Welcome to the first episode and introduction of Real Food Stories! I am your host, storyteller, chef, and nutritionist Heather Carey. In this debut episode you will:
Stay in the loop! Go to www.heathercarey.com to stay on the list and grab the Real Antiinflammatory Food Guide today.
Let's Be Friends
Hang out with Heather on IG @greenpalettekitchen or on FB HERE.
Let's Talk!
Whether you are looking for 1-1 nutrition coaching or kitchen coaching let's have a chat. Click HERE to reach out to Heather.
Did You Love This Episode?
"I love Heather and the Real Food Stories Podcast!" If this is you, please do not hesitate to leave a five-star review on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Welcome to the first episode and introduction of Real Food Stories! I am your host, storyteller, chef, and nutritionist Heather Carey. In this debut episode you will:
Stay in the loop! Go to www.heathercarey.com to stay on the list and grab the Real Antiinflammatory Food Guide today.
Let's Be Friends
Hang out with Heather on IG @greenpalettekitchen or on FB HERE.
Let's Talk!
Whether you are looking for 1-1 nutrition coaching or kitchen coaching let's have a chat. Click HERE to reach out to Heather.
Did You Love This Episode?
"I love Heather and the Real Food Stories Podcast!" If this is you, please do not hesitate to leave a five-star review on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.
HI EVERYBODY, I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY, CHOOSING TO TUNE IN AND TAKE SOME OF YOUR VERY PRECIOUS TIME TO LISTEN WHILE YOU ARE TAKING A WALK OR DRIVING IN THE CAR, OR MAKING DINNER AS I OFTEN DO, WHEN LISTENING TO A PODCAST. JUST SO SO THANKFUL.
THIS IS THE VERY FIRST EPISODE OF REAL FOOD STORIES AND I AM YOUR HOST AND STORYTELLER, HEATHER CAREY. RIGHT NOW, I AM SITTING IN MY TEACHING KITCHEN IN SOUTHPORT, CT WHICH DOUBLES AS A PODCAST STUDIO AND OFFICE, A WARM CUP OF CHAI TEA IN MY HANDS, AND A SPRING GREEN PEA AND LEEK SOUP SIMMERING ON THE STOVE TO HAVE FOR LUNCH. THE KITCHEN, MY KITCHEN, PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN MY FOOD STORY. MY KITCHEN HAS FOLLOWED ME FOR DECADES, STARTING WHEN I WATCHED MY GRANDMOTHER MAKING A WARM BROTHY MATZOH BALL SOUP TO TEACHING MY OWN CHILDREN HOW TO GET CREATIVE WITH FOOD OR LEARN TO BE OKAY WITH MISTAKES AND BECOME FEARLESS WITH THEIR COOKING. I’VE CRIED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN MY KITCHEN, LEARNED THE ART OF MINDFUL AND INTUITIVE EATING, REALLY LEARNED TO COOK IN MY OWN KITCHEN, AND LOVINGLY CREATED FOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE SICK OR GOING THROUGH TRAUMA. I’VE DEEPLY LISTENED TO CLIENTS TALK ABOUT FEARS AROUND FOOD AND HOW TO MAKE PEACE WITH THEIR BODIES. I’M WONDERING IF YOU CAN RELATE, AND MY GUESS IS THAT YOU CAN. NO MATTER HOW YOU WERE RAISED OR THE CULTURES YOU WERE BROUGHT UP IN, FOOD PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN WHO WE ARE AS WOMEN, AS MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, FRIENDS, AND WHO WE ARE TO OURSELVES. I CAN’T WAIT TO TALK ALL ABOUT IT THROUGH THIS PODCAST.
