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Culinary Wellness and Cooking Revival




I believe we should pay attention to our values and principles. Some of mine are rooted in functional holistic nutrition, real food, and real health. Nutrition goes beyond just food; it is also about gardening, raising healthy animals, preparing and cooking our food, entertaining, and the community food creates. I love helping educate my clients and teaching my children the power food has on our health because health begins with what you fuel your cells with: your food.


Food is Foundational to Health or Disease

Though everyone's health journey is different, most of us strive to reach a state of total wellness: a clear, sharp mind, a strong, capable body, energy to follow our passions, and time to spend with the people we love.


Our lifestyle, dietary decisions, and habits are often the driving force behind our health status and lead us to health or disease.


So why do so few of us seem to achieve optimal health? Wellness remains elusive in our modern world because we've become disconnected from the roots of wellness, spending our time plucking the leaves and focusing on quick fixes instead of nourishing our bodies, souls, the roots, and wondering why we're not healthy.


Ever wonder why America is one of the sickest and most expensive countries when it comes to health care?


In today's fast-paced world, we've become dangerously disconnected from the source of our health: real food. Functional holistic nutrition isn't just about what we eat; it's about how our food is grown, raised, and prepared. It goes beyond simply consuming nutrients; it's about nurturing a relationship with food, from the soil to our tables, and fostering a vibrant, healthy community along the way.


This post is about how our disconnection from real food is a major culprit in our overall health and how we can reclaim our health by taking ownership and pride in what we fuel our bodies with.


The Foundation of Health: Real Food

Our bodies are incredibly wise. They thrive on nutrient-rich, whole foods and falter when bombarded with processed ingredients, chemicals, and artificial additives. Think of it this way: what you put in is what you get out. Fuel your body with nutrient-poor, processed garbage, and you'll get a body that reflects that sluggish, inflamed, and prone to disease. But nourish yourself with real, whole foods, and you'll be amazed at the vitality and resilience you unlock.


Let's face it—we've been hoodwinked. For decades, we've been told what a healthy diet looks like. We were told to fear saturated fats, red meat, and salt, or at least use them in moderation, while being subtly pushed towards processed, chemical-laden foods. The result? Autoimmune diseases, behavioral issues, cancer, and other health problems are skyrocketing at younger and younger ages.


The modern American diet, often called the SAD (Standard American Diet), is built on inhumane farming practices, depleted soils, and a heavy reliance on chemicals. It is contributing to a surge in chronic conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer's, central nervous system degeneration disorders, GI dysfunction, autoimmune diseases, behavioral issues, autism, cancer, and more. The cost? Not just our health, but also our wallets, as healthcare costs soar. It's a system that prioritizes profit over health, and it's making America sick and reliant upon the broken healthcare and insurance systems.


The truth is simple: you are what you eat eats. If your food is raised in unhealthy conditions, lacks nutrients, and is laden with toxins, your body will reflect this. Nutrient-dense, real food, on the other hand, nourishes your cells, fuels your body, and supports optimal health.


The foundation of health IS food.



From Hunter-Gatherer to Industrialized Food: A Lost Connection

Our food system has undergone a dramatic transformation. We've moved from a time of close connection to nature and our food sources to an industrialized farming system that often prioritizes profit over health and sustainability.


Conventionally raised animals endure inhumane living conditions and unnatural diets that cause them to gain weight too quickly and become ill, leading to a dependence on antibiotics to survive. Even plants suffer from industrial farming methods. They are often grown in monocultures, planted too closely in depleted soil, and treated with chemicals, limiting nutrient uptake. As a result, these plants lose their vitality, becoming non-nutritive and even toxic. We are what we eat eats too. Therefore, if our food is sick, overweight, and toxic, we may also become sick, overweight, and toxic.


Devitalization is not the only downside of convenient food. As we have shifted toward an industrialized food system, we have moved away from a personal connection with our food. In the past, whether through hunting for meat or vegetable gardening, there was a relationship between people and food that is now missing in the waxy produce and cellophane-wrapped meat found in modern grocery stores. Food has become transactional. This lack of connection not only affects our relationship with food but also undermines the bonds between individuals and their communities. If we do not actively work to preserve it, we risk losing our connection to local farmers, our interactions with the milkman or butcher, and the camaraderie with our neighborhood grocer.


