My eating philosophies explained…

Since Sugar-Free Farm, many of you have written with questions regarding my everyday eating philosophies, so here they are!

Before you read on, you may want to check in with my personal story – a journey of eating disorders, hypothyroidism, PCOS, fertility, conception & miscarriage. A story like this takes a few moments to tell and read! If you’re short on time, take it from me I haven’t always eaten this way, and I’m never going to judge if you’re not there just yet either. We all have to start somewhere.

One of my favourite ‘rules’, because it brings balance – I stick to my own healthy eating principles 80% of the time, while allowing for a few of life’s indulgences in the remaining 20. For me, this 20% still centres around natural sugars (rather than added or refined); you’ll see me enjoying raw ‘cheese’-cake, energy balls and Dynabites.

Right now, I’m actually swaying more to a 90/10% as I work to support my fertility. It’s back to my personal story here!

Because great eating starts with natural, whole foods, and it starts at home! Yes, I’m like you, I also love to eat out every so often! But I also love to experiment with beautiful foods in my kitchen.

Recognising each and every item of food I put in my body; knowing it’s been grown in nature, or it’s roamed our earth. Livings foods that will energise and heal.

You will have definitely heard me say this one before! Each and every day I honour my body with a rainbow of richly coloured fruits and vegetables; I guide you on how to do the same in this post.

Many of you have asked about the booze! I don’t really love the taste of alcohol, and would rather steer clear of the empty calories, so tend only to indulge in a rare special occasion cheers (or “Yamas”)!

If you’re fond of a glass, I recommend keeping things minimal and definitely as a small part of your 20% indulgence. Good quality dry red wine would be preferable (highest in antioxidants) or a clear spirit, such as  vodka, with soda water and fresh lime.

Wherever possible – and I go out of my way to make it possible! – I avoid gluten. It makes me feel ill and causes stomach complaints. For anyone intrigued or experiencing the same, you should read my 7 Steps to Gluten-Free. For those of you that don’t experience any negative reactions from consuming gluten, I still recommend that you alternate your grains and try something new, and always go for the best quality whole grain wherever possible.

I’ve been lactose and dairy intolerant from birth, so this is a no go for me. For those who aren’t intolerant, I’d recommend keeping your dairy consumption occasional rather than digging into milk and cheese at every snack and meal! Our aim is to create a varied, balanced lifestyle.

The western world is eating far too much dairy; we’re the only other mammal that consumes cow’s milk, which contains lots of growth hormones. So, keep it occasional, favour organic, and try to vary the type of dairy you’re consuming – also looking to goat’s and sheep’s products (which many find more digestible).

If you don’t know my thoughts on sugar, it’s likely we’re only just meeting…so lovely to meet you, and please head straight to this post! Much of my recent work has been on highlighting the benefits of a low refined sugar lifestyle and I’m more than passionate about helping individuals and families do the same.

Fat’s not the enemy, sugar is! This is one of my favourite mantras and I’ve long shouted from the rooftops (and clinic) about the benefits of good fats in our diets. Not sure how to distinguish between the good and the bad? This feature should help.

For healthy blood sugar balance, I include some good quality protein in each snack and meal. Nuts, beans, pulses, fish and lean meats power me through busy clinic days and keep me zipping around London!

Want to know more or wondering how you could improve your diet? Please leave your questions in the comments, and find inspiration in our recipe section. You can also join the free Health Tribe to receive lots of exclusive tips and ideas by fortnightly email.

Nourishing well wishes,

Angelique

Consult your doctor or health care practitioner for any health problems, and before embarking on any new health regimes, using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications or food programmes.