One of the things I am so insatiably passionate about is being in complete alignment, physically and spiritually, with my destiny. I believe God has a unique and tailor-made blueprint for each of our lives, and I love helping others come into alignment with the plan and purpose God has for them! That’s why I love that the Lord has positioned me at Mercy Multiplied as a Nutrition Manager. Every day, I get to help young women learn through eating and nutrition that their bodies are wonderfully made by the Creator. Through this blog post and the avenue of nutrition, I’d love to discuss three elements that I believe can help you achieve God’s ultimate alignment for your physical body.
My philosophy on food is simple and contains 3 elements: eating balanced, eating from the earth, and establishing a solid mind-body connection. Let me dive a little deeper and give you more context behind each element.
1. Eating Balanced
Balance is incorporating all macronutrients (fats, proteins, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in moderation.
One of my goals for the residents at Mercy is for them to be able to sustain a healthy way of eating. Through my experience over the years working alongside residents, a sustainable eating plan has to contain all food groups in moderation. Personally, and professionally, I don’t believe in elimination. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent, and if we learn to listen and understand our bodies, we will live in harmony with this gift the Lord has given us. The beautiful thing about balance is when we start to incorporate it in one area of our life, other areas will be influenced as well. Being able to eat in moderation leaves no room for deprivation; therefore, the mind and body will be at ease and not crave whatever it is lacking. Balance is the key to sustainable success.
2. Eating from the Earth
Eating from the earth means eating real and whole foods. “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Eating real and whole foods is how our bodies were designed to process and digest food. Some of my favorite whole foods are sweet potatoes, avocados, nuts, seeds, hummus, chicken, fish, beans, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, lima beans, spinach, kale, and bell peppers.
Grocery shopping tip! You can usually find real or whole foods on the perimeter of your grocery store. Try to minimize buying the products in the middle isles that are usually filled with more processed foods.
Now, do I eat this way 100% of the time? Absolutely not! I enjoy eating my grandmother’s homemade lemon icebox pie and a heap of french fries on occasion. However, the majority of the time, I do try and eat as pure and simple as possible. I get beautiful satisfaction when I eat from the earth. When we learn to enjoy the fruits of the Lord’s labor (quite literally), our bodies thank us in return.
3. Mind-Body Connection
Our culture today isn’t the best at learning to be still and listen. However, I believe listening is a crucial part of learning the heart of God. To know Him, we must be still and discern His voice. The same is true of our bodies. We need to be conscious and listen to what our bodies are telling us! Makes sense, huh, that the Creator always puts a reflection of Himself in His creation.
The mind-body connection is vital to understanding our bodies and how they speak to us. Learning and honoring your hunger and fullness cues will help you not overeat, restrict, or end up in a full-on binge. To bring back the mind-body connection, we must learn to honor and trust our bodies. This process of listening and trusting your body is not done overnight. It’s a process of establishing trust. It’s important not to judge the process but to stick with it. Learning to listen to your body is a lifelong process because our bodies are changing every day. Here are a few keys to learning to listen to your body: slow down, eat mindfully, notice how hungry you are before each meal, honor the hunger, and eat until you are satisfied.
God has designed your body so amazingly! You choose to honor your body through eating by simplifying your plate with the earth (eating whole and real food), listening to your body (honoring your hunger and fullness cues), and enjoying all the pleasures of eating (in moderation). By implementing these three elements, you will be operating from God’s divine design for your body. Enjoy the process knowing you were created PERFECTLY, PRECISELY, and for such a PURPOSE.
Hope you enjoy the rest of National Nutrition Month! For more inspiring content, follow us on social media @MercyMultiplied. Mercy Multiplied is a nonprofit Christian organization that equips people to live free and stay free through its residential program and Outreach services.
