← Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Amelia Freer on What We Need to Eat #29

Sep 26, 2018 1h 13m 24 insights
“Everyone is focusing on what to avoid, no one is focusing on what we need to eat” Nutritionist and best-selling author Amelia Freer has a refreshingly fluid and flexible approach to healthy eating. She believes that we should shift the focus away from what we shouldn’t eat, which can be damaging and focus instead on what we can eat.   Amelia and I discuss her positive nutrition pyramid, which provides a framework of what she believes you should be working towards eating every day.  We delve into how emotional issues can affect the food choices that we make and discuss her own personal journey into the world of nutrition.   Amelia also shares some fantastic tips.  I really hope you enjoy listening! Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/29 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Tackle Emotional Health

Explore your emotional well-being and engage in difficult conversations, as this is crucial for overall happiness and health, influencing food and life choices.

2. Address Self-Worth

Focus on improving your self-worth, as it is often the fundamental root cause behind struggles with health and lifestyle choices.

3. Prioritize Quality of Life

Step back and prioritize your personal well-being and happiness over constant busyness or career opportunities, as this can renew energy and creativity, reducing fear of missing out.

4. Be Present with Family

Prioritize children’s well-being over social media presence and be fully present with family, choosing to enjoy real-life moments rather than constantly broadcasting them.

5. Adopt Fluid Nutrition Approach

Embrace a fluid and flexible approach to nutrition, adapting to changing life circumstances rather than being rigid or obsessive, as health is a continuous journey.

6. Start Meditation Practice

Begin a meditation practice, embracing a busy mind by allowing thoughts to come and go without judgment, as it can be a transformative tool for managing stress, low mood, and overtiredness.

7. Connect with Nature Daily

Spend time in nature, such as gardening, to reduce stress, lower cortisol levels, and reconnect with yourself, viewing it as an antidote to modern technology and a remedy for nature deficiency.

8. Eat Sufficient Nutrients Daily

Ensure you eat enough food and a vast amount of nutrients daily to thrive, as deprivation can hinder health goals and overall well-being.

9. Use Positive Nutrition Pyramid

Utilize Amelia Freer’s Positive Nutrition Pyramid (available on her website) as a daily tick-box guide to ensure adequate intake of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and fluids.

10. Eat More Vegetables

Increase your vegetable intake, aiming for six portions daily with a variety of colors and leafy greens, as diets should be predominantly plant-based. Enhance their flavor with good quality olive oil, fresh herbs, and spices.

11. Start Day with Protein

Begin your day with protein or combine carbohydrates like porridge with protein sources (e.g., nut butter, yogurt, flaxseed) to stabilize blood sugar, reduce cravings, and improve daily well-being.

12. Prioritize Hydration

Aim for eight glasses of water daily, along with other fluids like herbal teas, to improve mental clarity, energy, and mood. Use a tick-box system to track your intake.

13. Cook Meals From Scratch

Cook meals from scratch, focusing on enjoyment and confidence rather than perfection, as it doesn’t need to be complex or lengthy to be beneficial for your health. Make it fun by listening to music.

14. Keep Pre-Chopped Ingredients

Stock your freezer with pre-chopped ingredients like herbs, garlic, chili, ginger, and onions to quickly prepare fresh, healthy meals, overcoming time constraints.

15. Focus on Quality Carbs

Consume complex carbohydrates from whole food sources like sweet potato and oats, prioritizing quality over quantity, and reduce white, refined, processed carbs.

16. Include Healthy Fats

Incorporate healthy natural fats daily, such as a quarter of an avocado and a tablespoon of olive oil, adjusting quantity based on activity levels.

17. Consume Nuts and Seeds

Eat a small portion (about eight nuts or a palm-sized amount) of nuts and seeds daily for healthy fats and protein, as they are nutritional powerhouses.

18. Prioritize Vegetables Over Fruit

Prioritize vegetables over fruit in your diet, and consume three portions of fruit daily, splitting them across the day, avoiding excessive fruit juices and smoothies.

19. Mindful Sugar Consumption

Be conscientious of the amount of even natural or healthy sugars you consume, as excessive intake can still be detrimental to health.

20. Organize Kitchen for Health

Sort out your kitchen by stocking it with positive, healthy foods rather than focusing solely on what to reduce or avoid.

21. Consider Short-Term Elimination

If experiencing food reactivity due to poor gut health, consider a short-term elimination diet combined with lifestyle changes to improve gut health and expand food tolerance.

22. Grow Herbs/Vegetables at Home

Grow herbs, tomatoes, or lettuces in window boxes or small outdoor spaces, as they are easy to grow and can enhance your food and provide a pleasurable connection to nature.

23. View Treats as Additions

Understand that treats like cake or alcohol are additions to your essential nutritional base, not part of your daily requirements, and consume them as a conscious choice.

24. Take Nutritional Supplement

Consider taking a whole food greens powder like Athletic Greens each morning as an ‘insurance policy’ to meet your nutritional needs, especially if busy.