I NAMED THIS PODCAST REAL FOOD STORIES BECAUSE AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS OF SOUL SEARCHING FOR THE BEST TITLE AND WANTING IT TO REFLECT EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, AS I OFTEN HAVE THE TENDENCY TO DO, I HAD ONE OF THOSE LIGHT BULB MOMENTS THAT I SOMETIMES HAVE. I NOT ONLY USE THE TERM REAL FOOD OFTEN WHEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN AFTER THEY ASK ME “WHAT SHOULD I EVEN BE EATING ANYMORE”, I ALSO HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE POWER OF STORY. I DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT OUR STORIES AND OUR PASTS TELL US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW WE SEE OURSELVES NOW. STORIES MEAN EVERYTHING. MY PLAN FOR THIS PODCAST IS TO DIVE INTO OUR MISUNDERSTANDINGS AROUND FOOD, AND GET CLEAR ON WHAT HEALTHY EATING, REAL HEALTHY EATING, EVEN IS, THAT “WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO EVEN EAT ANYMORE? QUESTION, WHAT AND WHO HAS INFLUENCED OUR FEELINGS AND PERCEPTIONS OF FOOD AND ALSO SHAPED OUR BELIEFS AROUND BODY IMAGE. I AM LOOKING TO CONTINUE A DIALOGUE AROUND FOOD AND STORY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. IT MIGHT BE A TALL ORDER, BUT I AM ON A MISSION TO HELP WOMEN FINALLY MAKE SOME PEACE WITH FOOD.
SO I THOUGHT I WOULD START BY LETTING YOU IN ON WHO I AM, WHY ME AND HOW I AM QUALIFIED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT FOOD, HEALTH, AND EATING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
MY PERSONAL STORY CAN BE SUMMED UP IN A FEW SENTENCES: I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A MOM OF THREE KIDS, WHO I CAN’T REALLY CALL KIDS ANYMORE, MORE LIKE YOUNG ADULTS FORGING THEIR OWN LIFE JOURNEYS. I AM A WIFE, I AM A DOG AND CAT MOM, A CHICKEN AND BEEKEEPER, AND SOME MAY EVEN CALL ME AN OBSESSIVE ORGANIC GARDNER. MY GARDEN IS VISIBLE TO THE ROAD SO PEOPLE STOP BY A LOT TO GET TOURS OF WHAT I AM GROWING OR GRAB SOME VEGGIES AND HONEY. WHILE MANY WOMEN MY AGE ARE THINKING OF DOWNSIZING, I AM DREAMING OF MORE LAND, IDEALLY IN A TEMPERATE CLIMATE WHERE I CAN GROW THINGS ALL YEAR LONG. GARDENING AND COOKING ARE ACTUALLY MEDITATIVE FOR ME, AND I FIND THAT HARVESTING WHAT I AM COOKING IS ONE OF MY TRUE JOYS IN LIFE. I KNOW, WEIRD FOR SOME, BUT FOR ME, IT IS MY HAPPY SPOT. THIS TIME OF YEAR THEN IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY BUSY BUT SO SATISFYING.
I HAVE HUNDREDS OF PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT DIETS, BODY IMAGE, AND FOOD, THAT HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH DEEPLY INGRAINED FAMILY INFLUENCES AND MY OWN SOUL SEARCHING. THOSE STORIES I WILL WEAVE INTO EVERYTHING I TALK ABOUT ON THIS PODCAST.
ON THE PROFESSIONAL FRONT, I AM A CLINICAL NUTRITIONIST AS WELL AS A HEALTH-SUPPORTIVE CHEF, AND AS YOU MIGHT BE GUESSING BY NOW, I’VE BEEN IN THE WORLD OF FOOD, PROFESSIONALLY, FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE I HAD A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, WHICH WASN’T EVEN CLOSE TO THE CAREER I AM IN NOW. I REALIZED PRETTY SOON AFTER, THAT WHILE I LOVE HISTORY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, COOKING, FOOD AND HEALING FROM MEDIAL CONDITIONS THROUGH WHAT WE EAT, WAS REALLY MY STRONG INTEREST. I HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN FOOD FROM A REALLY YOUNG AGE. I WAS DARING IN THE KITCHEN, I ASKED FOR MY VERY OWN COOKBOOKS AS A YOUNG GIRL.
