At Bamboo Nutrition, we like to think about the ways in which we ourselves think about food. We consider what it means to us, the ways in which we interact with it, our own preferences, and other factors. We call this our food philosophy, and it is sort of a foundation for how we approach food personally and with our clients. I would like to share a little bit about how I view food, how it affects my life and, of course, some thoughts on nutrition.
We often hear the phrase “food is not just food,” sometimes followed by “food is fuel” or some other phrase that gives the things we eat quite a lot of power. As an RD (registered dietitian / nutritionist), I have also heard the phrase “it’s just food,” often when I was advocating for a medically necessary diet and the other person did not agree.
My belief is that food is not just food. It is so much more than that. Food is family, memories, traditions and, most importantly, fun! Think about the foods you associate with certain family members, or the specific foods that you always eat at this or that holiday. When I think of my husband’s grandfather I remember how he would always order from the kids menu because he preferred this type of food more. And my sister makes the best no bake cookies I have ever had. In my family, I am the “Christmas cookie lady.” I started making them years ago because one year I couldn’t afford to buy gifts. I love to bake, and making cookies every year is one way I enjoy the holiday. Now that my daughter is a toddler, we have enjoyed making these and other special treats and I have enjoyed creating these memories.
Food is also so much fun. One of the things my husband and I love most about traveling is eating the local food. Practically every time we go out for crab legs, he manages to have them explode and go flying everywhere. Once I found a bit of crab shell in my purse two days later! Being from Arkansas, I grew up eating biscuits and chocolate gravy, and I look forward to introducing it to my little one soon. As an amateur genealogist, food is one of my favorite ways to explore the cultures where my family came from, and to feel more connected to them. It is also very meaningful to me to be able to explore those traditional foods we hadn’t tried before, and to incorporate them into our everyday lives.
In some ways, I do think food is just food. If we change how we are eating for a day, a week or even several weeks, it is not likely to ruin or magically improve our health. In the days when I did believe it had those abilities, I definitely did not enjoy it as much as I could have, and there were foods I missed out on too.
“....Variety ensures we are getting enough nutrients to truly support our well-being, and increases our satisfaction...”
The more we explore food, the more variety we can experience. Over time, that variety ensures we are getting enough nutrients to truly support our well-being, and increases our satisfaction with our eating experiences. If you are having difficulty with your relationship with food, we would love the opportunity to help you navigate this. We wish you a very happy holiday season if you celebrate and a healthy new year.
Watch Julia’s Snack With A Dietitian to go with this blog post!
Julia Henry is one of our dietitians who works with individuals with Gastrointestinal Disorders (Crohns, Celiac Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Food Allergies and Sensitivities, etc.) and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
