Eating Well Without Obsessing

I often think to myself that we’ve made healthy eating far more complicated than it needs to be. With the growth of the wellness industry and health influencers, healthy lifestyles have become a commodity to be bought and sold. There’s a lot of money is selling hope and an easier way…and supplements! And where there’s money to be made, there are creative forces who want to separate you from your wallet. (Too cynical?)

The reality is that health eating is pretty simple and the evidence is overwhelming for what I’m about to tell you. Focus on a plant-based diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. If you eat meat, choose lean options (including fish twice a week) and mostly low-fat dairy. Eat good fats from extra virgin olive oil, avocado, nuts, and fatty fish. Make variety a goal. Manage your portions and food quality.

Eating this way ensures that you get plenty of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a balance of macronutrients. Yes, personalization matters. At different phases of life, nutrition needs change. When disease or injury happens, nutrition recommendations benefit from more precision. Some foods should be eaten more often or less based on individual characteristics, tolerance and health status. Meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist can help sort this out. Even so, the foundational diet is the same.

The question I ask my patients regularly is this: How can you add a vegetable to that meal?

Focus less on what to take away and more on adding the foods I mentioned above and you’ll be taking steps in the right direction.

Got feedback? Drop me a note.

School starts around here in the first two weeks of August. When life gets busy, many women (and men) assume they need more willpower - to white-knuckle through life. Alternatively, we might self-abandon and put our own needs on the back-burner while we care for everyone else.

I’ve been there.

In reality, we often need more support. This can feel overwhelming too. One more appointment? When am I going to find time for that?

What I’ve learned is that if we set aside time for learning, planning, and strategizing, we have MORE time, not less. Healthy eating isn’t just about knowing what to eat. It’s connected to your schedule, stress, sleep, relationships, and the systems you’ve built around you. I help my patients use the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and a focus on overall wellbeing to sort through what will make the biggest difference the most quickly.

This approach is why I’ve had patients tell me that I’m the “best doctor” they’ve ever seen. Or who’ve had their partner say I’m the “best therapist” they’ve ever gone to. While I assure them that I’m neither, I am a healthcare provider who takes the time to listen and see the whole person. I know that nutrition is one component of a healthy life. I help my patients prioritize, provide appropriate referrals, and recommend resources to help them make real, practical improvements.

Instead of chasing perfection, ask yourself:

“What’s one thing I can do this week that makes nourishing myself just a little easier?”

Small, consistent choices almost always beat dramatic overhauls.

Choose one meal this week to make at home using fresh, seasonal ingredients. If you want some inspo, follow me on Instagram where I regularly share what I’m cooking in my feed and stories. You an also check out the recipes in the Meet Me at the Market section of my website at dietitiansherry.com.

Then simply notice:

How do you feel?

If you’re looking for support creating realistic nutrition habits that fit your life, I’d love to walk alongside you through Medical Nutrition Therapy or Culinary Nutrition Coaching. One of my patients sent me a message last week and this is what he said, “I’m very thankful for you and everything you’ve helped me with. You have changed my outlook on food and how it interacts with my life. I’m eternally grateful.” Schedule a free discovery call here.

Grace and peace,

Sherry