Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

I recently co-led a 21-Day Reset Program. What is that, you ask?  It means choosing anti-inflammatory food options for those 21 days. If you’re not familiar with the term, these types of foods reduce inflammation in our bodies which will help to increase energy, reduce sugar cravings,  and promote general health. If you hear the words “anti-inflammatory food” and immediately yawn, it’s time to stop tuning out! Healthy options never have to be boring. 

If your idea of healthy eating is grilled chicken salads every day, you might think that a healthy lifestyle is all about boring and bland food. The reality is that you can make anything fun if you want to, and healthy food is no exception. I’m here to help guide you as you shift the way you think about food and learn to understand that your meals can be fun, flavorful, and healthy, all at the same time. :) 

People have different food triggers for inflammation, but the most common offenders are gluten, dairy (cheese/yogurt mostly), soy, alcohol, caffeine, added salts, refined sugars, and some grains. That’s a long list, so you may be wondering ‘how do I keep my food fun and flavourful while avoiding these things when I can’? One secret is that you have to be diligent in checking labels before you eat instead of grabbing whatever happens to be nearby. 

I had plenty of fun and tasty meals during my reset, and I’ll share with you a couple of my favorites for anti-inflammatory eating that’s never boring. 

One fun meal I tried was ginger and garlic sausage with pickled cucumbers and veggies. 

I get these sausages up from my monthly meat delivery, and they were a delicious option for my plate during my reset. These sausages are just pork and spices, nothing else. I paired them with a deli mustard that I made sure had no sugar or salt added because you just don’t need it. I added in homemade pickled cucumbers and red onions from a recipe I recently learned, and chose whatever fresh veggies I had to go with them. 

It might sound simple, but I love fresh, raw veggies to go with my meals. They have tons of flavor and color, and they add some fun to any plate! 

Another staple during my reset was shredded chicken with hot peppers and fresh produce. You might’ve heard this tip from me before, but keeping shredded chicken readily available is one of my favorite tricks for choosing healthy foods. Having your protein on hand and ready to go really reduces food prep time, making it easier to choose the healthy option. I love adding hot peppers to my shredded chicken for some spice, and then I add in whatever fresh fruits or veggies I have to complete the dish. 

Fresh and in-season produce is always going to be more flavorful, so go for the most colorful and delicious option! 

The most important thing for me is recognizing that this is a lifestyle, not a diet, and being realistic about that when I choose my foods. I know that for me personally, when I’m hungry, I need to eat soon or else I will definitely be reaching for the leftover pizza. I always make sure to have fast and healthy options available so that I can avoid choosing a less healthy meal that I really didn’t plan on having that day. 

Gluten-free/dairy-free/sugar-free/ etc. lifestyles seem to get a bad rap for being bland, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Choosing colorful and flavorful meals keeps an anti-inflammatory lifestyle from ever feeling boring!

Have you tried avoiding inflammatory foods before? Let me know your favorite fun foods in the comments! 

If you’re interested in trying out a fun and healthy lifestyle, I’ll be launching my new 21-Day Reset program in August, so keep an eye out for more details on that! 

We also have our September Perfect Pairings coming up soon, so don’t forget to grab your ticket and join us. Save your spot today right here, and invite a friend to join you!

In the meantime, be sure to join me in our Never Diet Again group for more great tips on healthy living and a strong community to help support you on your journey!