5 Truths About Parenting That May Help You Eat Better

As a nutritionist-mama trying to navigate the worlds of health & wellness AND raising tiny humans, I'm starting to recognize some truly interesting links between the two.

Why do I want to share these insights? Because I believe they may help you find opportunity in your own life to make beneficial, lasting change to your personal health.

Here are the 5 things I've noticed:

1) Just like effective parenting, good nutrition is very much dependent on the individual. There is no cookie cutter approach to either; you have to find what works best for you & your family.

I guarantee that while it may be similar, your parenting style is not the same as your friends' and your dietary approach shouldn't be either. Your body's needs are completely unique and need to be met in a way that is unlike any other.

Takeaway: leverage your intuition above all else.

2) Learning to "let go" is an important skill. When it comes to parenting, some strategies just feel easy but they don't serve us (or our kids) well in the long-term. The same can be said for our diet: we can easily get bogged down by some of the daily habits that aren't benefitting us. These habitual behaviours may feel comfortable because we're used to them, but they're likely impeding growth & development.

Takeaway: take a step back and look for opportunities to change & grow. Start small and ease into it.

3) You have to be flexible & adaptable. A healthy diet should allow you to adapt to the happenings of the day so that you can get the most out of it. The same can be said for parenting. Each day is a new adventure, right?

Takeaway: Set yourself up to make the most of things rather than being dragged along from day-to-day. Eat functionally, eat for energy & improved mood. Life is too short not to feel good!

4) You've got to get it wrong sometimes. Trying something new is an important step in the growth process, especially when it doesn't work out. This is a great learning opportunity! Maybe you're shifting your diet to better support your needs or maybe you're testing a new strategy with your toddler. Finding out what doesn't work will ultimately guide you towards what does.

Trial & error.

Practice.

Experimentation.

Whatever you want to call it, it's a crucial part of the process.

Takeaway: try something new as often as possible! Dabble in new foods, expand your grocery list, challenge your taste buds and test the waters a bit. Experimentation is the key to finding what works for you!

5) Every little bit counts. All your efforts lead to better health & resilience both in feeding yourself & raising your kids. The baby steps you take every day will amount to great change, even if you don't see it right away.

A well-nourished mama will have more energy & better mental health. She will parent with patience & empathy. She will teach her kids how to nourish their minds & bodies. She will raise smart, curious, empathetic people.

Takeaway: Look for opportunities to be better, every day, and take steps to prioritize yourself!

So, now that I've shared these insights I hope you feel inspired to focus on improving your nutrition as a busy parent.

If you work hard to do right by your kids everyday, you already have an innate ability to change & adapt. So why not apply these skills to improving your own health & wellness?

Start small & stay consistent.

In good health,

Ciara Morin, R.H.N.