Finding Food Freedom: John and Autumn’s Stories

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eI intentionally began to develop my Food Freedom journey in the Fall of 2017 after I completed my first Whole30 earlier that Spring. Unsurprisingly, I felt amazing from my first reset earlier that year and wanted to continue sticking to the Whole30 as much as possible. I realized that trying to do a “Whole365” was not sustainable long-term for me and did not bring me joy or peace. Since then, u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003emy journey has been a constant learning process guided by close observations of how my body reacts to foods I choose to eat and the ever life-changing questions, (1) do I really want it and (2) is it worth it? u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eI am in a really good place right now with my Food Freedom and I truly feel I look and feel my best which makes me very, very happy.u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMy Food Freedom Journey started after my 4th Whole30. I did so many Whole30 resets at first because I didn’t do a reintroduction or any Food Freedom work, leading to me falling right back into my old habits, which was so frustrating. As Melissa says, there truly is no Food Freedom without a proper reintroduction! u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eReintroduction is THE best part of Whole30, as it’s so empowering. Being empowered with the knowledge of how foods affect my body and cravings put ME in the driver’s seat of my relationship with food, instead of being so controlled by cravings for years.u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe most difficult part of the process for me has been u003c/spanu003eu003ciu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ethe middleu003c/spanu003eu003c/iu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e. The process of finding Food Freedom–making choices to reintroduce, closely observing, monitoring my impulses, taking note of my long-term food desires, evaluating if a food is worth it or not, and ultimately choosing what I’d like to keep around in my daily food freedom. It’s a process and I’m not one for patience; but I can attest that it is worth it.u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe hardest part was realizing that Food Freedom is a journey, not a destination. I was so frustrated when I went back to my old habits after my first few Whole30 resets because I didn’t realize Whole30 was au003c/spanu003eu003ciu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e starting pointu003c/spanu003eu003c/iu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e, not a Food Freedom checkmark.u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e I felt incredibly empowered reading u003c/spanu003eu003ca href=u0022/books/food-freedom-forever/u0022u003eu003ciu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eFood Freedom Foreveru003c/spanu003eu003c/iu003eu003c/au003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e and realized I would need to put u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eas much worku003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e into my Food Freedom as I did my Whole30–I wish everyone knew that!u003c/spanu003e u003ciu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eFood Freedom Foreveru003c/spanu003eu003c/iu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e is also an amazing resource for navigating what that Food Freedom work can look like, giving you tools to move forward. u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe greatest joy of the food freedom process for me has been reintroducing foods that I deeply love to eat AND help me look and feel my best. For example, I reintroduced cheese last year and it brings me so much joy. My partner is Italian and I love being able to partake in his culture by eating different soft and hard cheeses. u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eAh wow, it’s having a positive relationship with food and being able to model that for my 5 boys. For so long, food choices haunted me. I felt torn between what I felt like I “should” be eating and what I wanted to eat (usually treats). It was an ongoing internal struggle. Whole30 empowered me with how to build my plate in a way that nourished me and how to truly lean into what my body needs. Now, there is no internal struggle, no “good foods” and “bad foods”–food, like most things in life, is just a choice and a consequence (i.e. if I eat refined sugar, I will be sluggish). I feel empowered in how to fuel my body for success while also able to have my nutrition full of things I love. u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e11:30AM: first meal of the day. Typical meal looks like a very large plate of some kind of roast vegetables with a very large side salad with my homemade balsamic vinaigrette and any palm-sized portion of protein, like scrambled eggs, cold cuts on cauliflower bread, roast chicken breast over romaine with Tessemae’s Caesar, or spicy minced beef with basil over cauliflower rice.u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e5:30PM: last meal of the day. Typical meal looks like a very large portion of some kind of roasted vegetables with a very large salad again topped with parmesan, bleu, or gruyere cheese and any fresh vegetables I have on hand. Palm-sized proteins could be sloppy joe, burgers, roast chicken breast, chicken milanese, or air-fried pork chops.u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eI’ve discovered that large, filling meals 2x/day works best for my current schedule and prevents me from snacking during the day which not only saves me money but helps me prioritize nutrient-dense foods during meal times.u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eBreakfast – I workout early fasted and then eat a large breakfast as both my post-workout + breakfast around 7:30am. That usually looks like breakfast sausage, eggs, or bacon, with some veggies fritters or hash and an avocado on top. A few times a week I make a Paleo breakfast for my boys and enjoy a Paleo waffle or granola. u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eLunch – 12:30ish and either a big fat salad, soups, or leftovers. I rarely cook at lunch even though I work from home, so it’s often dependent on what is fast and easy.u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eSnacks – I don’t do a lot of snacks, but if my meal timing is off or I’m out and about during meal time, I love pairing a Chomps meat stick with a handful of nuts or seeds and a cutie orange.u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eDinner – 6:00pm and we love a meat main with some hearty sides like roasted potatoes, broccoli, and fruit, with a dipping sauce or dressing for healthy fat. We do have dessert a few times a week, which is usually whatever Paleo treat I am recipe testing that week for my blog.u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMy favorite Food Freedom meal right now is my take on Chicken Milanese topped with tart and sweet leafy greens and cherry tomatoes dressed in my homemade Balsamic vinaigrette. I’ve experimented for months during quarantine with the recipe and breading and finally found a groove that brings so much flavor, excitement and depth to the dish.  u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eWell, every Friday night is pizza night in our house, which is always popular, but personally I love desserts–can that be a meal? Lol. I love to bake and create delicious things and my favorite is probably GF/DF brownies or chocolate cake–bonus if there is a scoop of DF ice cream and chocolate fudge on top!u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003ernrnu003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eTo me, Food Freedom is about taking the time and setting the intention to discover the specific foods that not only fuel you day to day but bring you joy, excitement, and a desire to savor each meal.u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e Nutrient-dense foods that help me look and feel my best should be delicious and jaw-droppingly good. It’s a high bar to set and it is worth every second.u003c/spanu003e

u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eFood Freedom means I am empowered with how to fuel my body well and free to eat without guilt or shame, and I can do so with love and confidence. It means I control my food choices, they do not control me. u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eFood Freedom means I have developed the skill and habit of listening to my body and I know how to adjust as needed to be nourished and happy, without the process feeling consuming or overwhelming.u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;