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Blog  /  August 9, 2019

4 Dietary Upgrades to Better Health

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Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Really, it doesn’t. Over the past several decades, we (society) have done a really good job of over-complicating something so simple. If you’re confused about what “healthy” even is, I don’t blame you. And, you’re certainly not alone. There are endless amounts of conflicting information available: Is the Keto diet the answer to all my problems? Or maybe Veganism is my best bet? But, what about Whole 30 that my friends are raving about? Does organic really matter? 

Health seems complicated. But, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it’s actually quite simple. There are 4 dietary upgrades that you can make today so that you can experience all the benefits and enjoyment food has to offer. These concepts will allow you to effortless enjoy nutritious, flavorful foods and reap the health benefits of it. Because at the base of health are the foods we eat. Told ya: simple. 

4 Dietary Upgrades to Better Health

Keep these four dietary upgrades in mind to improve your mental and physical health, enjoy delicious foods, and feel nourished like never before:

Seasonally

Eating seasonally is important for many reasons. When we according to the seasons, we are almost guaranteed the ripest, juiciest foods. More importantly, foods in their ripest state contain the highest amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. More often than not, these foods are also the sweetest and tastiest. Win-win!

Seasonal foods will vary in different parts of the world, country, or even state. So, keep reading to learn about the current seasonal foods in your area! 

Locally

Locally-sourced foods are grown and produced within close proximity to where they are sold. Less transit time = fresher foods. In fact, eating locally goes hand-in-hand with eating seasonally. Why? Because your local farms will most likely only grow the foods that are appropriate for the current season. Eating locally-sourced foods is also a great way to support local farms and small businesses. And as stated above, these foods are often the most enjoyable- ripe, juicy, and tasty!

Local and seasonal foods will vary from location to location. Visit The Seasonal Food Guide to learn about local, seasonal foods in your area.

Colorful

Eat the rainbow! No, not the skittles rainbow, silly. The God-given rainbow, also known as: fruits and vegetables. Basically, the greater variety of color on your plate, the better. Each color provides different nutrients that our bodies need to live and thrive. These nutrient-dense colors are called phytonutrients:

Orange and Yellow- Beta Carotene, Vitamin C (Recipe: Parsley & Garlic Carrot Fries)

Green- Beta Carotene, Iron (Recipe: Paleo-is Packed Winter Salad)

Purple- Anthocyanin, Flavonoids, Resveratrol (Recipe: Red Cherry Dark Chocolate Crumble)

Red- Lycopene, Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, Flavonoids, Resveratrol (Recipe: Paleo Sweet Potato Meatloaf)

White- Glucosinolates, Polyphenols, Sulfur (Recipe: 20-Minute Paleo Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

I recently read that you should aim for 40 different kinds of foods per week. This goal will help you keep variety in your diet, and therefore, receive the different nutrients you need. I try to keep this rule in mind as I plan my weekly menu and compile my grocery list!

Quality

Last, but not least, food quality. Although last on the list, this may just be the most important food upgrade. Food quality > quantity. Always. It may just surprise how much quality really does matter. Poor quality foods usually lack essential nutrients, and sometimes, they even contain harmful additives, like: antibiotics, pesticides, GMO’s, and more!

What are considered to be poor quality foods? 

  • Processed or packages foods
  • Conventional meat and dairy
  • Conventional produce
  • Fried foods
  • Trans fats and hydrogenated oils
  • Artificial sweeteners

Here’s what you need to know to increase the quality of your food:

Meat & Fish- Always opt for grass fed and finished beef, pasture-raised pork/poultry, and wild caught seafood.

Eggs- Pasture-raised eggs are best, but free-range eggs are better than conventional. Avoid conventional eggs as often as you can because they lack the vitamins and nutrients, like healthy omega-3’s, that pasture-raised eggs provide.

Produce- Look for organic fruits and vegetables when possible. If not available or when all else fails, resort to the Dirty Dozen List for the 12 fruits and veggies that contain the highest amounts of pesticide residue after washing. These foods should always be bought organic! You can also refer to the Clean Fifteen List for the produce with the least amounts of pesticide residue.

In order to best comply with these dietary upgrades, I highly recommend buying groceries from your local farmer’s market. It’s a fail-proof way to access the highest quality, colorful, local, and seasonal foods around. This is especially true for produce, meat, and eggs. Bonus: as you get to know your local farmers, you will gain a better understanding of the importance of local, seasonal, colorful, and quality foods! 

