Vital Force Naturals

I have a small confession to make…

I don’t really like eating

I’m actually not much of a ‘foodie’ at all. 

Eating for me is just fuel. And because I have to do it, I feel it might as well be the best stuff I can afford so I get the most out of something I’m not that keen on. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out to eat, and I really appreciate when someone else has cooked for me. But ask me what my favourite food is, and I can’t answer. Ask me what restaurant I want to go to for my birthday and I really don’t mind, there’s always something I can eat. 

I think it all started when I was quite young. Mum wasn’t most comfortable in the kitchen (Bless her soul!) and I used to hate eating in front of people, school dinner for example. So fairly early on she’d send me off with a packed lunch with sandwiches she knew I liked, and I remember throwing them in the bin on my way home from school. I was probably starving but I don’t remember that bit, I just didn’t want to eat with everyone in the big hall.

And don’t get me started on birthday parties! I was fine seeing all my friends and getting dressed up in my party frock, but as soon as the tea came out my heart sank. I have pictures my dad took of my own parties with 10 or so of my friends, they’re all scoffing down the little sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps and cake, laughing and having a good time, and I’m sitting at the end looking miserable with a plate full of food I don’t want to eat. What a strange child! I remember mum telling me she used to get phone calls from the dinner ladies at school because they were concerned I didn’t eat anything at lunch time. It wasn’t just because I didn’t like the food, I didn’t eat my packed lunch either.

So how did I end up as a nutritional therapist??

I’m interested in how the body works and after several years of providing massages in contact centres where I could see everyone constantly snacking on crisps, chocolate and biscuits and getting more and more lethargic and depressed I realised just how unhealthy most of the food available to us is. And what we eat is fundamental to how we feel. It’s not just about looking good and being fit. It’s about longevity, enjoying life, laughing, happiness and finding what makes us tick. The more I study the body (and I’m always studying, discovering) the more I realise we have control over our lives and it’s our responsibility to look after ourselves. 

My own journey is on going, don’t be fooled by my words, I love a packet of crisps and a beer (alcohol used to be my thing!) but I try to balance it out with the good stuff. I aim for the 80/20 rule. I eat ‘clean’ 80% of the time and 20% is my pizza, beer, wine, crisps allowance. And just like everyone else I have periods where the 20% becomes more 40 or 50% so I just take a step back, buy a load of veg and do a few juices and salads to get me back on track. Small steps.

As they say in my industry, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.