Nutrition
Primary & Secondary Food Activity
At Integrative Nutrition, the school I went to for health coaching, we learned about primary and secondary food.
We believe that the foods and supplements we consume as our PRIMARY source of nutrition, (the ones we THINK are going to help us reach our body goals) are really just a SECONDARY source of nourishment.
The foods you eat are SECONDARY to all the other things that feed you in LIFE. For example, your relationships, career, spirituality, environment, and exercise routine. Those are the things we call primary foods.
Everything that we consider today as nutrition is really just a SECONDARY source of energy.
Think back to a time when you were passionately in love. Everything was exciting. Colors were vibrant. Intimacy was magical. Your lover’s touch and feelings of exhilaration sustained you. You were floating on air, gazing into each other’s eyes. You forgot about food and were high on life.
Remember when, as a child, you were playing outside, having fun? Suddenly, your mother announced dinner was ready, but you were not hungry at all. The passion of play took all of your attention.
Sometimes we are fed not by food but by the energy in our lives.
These moments and feelings demonstrate that everything is food. We take in many experiences in life that can fulfill us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
We hunger for play, touch, romance, intimacy, love, achievement, success, art, music, self-expression, leadership, excitement, adventure and spirituality.
All of these elements are essential forms of nourishment. The extent to which we are able to incorporate them determines how enjoyable and worthwhile our lives feel.
Remember, nutrition isn't just about being fed with food. But also by being fed emotionally and spiritually through your life experiences.
​
​
​
Activity:
​
Take a deeper look into your own journey with primary food:
Are there any toxic people or relationships in your life that you need to let go of?
Are you setting healthy boundaries with the people that you surround myself with?
Who do you surround yourself with the most? List your top 5. How do you feel after being with them? Energized or drained?
How do you feel about yourself when you are around these people?
How is your relationship with your family? (Think about all of your family members and the type of relationship that you have with them)
How is your home environment?
Do you feel safe at home?
How is your work/school environment?
Do you enjoy what you do for work?
​
Overall, how do you feel about your primary food nourishment?
Aligning with YOUR Nutritional Truth
How many times have you tried losing weight? And how many of those times have you felt that you were unsuccessful? What approach did you take when it came to losing weight? Who’s diet did you follow? Understand that your body is uniquely designed. What works for some people, won’t work for others. Why do you think that there are hundreds, if not thousands of diets out there? It’s because someone tried something, it worked for them and then they went off and made a book or a blog about it.
Each of our bodies needs its own special care. Do you realize how everyone thrives on different foods and styles of eating? For some, the best approach is low carb, for others it’s a vegan lifestyle, and others perhaps prefer keto. The possibilities are endless. I can almost assure you that I have tried every diet and eating style out there. I never understood why I was never successful with these diets. And if I was, it was only short term. I tried diet after diet. I lived this way until I found my own truth and what worked for me and my body.
Do I regret trying all those diets and eating styles? Nope. Because in the practice of them I found what didn’t work for me and what did. I learned what I liked and what I didn’t like. I learned what made my body feel amazing and what made my body feel... well not so great. Then I understood that me listening to my body was what was going to give me long lasting results. It was going to be me working with my body instead of against it. And this meant taking matters into my own hands.
At first it seemed like an overwhelming idea. In the past it had been so easy to just pick up a diet and follow it. Or to just listen to someone else. But truthfully, nobody knows your body like you. To have an outsider come in and assume they know what’s best for you is up for question. Unless it is a medical professional or someone with authority in this matter, then I understand. But even then I encourage you to participate in learning more about what you are being told and feel how that resonates with you. Otherwise you are going to keep handing over your voice and your empowerment over and over again.
It wasn’t until I did #90DaysToLivingInAConsciousBody that I came to a point where I was ready to put intention behind my actions. I was determined to find something that would make this process enjoyable (as it should be). If you are trying to lose weight, and you are hating the process, you’re doing it wrong. You’re going against your bodies natural desires.
This MUST be a fun learning experience. The reason you get frustrated is because you are not being patient with your process. You are also not being guided in the right direction. The goal of this guide is to steer you and empower you with the right tools. Be patient with yourself. Stop trying to put a deadline on your body and your healing.
The truth is, that there is no end goal. This is a lifestyle. Just like many things in life change, so does your body and its needs. View your journey as a puzzle and focus on understanding all the pieces without judgment. When you come into harmony with who you are, the weight-loss process will be much more enjoyable. I am also aware that many of you don’t know where to start when it comes to fitness and nutrition so I will share with you what has worked for me.
Aligning with YOUR Nutritional Truth
No meal plan will give you the happiness and sustainability that you will get from listening to your body and understanding what works for you. I know that many of us need a starting point and some guidance. Therefore, I will share with you what has worked for me and my body. This is not to say that this will or will not work for you. Following this will not give you the same results as me because this is my truth. It is customized for my body, my lifestyle and my personal preference as an individual. Some of you will need more food than others. And some of you may not even resonate with any of this at all. This is where you step in and start doing your homework.
Everyone's shopping list will
vary depending on their food preferences.
source: Kelly
Sample Meal Guides