I GOT TOTALLY INSPIRED BY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD AND HEALTH WHEN MY VERY PROGRESSIVE AUNT, WHO I CALLED AUNTIE BARB, CAME FOR A VISIT ONE SUMMER WHEN I WAS IN STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. AUNT BARB WAS ON HER WAY TO GO TO TRAIN WITH MICHIO KUSHI, THE GODFATHER OF MACROBIOTICS. NOW, YOU MAY HAVE ZERO IDEA OF WHO I AM EVEN TALKING ABOUT, MUCH LESS THE TERM MACROBIOTICS, BUT BACK IN THE 80S, MACROBIOTICS WAS SORT OF THE RAGE IN THE HEALTH FOOD WORLD. MACROBIOTICS ORIGINATED FROM A BUDDHISM FRAME OF MIND THAT STRESSED BALANCE IN COOKING AND A STRONG PLANT-BASED PHILOSOPHY.
NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG, I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WAS STILL EATING AT MCDONALDS WITH MY FRIENDS IN BETWEEN THE DIETS I WAS DABBLING WITH AND HAD NO CLUE THAT FOOD COULD ACT AS MEDICINE. BUT THE UNIVERSE CLEARLY INTERVENED WITH THAT VISIT. AUNT BARB INTRODUCED ME TO TOFU, BROWN RICE, SEAWEEDS, AND DANDELION GREENS, FOODS I HAD LITERALLY NEVER EVEN HEARD OF OR HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH. BY THE TIME SHE LEFT MY HOUSE I WAS HOOKED. I LOVED KNOWING THAT WHAT WE EAT CAN DIRECTLY INFLUENCE HOW WE FEEL. SHE WAS DEFINITELY ONTO SOMETHING. IF YOU LOOK TODAY AT THE SCIENCE, OVER 80% OF WHAT WE CALL THE LIFESTYLE DISEASES – HEART CONDITIONS, DIABETES, OBESITY, ALZHEIMERS, AND CERTAIN CANCERS, ARE KN
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AUNT BARD DID, THAT SHE DIDN’T KNOW AT THE TIME, WAS TO LEAVE ME WITH A COOKBOOK, THE BOOK OF WHOLE MEALS BY ANNEMARIE COLBIN WHO HAD STARTED THE NATURAL GOURMET COOKING SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY. THAT COOKBOOK FOLLOWED ME EVERYWHERE, THROUGH COLLEGE AND TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE I LIVED AND WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS. I EXPERIMENTED WITH EVERY RECIPE, STAINED THE PAGES WITH FOOD SPLATTERS, AND WORE IT TO THE BONE.
I KNEW I WOULD BE BACK ON THE EAST COAST EVENTUALLY AND AS I WAS TRYING TO FIND MY NEXT MOVE IN LIFE I HAPPENED TO TURN THAT COOKBOOK OVER AND SAW THAT ANNEMARIE COLBIN HAD A COOKING SCHOOL IN MANHATTAN. AND THAT WAS IT, MY FATE SEALED. THE NATURAL GOURMET IS NOW UNDER THE WING OF THE INSTITUTE OF CULINARY EDUCATION BUT BACK THEN IT WAS A SMALL BUT MIGHTY INSTITUTION. THAT COOKING SCHOOL CHANGED MY LIFE IN SO MANY PROFOUND WAYS AND REALLY DROVE HOME THE FACT THAT OUR FOOD MATTERS TO OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
AFTER COOKING SCHOOL I WORKED IN RESTAURANTS, HEALTH FOOD STORES, WORKED AS A CATERER, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AS A PRIVATE CHEF. I COOKED FOR A LOT OF INTERESTING CLIENTS IN NEW YORK CITY WHO CAME TO ME WITH THEIR OWN DESIRE TO TRY AND HEAL THEIR HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH FOOD. AND WHILE IT WAS VERY SATISFYING TO HELP OTHERS HEAL THEIR HEALTH CONCERNS WITH THE FOOD I COOKED FOR THEM, I REALIZED THAT WHEN IT CAME TO TAKING IT ANY FURTHER, I WAS MISSING THE REAL SCIENCE BEHIND FOOD AND HEALTH.
I GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN CLINICAL NUTRITION FROM NEW YORK UNIVERSITY WHICH GAVE ME A WELL-ROUNDED UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND HEALTH. I LIKE TO NOW THINK THAT I AM UNIQUE IN MY FIELD. NOT ONLY WAS I TRAINED IN THE SCIENCE, BUT I COULD GIVE MY CLIENTS THE HANDS-ON KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN KITCHENS. AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS EVER SINCE, BETWEEN 1-1 CLIENTS OR GROUPS, I COACH AND TEACH COOKING LESSONS IN MY STUDIO KITCHEN IN CONNECTICUT AND ON ZOOM.
I HAVE BEEN DREAMING UP THIS PODCAST FOR A LONG TIME. I’VE BEEN A NUTRITION COACH, A BLOGGER, RECIPE DEVELOPER AND SOON TO BE AUTHOR BUT I WANTED A PLACE WHERE WOMEN COULD FEEL TOTALLY COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR STORIES, OUT LOUD, ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS AROUND FOOD, EATING, BODY IMAGE, AND HOW WE AS WOMEN BECAME TO BE SO CONFLICTED AROUND SOMETHING THAT NOURISHES US SO DEEPLY. FOOD IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT IT, YET OFTEN WE SCORN IT, AND ARE CONFLICTED AND CONFUSED WITH IT. BUT WE ALSO USE FOOD TO CELEBRATE, TO BOND OVER, GATHER AROUND TABLES, AND ALSO GRIEVE WITH. WE HAVE STORIES ABOUT HOW WE WERE RAISED, THE FOOD BELIEFS OUR PARENTS PASSED DOWN TO US, AND WHY WE ARE SO ENDLESSLY CONFUSED WITH FOOD. WE CAN THANK THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SO MUCH OF OUR CONFUSION BUT REALLY OUR FIRST STORIES WERE NURTURED AS LITTLE GIRLS AND TEENAGERS AND WELL INTO ADULTHOOD.
I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON FOOD SO YOU CAN FIND PEACE WITH WHAT YOU EAT, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE SHARED POWER OF STORY AND DEBUNKING MYTHS AROUND FOOD, DIETS, AND COOKING CAN MAKE US ALL FEEL LIKE WE ARE LESS ALONE IN THIS WORLD.
I CAN’T WAIT TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS ON THIS PODCAST ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD, DIETS, BODY IMAGE, AND HEALTH.
TODAY I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE PART OF MY PERSONAL STORY TO HOPEFULLY SHOW YOU THAT JUST BECAUSE I AM EDUCATED IN NUTRITION AND COOKING, I STRUGGLED, AND STILL DO STRUGGLE AT TIMES, WITH MAKING PEACE WITH WHAT I EAT. GROWING UP, AND GROWING INTO A TEENAGER, I SAW MY FAIR SHARE OF CONFLICTED EATING AND FOOD ISSUES IN MY FAMILY, IN MY CULTURE, AND THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, AND I WILL COVER ALL OF THOSE STORIES AS WE DIVE DEEPER.
I HAVE A LOT TO SHARE. BETWEEN STORIES FROM THE MANY CLIENTS I HAVE HAD, TO MY FAMILY, AND WITH A LOT OF INTROSPECTION WITH MYSELF, I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PICTURE OF WHERE WE WOMEN ARE AT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, HEALTH, AND NOURISHMENT.
FOR MY FIRST TOPIC I WANTED TO POSE A QUESTION: THINK BACK ON YOUR LIFE, GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO YOUR YOUNGEST MEMORIES OF FOOD AND EATING. I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF, WAS FOOD EVER FUN FOR YOU? WERE THERE ANY HAPPY MOMENTS? HOW ABOUT A FAVORITE FOOD MEMORY? FOR ME, AND I THINK SO MANY OTHER WOMEN, FOOD STARTED OUT AS A HAPPY EXPERIENCE AND TOOK A QUICK TURN IN THEIR TEENS.