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nourishedbykelseynicole

Kelsey, FNTP, CC
Are you a Nutrition Professional who feels overwhe Are you a Nutrition Professional who feels overwhelmed and burdened by running a small business?! 

As a FNTP, who previously ran my own nutritional therapy practice, I know what it’s like to wear many hats. And let’s face it, small business owners can’t do it ALL. 

I‘ve personally experienced the overwhelm that comes with running your own business.

That’s when I decided to change directions and pursue content creation full time. Because I immediately saw the need for content creation in the nutrition sphere. Why?

Because as a nutrition professional, you want to share content that is accurate and original. Who’s better qualified to help you create content than a trained nutrition professional??

See where I’m going here? 🙃

I love combining my two passions: content creation and nutrition. Better yet, I love using these skill sets to better your business!

#nutritionaltherapy
#nutritionaltherapypractitioner
#nourishment
#nourishedoykelseynicole #foodblogging
#functionalhealth #bioindividuality
#holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #foodismedicine
#hormonehealth #guthealth
#contentcreation #nutritioncontent
#nutritioncontentcreator #contentcreator
As a trained Functional Nutritional Therapy Practi As a trained Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I have a unique advantage in my work as a Content Creator. 

My #1 goal is to create original, niche-focused, attention-grabbing digital content for my fellow nutrition professionals. 

My skill set includes creating content for the following:
• Social media platforms 
• Blogs
• Email campaigns
• And more!

Do you want more information about how I work 1:1 with nutrition professionals and business wonders? Send me a DM!

#nutritionaltherapy
#nutritionaltherapypractitioner 
#nourishment
#nourishedoykelseynicole #foodblogging 
#functionalhealth #bioindividuality
#holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #foodismedicine
#hormonehealth #guthealth 
#contentcreation #nutritioncontent #nutritioncontentcreator #contentcreator
Hi, it’s me. I’m still here! 👋🏼 I’ve Hi, it’s me. I’m still here! 👋🏼 

I’ve taken an unintentional (yet, very long) hiatus from this social media account and my blog. But, I’m back for a good while (I think 😅). Here’s what’s been going on lately..

In case you didn’t know, I started my own  business as a Content Creator in 2018, while I was in school at the Nutritional Therapy Association. As a trained FNTP, my niche is specifically holistic health and nutrition. It’s a combination of my two expertise: nutrition + content creation!

As a FNTP with a strong passion for real food + balanced nutrition, I’ve always kept this account as an educational resource for you. And as a fun creative outlet for me, as well!

But, I’m here to say, it’s time for a new direction. As my content creation business continues to grow and as I become more invested as a Content Creator, it only feels right to bring a little bit of my profession to this space! 

So while I still plan to share nutritional tidbits and encouragement, I also want to use this platform as a resource for my content creation business.

Sound good?

If you’re a fellow FNTP or nutrition professional, feel free to reach out for content creation support! 

And, if you’re here for nutritional education, thank you for being here and participating in this awesome community!! 💛

#nutritonaltherapypractitioner #fntp #ntp #functionalnutritionaltherapypractitioner #contentcreator #contentcreation #contentmarketing #contentmarketer #nutritioncontent #nutritionresources
STOP SKIPPING BREAKFAST & DRINKING BLACK COFFEE ON STOP SKIPPING BREAKFAST & DRINKING BLACK COFFEE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH 🛑

*said with grace and love*

Seriously, I spent years sipping on black coffee before eating breakfast. But, not anymore. 

Here’s what happens when you skip breakfast and drink black coffee every morning:
👉🏼 The caffeine (AKA stimulant) spikes your blood sugar levels.
👉🏼 Your body moves into fight-or-flight mode, increasing stress hormones.
👉🏼 A couple hours later, the cravings and yawns kick in, so you binge on sugar and *more* coffee.

And in case you’re thinking, “I seem to feel just fine after drinking black coffee and skipping breakfast,” there’s a good chance your body is living on stress hormones and relies on the caffeine to keep your body functioning. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news 😬

Soooo, what should you do instead for a healthy metabolism & happy hormones?

