What is Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching?

Holistic Approach

My approach to health and wellness, is a holistic approach, which means that I take into consideration how all areas of your life are connected. For example, overeating could have a root cause of stress at your job, in your relationship or even an adverse event that took place in your childhood. Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising? As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.

I work with my clients to get in touch with their body’s needs because I understand that life happens and your needs will change. I want to equip you with the self-awareness to make the best decisions for yourself in any given circumstance. I believe each person is fully capable of making well-informed decisions as their own expert, not the latest magazine article or fad diet book.

Let’s define what you value most from your well-being. We’ll use these visions to motivate specific goals that bring you closer to where you want to be. As your coach, I will not dictate a diet for you, but together we will explore why some foods make you feel better than others and how to strategically use that feedback. Together we’ll co-create your health goals within reasonable time frames and actionable objectives so you know exactly what you’re working toward.

Bio-individuality

Bio-Individuality is the fundamental concept that recognizes that each of us has unique needs when it comes to food and lifestyle. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and a one size fits all approach does not work. We are all unique in terms of our biological makeup, nutritional requirements as well as our own personal needs when it comes to physical activity, relationships or what brings us joy- for example. Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I will support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and ancestral background., in order to achieve optimal health and well-being.

Crowding Out

Many nutrition experts give their clients a list of forbidden foods and those they are “allowed” to eat, which explains why so many people are turned off by nutrition, or give up, because they feel like they are failing early on. The approach I use is much different – by encouraging you to eat foods and drink beverages that are healthy for you, you will naturally have less room and desire for unhealthy foods and beverages. Simply put, you will crowd out the unhealthy food in your diet. This takes a little practice to make happen, but I will support you along the way.

Integrative Nutrition Plate

The Integrative Nutrition Plate emphasizes the importance of local and organic produce, whole grains, high-quality proteins, plant-based fats, and water. It shows you how a plate should appear at mealtime and emphasizes the importance of proportions and portion size. To complete the picture, the plate is surrounded with lifestyle factors that create optimal health: relationship, career, physical activity and spirituality. I’ll introduce you to some of the healthiest foods on the planet and teach you how to find what’s healthiest for your unique body!

Primary Food

Our health is so much more than the food on our plate. Many times when one thinks of health and how to achieve it, food is the first thing that comes to mind. It’s common to overlook the connection between health and the things in our lives that contribute to our sense of nourishment and contentment. That is not to say that nutrition or food does not play a role in our health at all, but in addition to the food that we eat, that impacts our health, we have many other factors present in our daily lives that play a vital role. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity, and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment. These are just a few lifestyle factors that we will refer to as “The Circle of Life” or Primary Food. When these primary foods are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary. I will support you in achieving all of your goals, from eating the right nourishing foods for your unique body, to living an inspired, fulfilling and balanced life.

Secondary Food

This is the food on our plate. While very important, the food we eat is secondary to the foundation of our life which is our primary food, also known as “the circle of life”. Things like a fulfilling career, an education we are satisfied with, a home-life we are at peace with or relationships and a social life that nourish our heart and soul, when balanced, will then make the food you eat “secondary food”. It is important of course to eat with the intention of eating to live and not living to eat, remembering that everything we put in our bodies has the potential to either cause disease or prevent it. Secondary does not mean to eat junk and dishonor your body. It just means that true and optimal health is achieved when our primary food is in balance.