Simply Nutrition & Wellness
Discovering wellness through simple, personal choices and homegrown nutrition.
Finding My Path to a Healthier Me
Over the years, I have heard multiple outlets offer advice and guides for creating a "healthier you." Getting excited about finding a healthier lifestyle requires time, effort, and commitment. I would invest the effort, time, and money needed to create a healthy lifestyle that would not only benefit me but my family as well.
Along the way, while diving into a new trend or guideline, I would soon be stopped in my tracks by another statement claiming that the previous guideline was insufficient or incorrect. Disappointment and frustration would quickly set in. I felt defeated and unsure of who or what to believe.
Not All Bodies Are the Same
I started thinking: How can one guideline or suggestion be so universal for so many different people? Not all bodies process, function, or metabolize the same way. How do I find what works for me and for the different needs of my family?
I began my journey of trial and error over many years. I was determined to figure it all out. Eventually, I realized I was making this harder than it needed to be.
I also realized that my external image would only reflect my internal state. Now, I am not talking about being thick or thin, having muscle or not having muscle. I am talking about the external glow of someone who is at peace, happy, and content. When your body is functioning internally in a state of balance and calm, it shows externally.
How can this happen? The answer is simple: everyone is different. My peace is not necessarily your peace. Starting with what you need to find your own sense of calm, balance, and centeredness is key to discovering your personal nutrition journey.
Does this mean you need to jump onto the next big trend or follow the newest guideline about what foods are good for you?
No, it does not.
What it means is finding what brings you to a state of contentment. Not necessarily extreme happiness or constant joy, but that place where you feel "okay." You are in an even, balanced state of being.
Finding My State of "Even"
For me, this means grounding myself in nature, spending time with family, and taking time just for myself at our lake—absorbing the sounds of nature and the surrounding scenery. This is what brings me to my state of "even": calm and centered. It is the point where I can say, "I am good."
Once I found this, I knew I needed to turn my attention to food next.
I began viewing food as medicine. It can either make me feel unwell or help bring a healthier version of myself to light.
How Did I Do This?
As a full-figured woman, this journey was not about the scale. It was not about how many miles I could run, how much weight I could lift, how little food I could eat, or forcing myself to eat foods I disliked.
It was much simpler than that.
It was about gentle stretching, even when it felt more like relaxation. It was about eating simple foods I loved while approaching them in a different way.
Starting with One Simple Herb
I started with one simple herb growing in my kitchen in a tiny pot.
To be honest, it didn't grow the first time around. So, I tried again with another one. This time, it survived! Now what did I do with it? I started using it in recipes, as a topping for salads, in smoothies, and even in my drinking water.
It felt like I was doing something positive—something good for myself.
Was it making me healthier? I didn't know. But what I did know was that it made me feel better about myself. It lowered my stress, reduced my sense of overwhelm, and my body responded positively. It was simple and easy.
So, naturally, I explored further.
I planted a few more things in small pots inside my home: lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, and more herbs. I used inexpensive self-watering pots I found on clearance, seeds that cost only cents, and dirt from my backyard or old flower pots. I didn't need anything expensive because, honestly, I wasn't sure how this experiment would turn out.
Some seeds I placed in a wet paper towel, put inside a zip-top bag, and hung near my window with a piece of tape. They began to sprout and grow. I moved them into pots, and they continued growing. Before long, we had fresh foods and herbs at our fingertips.
I decided this was the time to start using these foods to create recipes I loved. I researched each food to understand the "why."
- Why is it healthy?
- What nutrients does it contain?
- What benefits can it provide?
This Is How My Journey Began
This is how my journey toward a healthier me began.
It was what worked for me.
I discovered which foods bothered my gut and which ones did not. I noticed changes in my energy, sleep habits, memory, and overall well-being.
Does this mean it will work for you?
No.
But you can discover what works for you by starting with what makes you feel good, calm, centered, and balanced.
I didn't break the bank. I wasn't overwhelmed or exhausted by maintenance. And I didn't feel like I had failed every time something didn't grow or work out. Instead, I learned that maybe something simply wasn't right for me, or I discovered a new way to make it work.
Along the way, I learned so much about my body. Most importantly, I learned to listen to it.
My Goal Is Still a Work in Progress
My goal is still a work in progress.
That goal is simple: eating simply, eating what I can grow or find at the farmers market, and listening to my body when it says, "You need a minute for you."
You can do this too.
Just find one thing to start with. Find one thing that is for you.
Start with your wellness first, and the nutrition will begin to fall into place.
