I find myself constantly arguing the case for real food.

Moving away from preparing our own nourishment hasn’t been good for us.

We’re a culture that pride ourselves on being hyper busy.

So why should you waste your time cooking your own food when there are so many convenient and tasty options?

Because food manufacturers don’t care about your health.

Read a label someday. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, there’s a good chance your body doesn’t know what to do with it either.

Processed foods are linked to several metabolic diseases as well as anxiety, depression and mood swings. They’re inflammatory, disrupt the gut bacteria and contribute to fatigue.

Yet they’re still staples in our pantries, on our breakfast tables, they’re in every vending machine, drive through and part of most celebrations.

Let’s be clear. I’m not expecting anyone to get rid of all convenience foods all the time. But recognize that when the ingredient list is as long as your arm and may just as well be a foreign language, it may not be a gift to your body.

The 80:20 rule is a good rule of thumb. Try to aim for 80% natural foods that don’t have labels or very short, simple ingredient lists, 20% is all the other stuff

Processed foods are engineered to override our homeostatic mechanisms that normally tell us when to stop. They cause cravings and bingeing which lead to shame, hateful self-talk and then the weight roller coaster.

Real food nourishes you and lifts you up. Engineered foods are designed to keep you coming back for more.

So how do you begin to shift and change those patterns?

They key is to tune in.

Simply noticing what’s going on in your mind and in your body when you crave and eat this kind of food will be your best way through it.

This isn’t just about willpower. These foods are powerful in a bad way. They’re engineered to mess with your hormones and your brain and they are addictive.

If any of this is resonating with you, here’s something you can play around with:

Allow yourself to have whatever it is you crave without labelling it as bad or naughty.

BUT, you must eat it in a fully present way, without distractions and you must continuously come back to your body.

That means; eat consciously, chew thoroughly… make a friggin’ meditation out of eating your favourite treat and get really curious about it.

What’s the texture, the temperature, the flavour? How many chews until it dissolves in your mouth? Are you still feeling hunger? How do you feel afterwards? How do you feel the next day…?

You can’t do this in front of the T.V., scrolling on your device or driving your car. And again, guilt can’t come in to the equation.

My weakness is wine and pasta. Not that these foods are overly processed but I NEVER want to have to give them up, so it’s especially important for me to bring in mindfulness around these foods.

What we resist persists. Ending an obsession with food or anything, is all about the ability to come back to your body and the present moment.

Life’s about choices and it’s all the small choices we make that add up to big change. You’re worth it.

Reach out if you’re ready to try something different 😉