🌿 A Tug-of-War: Choosing Foods That Support Your Journey

Our health feels like a tug-of-war every day. When you choose something nourishing, it’s as if you’ve pulled the rope in the right direction. When you reach for junk food, you may feel yourself lose a little ground. But the rope is always in your hands, and every choice is another chance to pull with intention.

You can fill your stomach without truly feeding your body. When meals are mostly low‑nutrient foods, it’s easy to see that you could become under‑nourished even when you’re eating enough. That’s why choosing foods that genuinely support you matters.

And if you have a day where your choices aren’t what you hoped—don’t be discouraged. The more often you choose foods that make you feel good, the more naturally those choices become your new normal. It’s a journey. Just keep walking.

🌱 The 80/20 Rhythm

I love the 80/20 idea: eat well most of the time, and leave space for life’s unexpected moments and occasional treats. It’s a balanced, grace-filled way to approach food.

🌾 Eat Real Food

If it grew from the ground, flew through the air, swam in the water, or fell from a tree, it’s real food. Whole, simple foods tend to support the body better than heavily altered ones.

You can eat and eat until your belly is full, but if your food is void of nutrients, you may still be malnourished.

🌿 Organic & Non-GMO

I personally choose organic when I can because I appreciate the farming practices and the emphasis on soil stewardship. Organic farming may still use natural pesticides, but they differ from many conventional methods.

I also prefer non‑GMO foods. While many experts say GMO foods are digested like any other food, my own experience has been different—I’ve noticed digestive discomfort when I eat foods containing bioengineered ingredients. That’s why I choose to avoid them.

🚫 Ultra‑Processed Foods

Highly refined and ultra‑processed foods often contain additives, dyes, and preservatives that don’t align with a whole‑food lifestyle. A simple acronym I like is:

• Carbonated drinks / Caffeine

• Refined sugar

• Artificial sweeteners / colors / alcohol

• Processed foods

  
  

These are things I personally limit because they don’t make me feel my best.

🍎 My Evolving View on Fruits & Vegetables

After spending several months on the carnivore diet and now eating an animal‑based diet, I’ve learned that some vegetables are not as beneficial as I originally thought. I now lean toward fruits and botanically‑classified fruits (like squash, cucumbers, and peppers) when I want plant foods.

🥩 Protein Throughout the Day

I’ve found that eating protein throughout the day helps me feel steady and satisfied. I enjoy grass‑fed meat, free‑range poultry, and wild‑caught fish. When I cook, I reach for traditional fats like butter, tallow, or avocado oil.

Eating at least 25 grams of protein (3oz of chicken breast, 4 eggs, or 1 cup of cottage cheese are some examples) each meal has been shown to help stabilize blood sugar and avoid blood sugar spikes from the carbohydrates in that meal.

🥑 Healthy Fats

Cold‑water fish, nuts, avocados, coconut, olives, and their oils contain fats that support overall wellness. Fat plays a role in many bodily processes, and fat‑soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) rely on dietary fat to be absorbed. Including healthy fats has made a noticeable difference in how I feel.

🍳 Meal Rhythm

I personally feel best when I eat a big breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a small dinner. Eating more earlier in the day gives me the energy I need throughout the day.

🌟 Eat Well—Your Body Will Notice

Every nourishing choice is a tug in the right direction. Keep choosing foods that help you feel strong, steady, and well.