The Healthy Cookie

The first thing most people say to me when we sit down to have a consultation is “I think I eat fairly well”. The trouble with that statement is that eating well is a relative thing. And also- I am not sure that any of us really know what ‘eating well’ means anymore.

I spent this past week a the Canadian Holistic Nutrition Conference listening to about half a dozen different speakers, meeting with product reps, and speaking with other nutritionists.  Many of the speakers had conflicting ideas on what constitutes a healthy diet. Two of the speakers actually sited the same study, but used it in completely opposite arguments. So if nutritionist are confused about what to eat, I can only imagine how the public feels.

Everyday there are new studies coming out about what to eat, what not to eat, what will save us, and what will take us down.

In my opinion, it is not even so much what we are eating that makes the difference but more so where, how, why and when we are eating it.  Very few people these days take the time to go to the store, buy groceries, prepare a fresh meal, sit down at a table and enjoy the food. Most often we are doing a million things at one time and eating just happens to be one of them.

We are so preoccupied with the what- that we seem to have forgotten the vital importance of the where, how, why and when. Are we at our desks, in front of the tv, or in the car? Is our food coming from a restaurant, a microwave, a deep fryer? Are we eating because we are sad, lonely, stressed, bored? And are we having our first meal at 3:00 in the afternoon and our last meal at midnight?

I do believe that we all inherently know what we should and should not be eating and the best ways in which we should be enjoying our meals. Sometimes, though, it helps to have some guidance, some support and some motivation.

As I wrote about back when I was in St. Lucia, I was eating to my little heart’s content. With a piece of bread and butter in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, I knew what I was doing. I knew what these foods were doing inside me and I knew how that would make me feel long term if I kept it up. I was also fortunate that I knew what to do to get myself back on track, and I now am.  I did however go and see a nutritionist.

I didn’t go see someone because I needed help. I went, mainly because seeing this nutritionist is a patient requirement of my doctor. Despite knowing as much as I know, I learned from her. It is much easier to give someone else advice than to give yourself advice. We looked at my diet, noticed some macronutrient imbalances and she made recommendations for me. I left there with a packet of information, most of which I was already familiar with, and a collection of recipes. I was motivated! I came home, cooked up some new things, added new foods into my diet and a week later, I am already feeling wonderful.

Nutritionist are great people to have in our lives. I am happy to have one and I am happy to be one for others. Just like we all have dentists and doctors, many of us may have physiotherapists, massage therapists, psychotherapists, naturopaths, and personal trainers, I think we should all also have a nutritionist.  Whether we know what we should eat or not, a little motivation and a little guidance goes a long way. No matter how well, we think we might be eating, we can always learn from someone else.

I am officially opened for business! My practice is all set up and I am busily collecting new clients. Want to be one of them? Go to www.meghantelpner.com for more information on my services and to find out a little more about what a nutritionist can do for you.