SO TODAY I’LL SHARE THE FIRST PART OF MY STORY ABOUT WHEN THE TIME WHEN FOOD FELT FUN.
I'M GOING TO REWIND TO THE 70S WHEN I WAS JUST A YOUNG GIRL WEARING BELL-BOTTOMS AND A DOROTHY HAMILL HAIRCUT. . BACK THEN THERE WERE NO THOUGHTS OF COUNTING CALORIES, NO FEARS OF LOOKING FAT IN A BATHING SUIT, AND ZERO LIMITS TO ENJOYING FOOD. I REALLY HAVE NO MEMORY OF CONFLICTS WHEN IT CAME TO FOOD. DON’T GET ME WRONG, THERE WAS PLENTY OF CONFLICT WITH THE FOOD AROUND ME. MOTHER, AUNTS, AND OTHER RELATIVES. THE LAYERS OF OPINIONS, CRITICISMS, AND NOT BEING ENOUGH BECAUSE OF HOW OUR BODIES LOOKED WERE ALREADY IN PLACE.
PUTTING THAT ASIDE, I GREW UP ON LONG ISLAND, CLOSE BY TO MY GRANDPARENTS, A LOT OF COUSINS, AND A GAGGLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS. I HAD A LOT OF FREEDOM COMPARED TO WHAT KIDS HAVE NOW. AS LONG AS I HAD A BIKE AND A COUPLE OF QUARTERS, I WAS FREE TO RIDE, MILES AWAY TO THE CANDY STORE THAT SOLD 25-CENT CANDY BARS AND ROOT BEER FLOATS, AS LONG AS MY FRIENDS AND I WERE HOME BY DINNER TIME WE WERE GOOD. MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BUSY. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH, WE ORGANIZED OUTDOOR GAMES, AND WE WERE ALWAYS AT EACH OTHER'S HOUSES. AND WITH ALL THIS ACTIVITY, FOOD REALLY WAS NOT THE FOCUS OF THE DAY MOST OF THE TIME.
MY DAD’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY IS JEWISH AND FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE LIVING ON LONG ISLAND I WAS WITH AUNTS AND UNCLES, COUSINS, AND GRANDPARENTS FREQUENTLY EATING SUNDAY BAGELS WITH LOX AND CREAM CHEESE AND OTHER BRINY SMOKED FISH. I WAS VERY CLOSE WITH THIS SIDE OF MY FAMILY AND ADORED MY GRANDPARENTS WHO I KNEW ALSO ADORED ME. ON HOLIDAYS I REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD COOK BROTHY WARM MATZOH BALL SOUP, BRISKET, AND A WHOLE HOST OF JEWISH HOLIDAY FARE. WITH THE INSPIRATION OF MY GRANDPARENTS, I BECAME AN EXTREMELY ADVENTUROUS EATER AND I WAS ENCOURAGED TO ALWAYS TRY NEW THINGS, ESPECIALLY OUT AT THE RESTAURANTS THAT MY GRANDPARENTS LOVED TO FREQUENT. I REMEMBER EATING LOBSTER, ESCARGOT AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO AT LEAST TRY.
MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY WAS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. MY MOTHER IS FROM DEEP IN THE MIDWEST AND WAS RAISED IN A STRICT CATHOLIC HOME. BEFORE SHE WAS MARRIED, MY MOM WAS AN AIRLINE STEWARDESS CIRCA THE 1960S AND IF YOU’VE EVER SEEN THE MOVIE CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, WITH LEONARDO DECAPRIO YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. STEWARDESSES WERE ULTRA-GLAMOROUS BACK THEN, UNDER STRICT RULES TO STAY A CERTAIN SIZE. I REMEMBER HER SHOWING ME THE GUIDELINES FOR THE AIRLINES: HIPS, WAIST, AND BUST HAD TO BE A CERTAIN MEASUREMENT OR YOU COULD GET FIRED FROM YOUR JOB. MY PARENTS MET IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE MY MOM WAS STATIONED FOR HER STEWARDESS JOB AND MY DAD LIVED. HOW THIS UNLIKELY MATCH ENDED UP TOGETHER IS A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT NONETHELESS, THERE WAS A MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN CULTURE, RELIGION, AND BACKGROUND.
