What is food?

What is food? Psst- whatever you authentically desire to eat.

Food is nourishment. It is anything that our body can break down into its substituent parts, absorb, and utilize. 

We can utilize it for energy, vitamins, minerals, or as a bolster our body the way plant chemicals (called phytonutrients) protect our cells by acting as antioxidants.

The new USA Dietary Guidelines say we should eat “Real Food”. That is good advice, but it is also flawed advice. Here’s why…

What is food? Don't tell me I like...

I’ve spoken with thousands of people about food over the last 15 years. Everyone has a unique relationship with food, but also, each person is sorta similar to everyone else too. 

No one likes to be told what they can and cannot eat. We all like to figure this out on our own, because it’s human nature to rebel against what we can’t have (anyone ever like the bad boy/girl in class when they were young?). 

It is true that if we can stick with food closest to its natural source (think broccoli instead of fried processed broccoli nuggets) then we will have more of the food’s nutrients available to us. But our body can still utilize the energy from broccoli nuggets- it is still real food. 

Also, a steak is at the top of the pyramid. We as a culture have decided that cows are food. Hinduism would disagree. 

I personally don’t look at a cow and see food. Maybe you do. Who am I to tell you what is “real food”? You have to decide for yourself what you like to eat, what feels good in your body, and what your body is craving.

And fun foods also give us some nutrition, too. You have to determine how much of them you like and desire in alignment with your values and wants or needs. I personally listen to my body in the context of my health goals and values to determine this.

I'd love to help you with your food relationship and curiosity around what food you like and desire.

So, what is food for you could be from any category- fruits, veggies, animals, beans, all plants, any processed food that you desire and feels ok in your body, fats, carbs. 

My husband eats baby octopus. That doesn’t look like food to me- but it does to him. 

What do you like to eat?