Move Towards the Positive… with your Nutrition!

I think it is sometimes so hard to focus on ambitious goals of clean eating day in day out because we cannot get out of the negative thought patterns. I know this sounds a bit hippie dippity, but go with me here. We acknowledge in our rational minds that sodas, breads, processed meats (and the list goes on and on) are BAD and we need to not eat the BAD today. Today, we are going to be 100% GOOD today and not BAD at all. The reality is that our brains find it hard to make this conscious switch so fast. Negative thought patterns continue to rapid fire in our noggin. We think pizza is bad, no pizza today…. But dang it all I want is pizza. You focus so much on the pizza that you cannot formulate thoughts on how good a salad of fresh sliced tomatoes are going to be when you add creamy mozzarella, basil, and really delicious extra virgin olive oil.  Pizza (or insert your personal negative thought here) becomes the most engrained picture or cue in your head.

During a recent podcast, I heard a nationally recognized meditation teacher state, “Move towards the positive and not towards the negative”. She goes one to describe how this is her main mantras for a grateful and joyful life. Wow… how this stuck with me.  Think if we can put this concept to work for our food choices, can you imagine how satisfied we all would be?

I challenge you to make a list of your CLEAN and most desired foods. Foods that you know are good for your mind, body, and taste buds. Try to think about your list though out the day. Get excited each time you are about to have one of these for a meal or snack. Savor each and every bite. Yes, I am getting corny, but food is the one of the biggest pleasures in life, right? So how sad would it be if we were not fully taking pleasure in our food every day.

Get out your list making skills and go for it! Here is my ooey-gooey list… At least, it is ooey-gooey to me (and that is all that matters!).

Eggs (any way, any how)

Avocados

Turnip Greens

Tomato Sauce

Greek Yogurt with Raw Honey

Sweet Potatoes

Salmon

Roasted Cauliflower

Sea Salt

Beef or Bison Tenderloin

Butter

Almond or Peanut Butter

Dark Chocolate

Dates

Thick and Creamy Salad Dressing

Good Quality Sausage

Cheddar Cheese

Spaghetti Squash