybe even give up before you begin your journey.

So with that in mind, here’s a clear, focused and organized plan of attack for the information you’ll find on this website. I aim to inspire, educate and support every person that visits this website, and I’ve put together this list of resources to reflect those goals.

Step 1: Inspiration

Are You Eating to Live? Learn what it truly means to “eat to live” – and why your perception of malnutrition may not be fully accurate.

Why the Standard American Diet (SAD) Is So Dangerous: In the modern world, the standard American diet is seemingly designed for disease. It’s time to change the fundamentals of eating in America, and the power to do so is in our hands. 

Food is Medicine: Fighting Disease and Obesity with a Healthy Diet: When you don’t treat food as medicine, you may need to use prescription drugs as a consequence. Due to the devastating increases in healthcare costs and prescription drug costs, diet-related diseases are making a huge impact on peoples’ life savings, financial well-being and quality of life.

How to Make a Healthy Eating Plan That Sticks: Cravings, self-doubt and excuses have a way of sabotaging our best-laid plans. Here are some simple ways to make sure your journey to a healthier lifestyle stay right on track. 

Step 2: Education

The Mantra of Healthy Eating: By taking the simple “Whole foods, plant-based” mantra to heart, you’ll have a touchstone that will never let you down. Here’s why.

How to Decode Food Labels: Here are clear and comprehensive guidelines for making sense of food labels, understanding exactly what you’re putting in your body, and making smart dietary decisions.

The Rainbow Explained: I talk a lot about how “eating the rainbow” of colorful fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes can fortify your body with healthy nutrients. Here’s what each color of the rainbow means in terms of natural healthy ingredients.

Toxic Ingredients to Avoid: Eating nutritious food is just half the battle. Here are the harmful ingredients that should make you put that package back on the shelf and slowly back away.

Step 3: Support

Sign up for a 28-day Challenge: Join other members of the Let’s Talk Food community in tackling my 28-day healthy eating challenge! You’ll receive daily emails that provide delicious recipes to try out, encourage you to stay on a healthy path, and offer a fun surprise or two.  

How to Combat Unhealthy Food Cravings: If you find yourself craving sugary, salty or fatty foods, that doesn’t make you a bad person. In fact, there’s a biological reason for those cravings. Understanding why they exist is the first step in overcoming them — and here’s some great advice on how to do so.

Start with Breakfast: The first meal of the day is also the most important meal of the day – which makes it the perfect place to start making healthy changes. Here are a few great ideas on how to reinvent your approach to breakfast.

Snack Smarter! Eating healthy doesn’t mean eliminating snacks. Here are some nutritious options to turn to when you need a quick pick-me-up between meals.

How to Avoid Emotional Eating: Even if you don’t consider yourself an emotional eater, your feelings may be dictating your dietary decisions more than you think. Here’s how to determine whether your emotions are influencing your food choices — and some simple ways to keep that from happening.

Now that you know about the best places to start, it’s time to begin your journey! As this website continues to grow and evolve, I’ll be updating this page with my recommended links for valuable inspiration, information and support. Be sure to bookmark this page – or check back regularly – to get an updated list of links that will help you on your own amazing journey.