Living in unconscious and unhealthy eating patterns for years increases the likelihood of experiencing anxiety, depression, and brain fog, while also increasing the overall risk of poor health. Whereas living consciously and eating well at least 80% of the time, can create optimal health and wellbeing.
If your curiosity is sparked by this topic, you will probably have noticed that what goes into your mouth affects the way you feel. Industry knows this all too well, and so creates a world of options primarily geared toward us feeling good in the moment. Culinary delights intoxicate the senses with little regard to optimal health. Makes sense, we like to feel good. However, if we opt for the short-sighted quick-fix, we may find ourselves in a perpetual oscillation between fleeting highs and extended lows.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" – Hippocrates
The intersection of wellbeing practices with the nourishment of the body comes down to a daily intention to truly serve tomorrow's self. The next thing you put in your mouth is the take-off point of the practice. Will your choice enliven you, or weigh you down? The fundamental aspect of this is to begin to tune in and notice your own patterns.
Benefits of Eating Whole Foods
When it comes to making good food choices, the natural world can be our medicine cabinet; full of plants, herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables which contain powerful nutrients and healthy bacteria to perfectly nourish our complex bodily systems
The benefits of eating wholefood is bountiful. It is a method of regaining control over the food that we consume through realigning our eating with the seasons. When growing and harvesting with natural rhythms instead of commercial ones, food becomes a tool of empowerment.
Here at Aro Ha our food philosophy is to be plant-focused with an emphasis on garden-to-table living. This way of eating means we have:
- An Abundance of Nutrients
Seasonal produce is most potent with nutrients and ripe with benefits. - Low Toxicity
Growing and eating our own organic spray free food is a much healthier option all round. Sprays become toxic not only to the plant, but also for human health. - Preserving & Pickling
We often preserve our garden produce by fermenting, pickling, or processing and then freezing to be able to improve access throughout the year.
We know not everyone has access to a garden, so what are the best ways to get more wholefood on the menu?
- Support your local farmer’s market.
- Eat with the seasons – Often what is in season is cheapest at the supermarket.
- Buy spray free where you can.
- Grow your own herbs – Herbs are a great way to add nutrients to any dish, fairly low-maintenance and suitable for almost any living situation.
- Shop using Aro Ha’s Wholefood Essentials List below.
Aro Ha’s Wholefood Essentials List:
If the supermarket is your only option then this list of essentials will support you in getting the nourishment you need. Remember to buy organic where you can.
Teas: Ginger (fresh/ground), turmeric (fresh/ground), fennel seeds, basil (dried), cinnamon quills, cardamom pods.
Fruit: Frozen berries, lemons, Medjool dates
Vegetables: Root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, pumpkins, beets–long shelf life), onions and garlic
Grains/Pseudo-grains: Quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, brown rice, black rice, red rice, quinoa flakes, lentils, legumes (canned/dried)
Condiments: Mustard, honey, rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, miso
Spices: Salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, curry spice, freeze dried lemongrass and kaffir lime
Nuts/seeds
Flavour boosters: capers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, marinade artichoke hearts
Nutritional: dairy-free probiotic capsules, seaweed (kombu, wakame), cacao powder, chia seeds, flax seeds
Oils: coconut oil, macadamia oil, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil
Flours: almond meal, coconut flour, chickpea flour
Ways To Create Wholefood Eating Habits:
We know making changes can be challenging, so we have compiled a list of tricks to form new wholefood habits:
- Start your day with water
Fill glass of water and place it on your nightstand, for easy access first thing in the morning. - Pick one meal to make healthier
Pick a meal-time that is easiest to focus on making healthier. We would recommend breakfast so that it has the first impact on the remaining day:- Add spinach, frozen courgette, or frozen (cooked) cauliflower to smoothies
- Try savoury breakfasts to encourage more vegetables first thing
- Design a healthier lifestyle
- Place healthy snacks in the forefront of your pantry at eye level
- Keep a fruit bowl in easy reach
- Put your supplements next to your tooth brush to make taking them as habitual as brushing your teeth.
- Habit Tracker/ Food Checklist
- Water consumption
- Servings of vegetables
- 3 servings of green leafy vegetables
- 1 serving of brassica family (kale, cabbage, brussel sprout, cauliflower)
- 1 serving of legume
- 1-2 servings of fruit ( ½ serving berries)
- 30g fibre daily
- Try Fasting
Another way to gain insight into your eating habits is to withdraw from them with a cleanse. An easy option is to join us for a 5-day Seasonal Renew, where you can gain clarity and insight into your own habits, and nurture the courage to make change.
What About Eating Out?
Many of us lead busy lives and we may eat out more than once a day. Here are the tips for staying healthy when you are not the head chef.
- Order Of The Appetizer Menu
The starter menu often has healthier options. Look for dishes that feature fresh vegetables, salads, raw ingredients, and lighter preparations. Opt for vinegar vs cream. - Checkout The Sides
The sides are often delicious and healthy. Look to add more delicious vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds to your meal. - Zero Waste
The less packaged and processed foods we consume, the less waste we make for the planet and ourselves. Try and Aro Ha Zero Waste Pack for your takeaway needs.
If you can make good decisions during the short moments of ordering, you will reap the rewards of improved energy for the rest of your day. It’s not “how much” you eat, it is “what you eat” that determines most of your experience.
A Practice To Start With
One of the greatest gifts of Aro Ha is the direct experience of the glow that comes from exceptional wellbeing practice. It is beyond words how good we can feel.
I believe we are logical creatures, but most of us have an intuition that guides our eating. We know what creates a hangover. However, we aren’t usually super clear on what is at stake. When we truly know the outcome of our decisions before we make them, we make better decisions.
So let’s get clear. Observe two distinctly different days of nourishment. Consciously enjoy your best and your worst eating habits. Start by having an indulgent day; have too many coffees, eat the naughty things, have one too many of as many things as your heart desires. Journal on what you notice. Then consciously choose the opposite; try green tea instead, eat wholefood – mostly veggies and fruit, nuts and seeds, until your heart is content. Resist the urge for instant gratification. Journal what you notice.
We would love to know what you discover!
Sending hugs,
