5 Steps to Start Eating More Holistically and Naturally

Your eating habits are a crucial part of setting the tone for lots of different lifestyle changes you’ll need to create for your new healthy living.

Choosing better quality food, eating mindfully, and balancing your diet and nutrients are all part and parcel of following a more holistic path. And as your food is what directly feeds your body and mind, it would make sense to start from the basics and evaluate what you’re fueling your body with… right?

So if you need a starting point for your holistic eating journey, read on!

What is Holistic Eating?

As with everything else holistic, it’s about making changes that create an all-around difference – quite literally a ‘whole-istic’ approach. It aims to nourish the body, mind & soul through foods that are whole and natural, avoiding processed foods and anything that has a high amount of additives in it.

To get started think super-foods, foods that have been through the least amount of processing and are vibrant and full of vitamins and minerals, etc. Holistic eating looks at how your eating patterns, are connected to your lifestyle and well-being and looks to boost it by adjusting what and how you eat.

5 Steps to Start Eating More Holistically

1. Focus on Whole & Unprocessed Foods

What are whole and unprocessed foods? They’re foods in their most natural form possible – I’m talking like just pulled out of the ground, natural!

Even whole vegetables can have a lot of processing that goes into them, and the processes e.g. the chemicals and pesticides that go into them can be really harmful to your body. Sourcing ingredients that are whole, fresh, and unrefined are going to be the most nutritious for your body; they’ll also be least likely to carry any harmful chemicals.

The easiest way you can implement this step is to avoid processed foods. Foods in packets with heaps of ingredients are the main offenders when I talk about processed foods. And things like cut fruit and veg that aren’t brown after being in a tub on the shelf for a week – avoid like the plague!

2. Eat Mindfully

This might sound a little funny – I get it but what I mean by eating mindfully is not just watching what you eat, but paying attention specifically to the textures, flavors, and smells of the meals you cook. Slowing down and really savoring each bite as though you’ve never tasted it before. Notice every mouthful.

Practicing mindful eating plays a part in a few different aspects of holistic living, but it also has other benefits like boosting your digestion and helping you to stop overeating because you’ll connect more with your body’s hunger and fullness cues.

Furthermore, it’ll just help give you some nicer and more enjoyable moments throughout the day, keeping you from being distracted by technology and missing the whole day.

3. Listen to Your Body’s Signals

Our bodies know far more than what we give them credit for, it’s just that we’ve become so accustomed to following generic schedules and guidelines that the majority of us have lost the ability to listen to our bodies and give them what they need intuitively.

Bloating and gas, for example, are your body’s way of telling you that something you’ve eaten isn’t sitting quite right. It’s making your gut inflamed and uncomfortable, but we now believe that it’s part and parcel of everyday eating.

We also think that eating until your stomach hurts is a normal way to eat, and I’m here to tell you it’s not!

Intuitive eating can help you get into a space where you can truly listen to your body and give it the right nutrients and food groups based on how you feel and the phase in your cycle that you’re at.

Pay attention to how your body feels after eating certain foods and ask yourself:

Do you feel energized?
Do you feel tired and sluggish?
Do you feel gassy and bloated?
Do you feel sick?

Any foods that make you feel uncomfortable afterwards, are the ones you should avoid, unfortunately, and these will be different for everyone. Everyone has a different gut microbiome, food sensitivities, and allergies, so it’s super important you get in touch with your body’s own individual cues and start following them.

4. Balance Nutrients

Eat a balanced diet! *insert eye roll*

I know your nan probably used to nag you about it all the time, but there is truth in these sayings and there’s also research to back this up.

Balancing what you eat and the nutrients you get will make sure that, amongst other things:

Your energy is high
Your muscles are fueled properly
Your gut microbiome is diverse
Your immune system is supported
You’re getting everything you need

Everything you eat has a job in your body, so making sure there is a good variation in all of it will ensure that your body can repair itself, grow muscle, digest your food properly, and promote proper brain function.

5. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!!

Hydration is the key for all your body’s functions to run smoothly and staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to make sure you don’t run into health problems as frequently.

Your body is around 60% water, so even just one day when your water intake is below par can dehydrate you way more than is healthy. Without a decent amount of hydration, your digestion, energy production, and temperature regulation processes won’t work as they should.

Furthermore, drinking an adequate amount of water will help flush out the toxins in your body – so make sure to stay hydrated!

Pin these holistic eating tips for later!

How Holistic Eating Transforms Your Health Inside and Out

Eating holistically is much more than just what’s on your plate; it’s everything. It’s the quality of the food you eat, the time you take to eat it, hydrating your body, eating in a balanced way, and being mindful overall of what and how you’re consuming your food.

Creating a holistic lifestyle isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of vibe, it’s a ‘doing what serves my body the best’ kind of vibe, along with a consistent ongoing commitment to doing right by your body, mind, environment, and spirit. But as always take it one small step at a time a time – you’d rather slow progress than no progress!

How to Eat Holistically: 5 Essential Tips for Nourishing Your Body and Mind

What is Holistic Eating?