Eat a balanced breakfast with protein, carbs, and fat, FIRST. Ideally, within an hour of waking up. Then, enjoy a cup of fresh coffee (preferably with high quality cream or milk) ☕️ 

TBH, there’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee with frothy, raw milk 🤩 what’s your coffee order?

And, yes, my shirt says “you’re the pumpkin to my spice” because ‘tis the season 🎃 *from @hannahmcmorrison 

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #healthyrecipes #paleorecipes #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #hormonehealth #guthealth #blackcoffee #coffeeorder #balancedbreakfast #healthybreakfast
When you’re trying to master the reel game, but When you’re trying to master the reel game, but have a constant shadow 🐾

Good thing he’s the cutest!

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #healthyrecipes #paleorecipes #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #hormonehealth #guthealth #rhodesianridgeback #rhodie
I eat carbs at every meal! 🍎🥖🥔🫓🥛🍫

Here’s why…

Our bodies NEED carbohydrates for: 
• Physical energy
• Brain power
• Muscle repair and growth
• A healthy gut microbiome
• Metabolic efficiency 
• Healthy digestion 
• AND SO MUCH MORE

This is especially true when you’re exercising and strength training regularly!! 💪🏼

Some of my favorite carb sources are:
• Fresh sourdough bread 
• Sweet potatoes and red potatoes 
• Squash and carrots
• Seasonal fruit 
• Honey and maple syrup 
• Raw milk
• Cassava tortillas and pasta 
• Homemade baked goods with cassava flour
• Dark chocolate 

What are your favorite carbs?! 😋

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #healthyrecipes #paleorecipes #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #hormonehealth #guthealth #carbs #glutenfreecarbs #healthycarbs #carbsbenefits
As someone who aims to as many real, whole foods a As someone who aims to as many real, whole foods as possible (and always GF), I’ve learned a thing or two about “healthy baking.” Here are the swaps I always make in my baked goods for healthy hormones, metabolism, and tastebuds! 👇🏼

• Grass fed (raw, if possible) butter instead of oil 
• @bobsredmill 1-to-1 GF flour instead of all purpose flour
• Raw sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup instead of white sugar 
• Substitute a little bit of the flour with protein powder or collagen (usually about 10% of the total flour)
• Grass fed (raw, if possible) milk > nut milk
• Cassava, oat, or GF blend flour > almond flour

Save this post to refer back to this season! And, happy baking 🧁🍪

PS Get this oldie, but a goodie, Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe on the blog! 👉🏼 @nourishedbykelseynicole

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #healthyrecipesideas #paleorecipeideas #nutrientdenserecipes #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #healthybaking
Gluten Free Protein Pumpkin Muffins 🧁🎃 Alwa Gluten Free Protein Pumpkin Muffins 🧁🎃

Always a Fall staple in my home! I usually double this recipe to share with others or put the freezer for later 😋

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose GF flour
1/3 cup vanilla protein powder (I use @naked.protein)
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1+ tbs pumpkin spice 
1 1/4 cup pumpkin
1 pastured egg
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey 
1/4 butter, melted and cooled
1/4-1/2 cup milk of choice (I use raw whole milk)
1/2+ cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450F and grease muffin tin with coconut oil or butter.
2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and mix. Add wet ingredients and mix.
3. Fold in chocolate chips. 
4. Pour into muffin tin. Bake for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy!!

*Recipe adapted from @fitmittenkitchen 

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #healthyrecipesideas #paleorecipeideas #nutrientdenserecipes #pumpkinmuffins #proteinpumpkinmuffins #glutenfreepumpkinmuffins
5 “healthy” habits that actually cause MORE st 5 “healthy” habits that actually cause MORE stress in the body…

1. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach
2. Working out fasted 
3. Limiting consumption of fruit and natural sugars
4. Opting for “low fat” foods
5. Drinking a gallon of water daily.

All of these habits add excessive stress to the body and can eventually lead to symptoms of burn out and physiological imbalances, like:
PMS
Weight gain
Acne
Insomnia
Chronic fatigue
AND SO MUCH MORE

Sometimes, our bodies need us to intentionally do LESS, not more. If you’re in a constant (physical or mental) state of stress, this means YOU!

Did you know these “healthy” habits could be detrimental to your health? 

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #healthyrecipes #paleorecipes #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #hormonehealth #guthealth #stress #healthyhabits #healthylifestyle
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