It is no surprise that many people have lost connection with health.


Culinary Wellness: A Path Back to Health

The solution lies in reclaiming our culinary heritage and embracing culinary wellness. This begins at the source, with regenerative farming practices prioritizing soil health and animal welfare. It means actively supporting local farmers, shopping at farmers' markets, and choosing organic, sustainably sourced food whenever possible. This commitment to quality ingredients helps us reduce exposure to harmful toxins, additives, and chemicals, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.


Regeneration of health and life starts with the food we eat and the water we drink. It's about growing and sourcing our food with care, preparing each ingredient with intention, and consuming our nourishing meals with gratitude- that is culinary wellness.


The lost art of cooking

What should we have for dinner?


The question has confronted us since man discovered fire. A study came out a few years ago citing evidence that humans have been cooking for 780,000 years. That's an incredibly long time to perfect a skill, but somehow, in today's fast-paced world, it feels like we've forgotten how. How we answer that question today significantly impacts our individual health and might also determine our survival as a species.


In today's busy world, relying on convenience, including convenience foods, is easy. Slowing down is hard, and it takes practice to stay present, education to read through ingredient labels and source good food, and dedication to get in the kitchen and prepare a healthy meal.


I hear it all the time from my clients. "I don't have time to cook," or "I don't know how." We've become so reliant on processed, pre-packaged foods that we're missing out on the incredible benefits of cooking from scratch. I will borrow this quote from someone I admire, Joel Salatin, "Folks, This Ain't Normal"!




Reclaiming Your Kitchen

It is time to get your kitchen and start cooking again, and it's never been easier than it is today with all the modern kitchen gadgets and online resources at our fingertips.


The real question is, are you willing to reclaim our kitchens and become culinary participants?


Are you ready to appreciate the romance of cooking and see the kitchen as a foundational launching pad for life, rather than just a pit stop?


Because here's the truth: you can't have an integrity food system if you're not cooking.


I hear it from my clients all the time: "I don't have time to cook." I get it—life is busy. But cooking doesn't have to be a chore or complicated. It can be a fun, creative, and incredibly rewarding experience. Think of cooking as an act of self-care.


When you cook from scratch, you know exactly what's going into your body, and you can tailor your meals to your specific needs and preferences. Plus, it's a great way to de-stress and connect with your loved ones.  


OR, You might be thinking, "I don't know how to cook." Don't worry, nobody's born a master chef. Start with simple recipes, experiment with flavors, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. The more you cook, the more confident and intuitive you'll become. Simple recipes that use quality ingredients are entirely possible and even fun! Focus on the basic elements: salt to enhance taste, healthy fats (my personal fave) for flavor and satiety, acid for balance, and heat to control texture (this can be roasting, simmering, grilling, braising).


Reclaiming our kitchens is crucial for creating an integrity-based food system.



Reconnect with Nature: Start Small, Grow Big

Have you ever considered how disconnected we've become from nature? So, how can you reconnect with something bigger than yourself? Get your hands dirty, touch life, grow real food, eat real food, honor something beyond you and me that is spectacular.


You don't have to become a regenerative farmer to do it. You can start small, with a few herbs in your windowsill or a small vegetable garden in pots. Plant a flower garden to attract pollinators. You can start a compost bin under your sink and in your backyard, turning your food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Get your hands dirty, engage with the growing process, and appreciate the remarkable cycle of life. It's an amazing feeling to harvest something you've grown yourself. Kids love to pick something from the garden they have participated in growing, and it's a great way to connect with nature.


The key is to start cooking real food. Support local farms, visit farmers' markets, and get to know the people growing your food. When you cook from scratch, you know exactly what's going into your body, and you can feel good about nourishing yourself and your family.



Resources for Your Culinary Wellness Journey:



When we consciously connect with our food sources, we promote our health while honoring the planet.


Embracing culinary wellness is an act of self-love and a commitment to a healthier future. By making conscious choices about our food, we nourish our bodies and nurture our connection to nature and community. It is time to reclaim our kitchens, reconnect with our food, and embark on a journey toward vibrant health.


If you are confused about nutrition, or you have health concerns and want to take a food first, functional approach to reclaiming your health, I am your girl.







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