Love your food - How to enjoy eating well without restriction

When you think of a nutritionist, you might picture strict diets, endless calorie counting, or giving up your favourite foods. But at the heart of good nutrition is a simple but powerful idea: you can love your food and be healthy at the same time. A balanced approach to eating focuses on building a healthy relationship with food that fuels your body, mind and soul. Here’s how to embrace a lifestyle that nourishes and delights, with a focus on enjoyment rather than restriction.

Women have such a complex relationship with food. So many women I know - in fact, I think every woman I know (including me) - has been on a diet at some point. Maybe they've cut out a food group or only eaten at certain times of the day or increased their intake of something, believing it'll do them good, "cleanse them" or relieve bloating. The problem with diets is they again promise unsustainable results. They're too restrictive, they are dull and they almost make you fear food. Please don't be scared and don't give yourself a hard time about food.

Trust me, I've been there and it's not good for you - it'll make you sad and frustrated and what is life if you can't enjoy what you eat? Most women I know love food, but we blame it for all sorts of things and give it way more power over us and our lives than it should have. We need to unlearn phrases like, "bad food", "cheat days" and "treats". We also need to unlearn that vegetables are "bland" and avocados are all you need to be healthy. Food is fuel, nourishment, colourful, tasty and what we need to be happy and healthy.

I don't really comment on the endless food trends I see on Instagram or in the news. Some people might think I should because of my position, influence and knowledge, but as I keep saying, you just have to focus on your journey. I want to train you to make your journey and your knowledge so strong and unwavering that you won't even think twice about the next fad that comes along. The way you do this with food is the same way you approach your workouts: keep it balanced, flexible, interesting, habitual and you make sure it works for you.

If you're anything like me, you spend a large portion of your day (no pun intended) thinking about food. It's one of the biggest pleasures in my life. I wake up thinking about breakfast, move on to thinking about lunch as I finish with my oats, and by the time lunchtime is done, I'm already looking forward to dinner. Im a girl who loves her food and it brings me a massive amount of happiness. As with everything else in my life, Im grateful. Im grateful I have the life, mindset and ability to eat well and I know my body respects me for it.

Just like exercise, food is health and happiness for your body and you can build a healthy relationship with it, too.

Embrace the journey

Learning to love your food while nourishing your body is a journey, not a destination. It’s about finding what works for you, embracing flexibility, and being kind to yourself along the way. As you build a balanced approach, you’ll discover that healthy eating isn’t about restriction; it’s about feeling empowered and fulfilled. By making small, mindful changes, you can create a lifestyle that allows you to savour each meal, fuel your well-being, and truly love your food.

Remember - Health is about balance, joy, and self-care. Start small, enjoy the process, and trust that each step brings you closer to a happy, wholesome relationship with food. Here’s to loving what you eat and eating what you love!