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The Principles of Eating
Words Talibah Simone
They say “good food equals a good mood”... but what does that food do on the inside?
Nutritional Advisor & Chef Talibah Simone, delves into the principles of healthy eating and why it is vital we nourish the body with foods that are full of nutrients but are also super tasty!
2020 has been quite a testing year for mental and physical health. As the key was thrown away and we were locked down in our homes, the struggle to motivate one’s self to work, to eat, became quite regular for some. However, for others, the new change of lifestyle was refreshing. Many grasped the chance of learning a new skill! The most popular past-time I noticed on social media, was cooking!
There’s never been more a time like now to take care of yourself, mentally and physically. The first step for me was decluttering and creating a daily structure. A part of the structure was making more of a conscious effort to have fun with my food! Its got to look nice, taste nice and be nice to my insides!
That word healthy
It’s not a term I use regularly because it just sounds daunting and boring! I prefer nutritious! Although they practically have the same meaning, I’ve developed the saying that we must “nourish the body and feed the soul” – the ethos is that we must take care of not only our outside (buying clothes, shoes, make-up) but also taking care of our insides, prioritising eating fresher and wholefoods rather than processed and junk foods.
Eating well can have a huge impact on your mood. The entire process of buying fresh food, preparing it and digesting the food and seeing the reaction of your body to the food you’ve just consumed will surprise you – your body will feel good! Why is this? Junk food low on essential nutrients which leave the nerve cells lacking. Adequate energy and nutrients to promote good health, simply come from whole foods – ‘foods that have been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances’ – oxford dictionary.
What was happening inside my body when I was eating a multitude of cakes and chocolates:
Well, when you eat these foods, it causes an addictive pattern in your mind where it actually becomes the first stages of an addition. Your body ends up feeling lethargic, overweight – yet you still want more! Its similar when you eat fast food, fatty foods, just overloading on junk - the first few minutes feel amazing; however, your pancreas is scattering trying to find places for you to store the fat. The fat cells start to grow in size because there you've ran out of storage.
We add weight because we simply eat more than our body needs, therefore the food or drink that could not be converted to nutrients and energy will be stored as fat. These are usually the takeaways, chocolates, sweets, pastries, fizzy drinks. I tend to encourage a rule of ‘last meal at 8pm’ as we tend to burn less energy towards the end of the day as we wind down and rest. Thus, the food we ate during the day will have time to digest. Did you know that a slice of pizza takes a minimum of 6 hours to digest?!
When we overindulge, we start to feel sluggish and lethargic, then ultimately bloated. Now there is natural bloating then there is being a bit greedy - don’t worry we’ve all been there. But how do we find the balance? Don’t put so much pressure on yourselves, eat in moderation. I am by no means a calorie counter fanatic, but I do ensure that I am eating a variety of foods every day. This variety is predominantly freshly cooked and less processed. Most of my recipes for meals take from 5-20 minutes to make quick yummy meals. You can find some of these on my website - www.talibahsimone.com
Should I buy low fat?
Full fat will always be the whole food. When buying non-fat or low fat, the natural fat is removed and replaced with often synthetic substances, flavours and sugars are added
Try eating with fresh fruit or honey for a sweetened flavour.
What are wholefoods to eat?
Wholefoods include fruits, vegetables, legumes (seeds, beans etc), nuts, whole grains, meat, fish and egg.
Here’s a tip – eat with the seasons! Eat foods that naturally grow at this time. Here are a list of foods currently in season (you may want to carry this with you to the supermarket)
November: Apples, brussels sprouts, cabbage, chestnut, clams, cranberry, kale, mutton, mussels, parsnip, pumpkin, pomegranate, satsuma, scallop, sea bass, wild mushroom walnut
December: All of the above in November + clementine, goose, oyster, swede, turkey
Set yourself a weekly target of trying a new recipe using seasonal foods once a week. Investing in your health doesn’t have to be a chore. Whether you find your recipe on Instagram or a new cookbook, have fun and remember, when you nourish the body, you’re feeding the soul!