I work one-on-one with clients for a variety of reasons. Some of my work involves therapeutic dietary interventions to manage PCOS or GI disorders, while other aspects involve more behavioral elements for establishing long-term healthy habits in a busy life. Regardless of what a client is coming to see me for, I always talk about the satisfaction factor. What is the satisfaction factor you might ask? Let me explain:

We eat for countless reasons. We eat to nourish our bodies & to have energy, but we also eat because food is fun, social & enjoyable. If you continually leave meals and snacks feeling unsatisfied when trying to “eat healthy”, the way you are eating is likely not sustainable (aka - this is just another diet).

Considering the satisfaction factor with food is something that everyone should be doing on a daily basis, regardless of what your health and wellness goals are. This means asking yourself: What do I feel like eating? What will be truly satisfying in this moment? This involves drawing on your “inner wisdom”. Then ask yourself: How can I make this a more well-rounded meal that will also nourish my body and make me feel good? This is involves drawing on your “outer wisdom” or nutrition knowledge.

The satisfaction factor is one of the KEY things that I see people neglecting when dietary behaviors are not sustainable. A lack of satisfaction often leads to overeating past fullness and grazing as your body searches for satisfaction in something. Making positive dietary changes for your health or managing a health condition through food should never mean that you are eating food that is not enjoyable.

So – the next time you’re planning a meal or selecting something on a menu, I encourage you to first think about what truly sounds good (hot? cold? crunchy? sweet? savory?), and THEN think about how you can make that a more well-rounded & nourishing meal for your body.

Do you consider the satisfaction factor when you’re planning meals and snacks? I want to hear from you!