The concert had already started with the opening act - a blues piano player from New Orleans by way of the UK.

Hearing the music and the crowd, we hustled along the 4-block walk from the car to the outdoor venue.

Jane frantically dug through her purse looking for her phone with your digital tickets on it.

”Damn it! I left it in the car! I’m so tired of forgetting EVERYTHING!”

”No problem, I can relate. I’ll go get it.” I said, speed-walking my Birkenstocks back the 4 blocks.

Earlier that morning, it took me 45 minutes longer to pack for the concert weekend because I was either indecisive or forgetting everything too - and I still forgot my cycling shoes!

Brain fog makes us feel crazy and less like our normal holding-all-the-shitake-together selves.

If that’s you too, brain health might be your gentle nutrition ‘why.’
​

Hey Reader!

If you came into my virtual office tomorrow, I'd ask you these 2 questions:

"What do you want to get out of our session today?

And

Why are you here?"

Here's a response from Heather,

”I want to feel well. I’m tired of feeling tired, and achy, and heartburn, and headaches, and lady parts that feel like the Sahara Desert.”​
​
​

The questions define your 'why,' which helps make gentle nutrition unique to you.

Let's get into it!

Remember. Gentle nutrition is the sweet spot of satisfaction between what your body needs to eat and what you want to eat.

If you answer the 'why are you here' question with...

"My doctor recently said my cholesterol and blood sugar are high, and I don't want to be afraid of my heart giving up when I’m going uphill. I want to be strong enough to see the gorgeous views at the top."​
Cardiovascular health defines what your body needs from food.

Maybe you're worried about bone health…

"I want to have strong bones and less risk of falling so I can live independently in my 80s, but osteoporosis runs in my family."

Nutrition for bone health becomes part of what your body needs from food.

CAUTION! Gentle nutrition after 40 is more specific in terms of what your body needs, but it doesn't have to be diet-y

One client, who is working on reducing blood sugar and cholesterol, refers to "pulling levers."

Her gentle nutrition lever of adequate fiber, from complex carbs like whole grains, beans and lentils, and fruits and veg, will soak up extra cholesterol and sugar in her blood to improve her cardiovascular health.

How do you keep these nutrition needs from becoming food rules?

By also eating foods to satisfy taste-hunger; what you want to eat.

You can have fiber-rich oatmeal for breakfast and follow it with square(s) of chocolate alongside your coffee.

Make a calcium-rich lunch of massaged kale salad with salmon, grated manchego cheese, toasted almonds, and a variety of veggies.

Then add crackers or chips, and a chocolate chip cookie (or 2) for dessert.

These examples keep you in the sweet spot of satisfaction between what your body needs to eat based on health concerns and what you want to eat for joy and pleasure.

With practice, you'll be able to honor both your ‘why’ with gentle nutrition and create a healthy relationship with food.

Next week, I'll show you how to make specific behavior-based intentions to make gentle nutrition food choices without falling into the dumpster fire of diet culture.

Have a great weekend savoring food and your body!

Amanda

PS: Remember. Gentle nutrition is the sweet spot of satisfaction between what your body needs to eat and what you want to eat. Gentle nutrition after 40 is more specific about what your body needs, but it doesn't have to be diet-y. Defining your 'why' will make gentle nutrition unique to you. Maybe it's eating more fiber to reduce the risk of heart disease. Or increasing calcium intake to avoid osteoporosis post-menopause. When you combine eating foods your body needs for these 'whys' AND foods your body wants to eat, you'll stay out of the diet mentality. Scroll up for specific, real-life examples!