FOR ME, I LIKED THE DIVERSITY IN MY UPBRINGING. MY MIDWESTERN GRANDMOTHER HAD BEEN BORN IN FRANCE AND MY GRANDFATHER WAS NORWEIGAN. IN CONTRAST TO THE DARK-HAIRED RELATIVES ON MY DAD’S SIDE, BLONDE AND BLUE-EYED COUSINS AND AUNTS DOMINATED ON THIS SIDE. WE’D VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER IN THE SUMMERS, IN MINNESOTA AND EAT HOMEMADE CARAMEL ROLES AND PICK WILD BLUEBERRIES IN THE FIELDS BEHIND HER CABIN. MY COUSINS AND I SPENT HOURS ON THE LAKE, SWIMMING, AND BOATING. THERE WAS A LOT OF BAKING ON THIS SIDE OF MY FAMILY AND BIG CHRISTMAS AND EASTER FEASTS. MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO BAKE JULEKAKE, A HOMEMADE NORWEIGAN CHRISTMAS BREAD, THE ONE THAT IS MADE WITH CANDIED FRUIT. EVERY CHRISTMAS WE WOULD GET OUR PACKAGE IN THE MAIL AND I’M NOT SURE IF ANYONE EVER ATE IT BUT IT IDENTIFIED WHO WE WERE ON THIS SIDE OF MY FAMILY.
I KNOW THAT ALL THESE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH FOOD AND BEING OPEN TO TRYING NEW THINGS AND HAVING A FAMILY THAT WAS ALSO OPEN TO NEW FOOD EXPERIENCES TRULY INFLUENCED ME AS A CHEF AND NUTRITIONIST.
BUT I WANT TO ALSO BE REAL HERE. FROM A FOOD AND EATING STANDPOINT, THINGS SHIFTED A GREAT DEAL WHEN I WENT FROM A YOUNG CAREFREE GIRL TO A YOUNG TEENAGER EQUALLY INFLUENCED MY BODY IMAGE AND THE JOURNEY, I HAVE BEEN ON TO MAKE PEACE WITH FOOD. AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE WERE PLENTY OF WOMEN, AND MEN, IN MY FAMILY THAT HAD ISSUES AND STRICT STANDARDS AS TO WHAT A WOMAN SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THIS WORLD AND THE PRESSURE WAS GREAT.
I WANT TO JUST PAUSE HERE AND SAY THAT MY GOAL IS TO BE MY MOST AUTHENTIC SELF, NOT THE SHADOW BEHIND MY NUTRITIONIST AND CHEF PERSONA. DON’T GET ME WRONG. I LOVE TO COACH WOMEN AND I LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN GETTING INTO THE KITCHEN WITH A RELUCTANT CLIENT WHO FEELS OVERWHELMED WITH FOOD OR FEELING LIKE A FAILURE AT COOKING. I AM COMFORTABLE COOKING AND PLANNING AND I KNOW HOW TO EAT REAL FOOD FOR MY HEALTH. BUT IT’S BEEN A JOURNEY TO GET THERE, AND ONE THAT I REALLY HAD TO FIGURE OUT ON MY OWN. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE DIET OUT THERE THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO SUCCEED AT WEIGHT LOSS OR LOVE YOUR BODY. THERE IS NO MAGIC BULLET EXCEPT FOR THE JOURNEY YOU TAKE WITH YOU.
IN FACT, IT'S NO SURPRISE THEN THAT 7 MILLION WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE EATING DISORDERS OR GO ON TO DEVELOP EATING DISORDERS AND OVER 90% OF PEOPLE WHO START DIETS AND LOSE WEIGHT, FAIL AT THEM AND GAIN WEIGHT BACK. WE ARE NOT BORN WITH THIS MINDSET, IT IS BROUGHT UPON BY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES OF NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH, RIGHT-WRONG THINKING, AND RIDICULOUSLY HIGH STANDARDS, FOR WOMEN AND FOR MEN TOO.
