In my nutrition studies in New York back in early 2000 I learned to view nourishment in a completely new way, one that’s very different from conventional medicine.
From the very start the emphasis was on simple whole foods, not calories. The philosophy encouraged a return to the kitchen at a time when take-out and restaurant dining was the norm (and still is). Being in the kitchen preparing fresh food tunes you into nutrition and connection with what you are about to eat. . Cooking is a multi sensory experience, pulling in your sense of smell for the aromas, sight for the color, touch for the texture, sound for the sizzle or bubble on your stove, and finally the taste of your creation.
This experience can draw you in to a deeper connection with the ways in which you nourish yourself. And in my training we began to view food as one part of a much deeper and broader experience of nourishment.
What is Primary Nutrition?
Are you moving easily in your body, feeling energized through the day? How about your life purpose or your career- are you deriving joy or satisfaction with how you spend your day? And what about your sense of connection with the world, with Nature, withy our faith? Does it fill you? And finally, your relationships? Do the people you spend time with enrich you?
I ask these questions because sometimes, even more than food, experiences of movement, life purpose, spirituality and relationships can nourish you in a way that is deeper than physical food. When they are working well, you may not be thinking of food until you start to get hungry, and when they are not, you may be filling yourself with food to fill a hole that is a different kind of hunger.
A Few Examples
Christine is a bright, attractive woman working in a professional environment that earns her a good salary and benefits. When we began working she complained of fatigue and feeling blah, finishing her workday by going home and having a bowl of microwave popcorn because she was too tired to cook. I learned that her current career had nothing to do with her lifelong passion of performing arts. We found a venue, a community theatre, between her workplace and home and she began to attend their weekly meetings. She told me how at first she was puzzled that with this additional activity why she wasn’t even more tired. As soon as she asked me, her face lit up and she said it was because she was finally having some fun.! (And she was making meals again.)
Jean is a social worker and is recovering from endometrial cancer. She was scared, worried she’d have a recurrence because she was tired all the time. We looked at her workday and saw she was eating at her desk in between seeing patients, enveloped in the energy of that space. I encouraged her to push out her lunch time an extra 15 minutes so she could go outside and move and enjoy the fresh air. Just getting that extra time refreshed her and she noticed her digestion was much better when she got up and moved.
Melissa was in sales, and doing very well in that role. However, she loved animals and loved yoga. She found peace whenever she was with her dog or when she practiced yoga. She explained it that once we looked at her physical food and made some adjustments in it, she had more clarity about her life. She decided to move out of sales and is now a successful yoga teacher.
As you can see, true nourishment runs much deeper than food. Each of these women initially came to work with me because they were overweight and wanted to shift gears. And yes, we worked very intensely on improving food habits and knowledge of healthy food and easy cooking. But the more profound changes came from these women learning to value the quality of their lives.
Excess weight is a symptom. Sometimes it’s the result of overeating, or eating highly processed foods the harm the microbiome and metabolism. Sometimes it is a symptom of loneliness, anger, frustration or simply being out of sync with your deepest needs and forms of nourishment.
Are You Nourished?
Your health is an intricate web of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual nutrition. Ignoring any one of these leads to suffering. My 6-Month VIP Program is a comprehensive, integrated approach that addresses your food, your lifestyles and your deepest desires.
This is the gold standard of nutrition and lifestyle education because:
It's Customized: We build a plan for your body, your goals, and your life. No generic templates.
It's Research-Based: Every strategy is rooted in proven science, not fleeting trends.
It's a Partnership: For 6 months, you get dedicated, compassionate support to navigate challenges, celebrate wins, and build unshakable new habits.
Stop blaming yourself for diets that were designed to fail. Invest in a program designed for your lasting success. Visit my programs page for more information. or contact me at peg@wellnessandyou.com