Eating ‘ Food is Fuel, medicine – and a source of joy’

Know you need to eat better but just can’t get started? nutritionisrmodel-shosoewmsayroyuturned-herogwusontF

As A nutritionist, I come across a lot of confusion about how to eat ‘mindfully’. I focus on reconnecting people with food and motivating them to get in the kitchen.

Most of us are tired and time-poor – we think we don’t have time to cook. We’ve forgotten that the more nutritious the food we eat, the better we will feel. Food is one of the most powerful tools we have for feeling well and keeping healthy. It’s our fuel, it’s our medicine and it can bring joy.

It’s something I realised when modelling, when I was travelling a lot, drinking a lot and not always eating well. While the food on shoots was healthy – I discovered quinoa on a shoot in New York – there was also champagne at every show, even at 8am, and I was eating a lot of burgers and chips! I felt incredibly tired, and when you’re working long hours and not feeling well, it’s really unpleasant. So I decided to take better care of myself. I did this simply, by juicing fresh fruit and veg. Just that made a big difference – I was less tired and had more energy.

Having my first baby led to another big shift. Now, my diet is plant-based and I eat a lot of fibrous foods, such as pulses and seeds. I’m not vegetarian, but in my family [artist husband Jake Chapman and daughters Elfie, Bliss and Blythe] three of us don’t eat meat, so most days we eat pulses and vegetables.

Having practised nutrition for many years, I’ve seen how surprised my clients are by the impact eating well has on their energy, skin, digestion and sleep; just five days of eating simple, fresh, nutritious food can make an immediate difference.

Energy is the big one – eating badly can upset your gut, and if it’s irritated and not absorbing nutrients properly, you will feel sluggish. Resetting it with healthy food will positively impact your whole body. Mindful eating is not about cutting out food groups or denying yourself things you love – a glass of red wine and a steak every now and then is good for the soul, and I still enjoy a glass of champagne with oysters. When your digestion is working properly, you should be able to eat anything and everything (unless you have an allergy).

Spend 10 minutes a day on food prep and care. Making a salad is faster than waiting for a takeaway. Throw some vegetables, lentils and stock in a soup-maker in the morning and by evening you’ll have a delicious meal. Self-care enables our bodies to cope with the crazy lives we lead, and will pay us back with more energy, better sleep and stable moods.

a glass of red wine or a steak every now and then is good for the soul