FOR NOW, MY INTENTION WAS TO START THE PODCAST BY GETTING VERY VULNERABLE AND SHARING MY OWN EARLY STORY ABOUT FOOD AND HOW I CAME INTO MY OWN PEACE WITH WHAT I EAT. SO EVEN THOUGH I AM GOING TO WAIT TO TELL YOU THE MIDDLE OF MY STORY, THE ONE THAT INCLUDES THE CRITICAL WEIGHT LOSS MESSAGES FROM MY FATHER, FROM MY MOTHER WHO STARTED ME ON MY FIRST DIET, THE DOZENS OF DIETS AFTER THAT, MY REALIZATION OF MY EMOTIONAL EATING IN REACTION TO STRESS AND THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS I LEARNED THAT WERE NEVER TAUGHT TO ME IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH DIETING AND EVERYTHING TO LOVING MYSELF, I AM GOING TO JUMP TO THE END OF MY STORY FIRST TO SAY THAT THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING AND IT’S NOT ABOUT ME BEING A NUTRITIONIST AND CHEF WHO TOTALLY HAS IT TOGETHER WITH WHAT SHE EATS OR BEING A SIZE TWO WITH BOUNDLESS ENERGY. RIGHT NOW, IN PRESENT-DAY, AS A 54-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO IS EMPTY NESTING AND IN THE THROES OF MENOPAUSE, IT TOOK A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING AND PERSEVERANCE TO LOVE MY BODY IN A WORLD THAT REVERES ULTRA-THIN, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET OLDER. DURING MY EARLY 40’S I DID HAVE WEIGHT TO LOSE AND I DID LOSE IT HAVE KEPT IT OFF, WITH THE HELP OF MINDFULNESS, INTUITIVE EATING, AND A LOT OF SELF-COMPASSION. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WILLPOWER, TOUGHING IT OUT, OR STARVING MYSELF. I AM A LITTLE BIT OLDER AND A LOT WISER, MY BODY IS EVER-CHANGING AND I HAVE DEFINITELY HAD TO MAKE PEACE WITH THAT TOO. THIS IS A NON-STOP JOURNEY.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT I STILL LOVE FOOD. I AM STILL A VERY ADVENTUROUS EATER, I LOVE EXPERIMENTING IN THE KITCHEN AND FEEL TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH MAKING MISTAKES. IT IS ALL GOOD.
MY STORYS MATTER TO ME BECAUSE THEY HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I CAME FROM SO I CAN HEAL WHERE I AM. OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF FOOD MATTER. HOW OUR MOTHERS OR GRANDMOTHERS FELT OR FEEL ABOUT THEIR BODIES MATTERS. WE PASS DOWN WHAT WE KNOW, HOPEFULLY WITH GREAT AWARENESS. AND SO, I WANT TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT SO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING TRANSPARENT TOO.
THIS IS NOT THE END OF MY STORY, ACTUALLY JUST PART 1, OR THE BEGINNING.
BUT FOR TODAY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR LISTENING, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW POWERFUL COMING OUT FROM BEHIND OUR STORIES CAN BE. I WILL CONTINUE SHARING MY STORIES, AND WEIGHT LOSS STORIES AND IN COMING UP EPISODES I WANT TO GO MORE IN-DEPTH ON BODY IMAGE AND OTHER TOPICS THAT MATTER SO MUCH TO WOMEN.
IF YOU LOVED THIS EPISODE AND WANTED TO LEAVE A NICE REVIEW PLEASE DO SO BELOW, I WOULD LOVE IT. AND PLEASE BE SURE TO RATE AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST SO YOU NEVER MISS AN EPISODE. I HOPE YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK AND CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN. BYE FOR NOW